More Workers for the Houston Nature Center

Dan Scruggs of DEED’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services visited the Houston February 10 city council meeting to seek approval for a student placement. Scruggs works with 27 schools throughout Winona, Wabasha, Houston and Fillmore Counties. The Houston student Scruggs was representing was interested in doing manual labor; Scruggs found that the Nature Center could use him. 

DEED will fund the wages through Workforce Development; there will be no liability for the city. Scruggs works to make sure his students know what benefits are available to them and how to self-advocate. Scruggs works hand-in-hand with county and school social workers. 

The student will be working 10 to 15 hours per week during the summer. The money provided for any hours not worked will be returned to the grant. Wages for the student will be comparable to the wage of someone else doing the same work. 

City Administrator Michelle Quinn said Nature Center Lead John Langheinrich was “hesitantly excited” to have someone help with outdoor maintenance at the Nature Center on the living tunnel, tree trimming, flower beds, etc.

With the approval of the council, Scruggs will be bringing the necessary paperwork to city hall. 

YCC Lead Job Description

The council also approved the Youth Conservation Corps Lead position description. The lead would be a city employee, but externally funded by the Friends of the Houston Nature Center. The program will involve eight to 10 kids. This would be an eight-week program operating one day a week for about three hours. Since the lead would be a city employee, liability would be covered by the city. The position will be posted on the city website. 

Nature Center Assistants Sought

Currently, two seniors are working as assistants at the Nature Center. They have worked there for two years. As they graduate from high school, the two young women are planning on moving on and have advised Langheinrich to find replacements for them. The city is looking for applicants who want to work every other weekend with some additional hours during the week. 

EMS Salary Increases

After no increases for the past six years, the council decided to increase the fire department chief’s stipend from $500 to $1,200 per year and the three assistant fire chiefs’ stipends from $250 to $600 per year. This is contingent on the Rural Fire Board also approving the increase. 

The council also decided to raise the ambulance director’s stipend by the same percentage as the fire chief’s. The stipend for the ambulance director has not been raised since prior to 2010. The ambulance gets between 200 and 250 calls a year. 

Quinn commented, “It would be equitable; this is not something that has been asked for.” Quinn went on to note, however, that the ambulance director would like to see stipends given to the person in charge of the ambulance training center and the person who cares for maintenance and fueling the ambulances. This will be addressed in the future. The council approved an equitable increase for the ambulance director position.

Other Business

In other business the council:

• Approved gambling permits for Bluff Country Hidden Heroes and the Houston Area Chamber;
• Accepted the official resignation of Police Officer Josh DeBoer who left in June 2024, but had stayed on to help during Hoe Down;
• Approved revised job descriptions for the police department;
• Adopted the countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan; Houston County already held hearings on it;
• Were introduced to Police Officer Trainee Curtis Chapel by Police Chief Brett Hurley;
• Approved the $899 purchase of a refrigerator for the bar area of the Community Center; the council felt it was appropriate for the city to supply the amenity for the center since multiple organizations and groups use the center.