At the annual organizational meeting, the Rushford Village council approved the addition of several city and public works goals. Two of these were to write a Personnel Manual and to complete steps for A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Program, a part of Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration (MNOSHA) compliance.
Adopted to existing safety statues by the state in 1991, the AWAIR program required many employers to develop and use a formal safety and health program. According to the state’s parameters, it includes how supervisors and employees are to implement it, how participation is established, measured and maintained, methods to identify, analyze and control new or existing hazards, conditions and operations, standards for program communication to employees, how workplace accidents are investigated and corrective action implemented, and lastly, how safe work practices and rules are enforced. With the size of Rushford Village, particularly the low number of staff, this was difficult to achieve.
“Rushford shared their policy and there’s things they have that we don’t have. There are things that need to be tweaked,” suggested City Clerk Mary Miner.
One key step is for the village to appoint a safety coordinator. “I do think it should be Trenten [Chiglo, Public Works Supervisor]. He’s the one on the front line, should we call it,” said Councilor Roger Knutson, who serves as the City of Rushford’s Safety Coordinator, as its Public Works Director. “Documentation has to go to administration.”
After some discussion, it was determined that Chiglo should report safety concerns and incidents to the Personnel Committee, who will then bring it to Clerk Miner for documentation and to the council. Any follow-up will also go to the committee. Miner will continue to be responsible for filing reports to OSHA and Worker’s Compensation when needed.
“We’re too few people. There has to be some adjustment on that,” added Knutson. “Some things have to differ because we’re too few.” A draft of the village’s AWAIR plans/safety coordinator details will be submitted to the Personnel Committee for review before being brought back to the council for final adoption.
As for the Personnel Manual, the village received a quote from Paul Ness, a public sector Human Resources Consultant. Ness indicated he can help construct a manual for a not-to-exceed price of $1,554, not including a minimum of one, but preferably two on-site meetings with staff. On-site meetings are an additional $354.21, including $132.21 for mileage.
“The meeting or meetings will be used to highlight certain policies, present specific choices, and receive responses, and gather other input/feeback from city decision makers,” read the quote. For the cost, Ness will provide the base document, guidance on policy choices, specifically what to include and what to omit, any changes to the base document, as directed, and a review, with recommendations, of the village’s employment application form. Ness recommends the village work with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust staff specifically for items pertaining to OSHA-related requirements such as the safety and health programs.
“It is a lot to go through. It would be good to go through, but it’ll take time,” noted Miner.
“It’s for all of us and all of you,” cautioned City Treasurer Judy Graham. “Should we make our own rules or have someone do it?”
“I just don’t think Trenten and I should be writing it,” added Miner.
“Obviously, being that you’re an employee, you’ll see what’s applicable. He’ll be able to cut out a lot of things. I’m sure he’ll adjust based of off that,” said Knutson. “I see it from both sides. There has to be give and take.”
“It needs to be a working document,” suggested Councilor Mike Ebner. “If we source it out, it takes that personal touch out of it.” The council unanimously approved contracting with Ness.
Prior to the meeting, the council held a public hearing regarding a campground definition change. The change was proposed following by Fillmore County’s adoption of an amendment last October to their own zoning ordinances, including replacement of existing definitions. Rushford Village ordinances note campground and recreational campground. City Attorney, Joe O’Koren, noted that they would not want two definitions.
The county’s ordinance now clarifies a campground as, “Any area, whether privately or publicly owned, used on a daily, nightly, or longer basis for the accommodation of two (2) or more tents or recreational camping vehicles for compensation. Privately owned camping areas of up to four (4) sites without compensation do not fall under the campground definition. Five (5) or more sites, whether free of charge or for compensation are considered a campground.”
The village council approved adoption of the same. Properties wanting five or more sites, whether free or for compensation, are required to secure permitting from the city. “If you have five or more, you have to go through all the steps,” said City Clerk Mary Miner. The village currently has one commercial campground.
The February 15 Planning & Zoning meeting has been canceled due to Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit’s inability to attend. The next meeting will be March 15, at 5:30 p.m., at the Village Hall. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, February 15, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. Both meetings are open to the public.
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