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Rock Creek council approves hire, QSEHRA and cemetery policy; directs staff on multiple enforcement matters
Summary
The council unanimously approved hiring Ashley Young for a part-time administrative assistant position, established a QSEHRA for employee health reimbursements, approved a revised cemetery policy, authorized replacing the office phone system, and directed staff to suspend sewer fines for the Gerner family and pursue enforcement for other property violations.
The Rock Creek City Council on June 4 carried a slate of administrative actions including personnel, benefits and code-enforcement directions.
Interim City Administrator Ashley Rauschnot reported eight applications for a part-time administrative assistant; after interviewing four applicants the council voted unanimously to hire Ashley Young subject to the standard 90-day probationary period (motion by Council Member Dan Saumer; second by Council Member Sam Christenson).
Rauschnot also proposed establishing a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) administered by a third party with reimbursement limits based on family size; the council unanimously approved the proposal (motion by Council Member Sam Christenson; second by Mayor Dick Johnson).
On code-enforcement matters the council addressed three items. Following concerns raised by the Gerner family during public forum about communication with the sewer inspector, staff reported that Amy Thompson inspected the property on Oct. 24, 2025 and that a permit was issued June 2, 2026; the council directed staff to suspend assessment of fines until Sept. 1, 2026 to allow more time for sewer installation. Council members advised staff to issue an administrative citation to the owner of the property identified as A. Nimis after no response to a friendly letter. For the property identified as R. Bonete, Building Official Sam Christenson reported that an unpermitted structure had been removed and the council directed staff to send a follow-up letter attaching the fencing ordinance and permit information.
The council reviewed and agreed to retain a Contractor Performance Scorecard for future contractor evaluations and authorized reprinting the reorganized City Ordinance Book to improve navigation, including placing the Cemetery Policy within the Administrative Manual and Policies section. The council reviewed and signed a cemetery deed for Sharon Lawrence and approved the Cemetery Policy draft with a revision requiring flat stone markers to be cemented in place (motion by Nancy Rys; second by Sam Christenson; carried unanimously).
Other administrative matters: the council reviewed a usage report for the new Rock Creek Fire Substation and expressed support for National Night Out planning on Aug. 4, 2026, including an open house for the Public Works Building and Fire Substation. The council authorized Interim Administrator Rauschnot to purchase a replacement office phone system immediately after the existing system failed.
