At the February 7 meeting of the Preston City Council, Mayor Kurt Reicks announced that City Administrator Joe Hoffman had submitted his resignation, effective February 25. His resignation was accepted.
Hoffman has served the city for about 17 years. He has not only been the city administrator, but also general manager for Preston Public Utilities. The Public Utility Commission, which met earlier in the day, believes it will be challenging to find a candidate to replace Hoffman in both the city and utility roles. The commission suggested a general manager/Public Works director position be created with a separate city administrator position.
Hoffman explained the city council can conduct a search by themselves for a new city administrator or they can hire a firm to conduct the search and coordinate the process. David Drown & Associates provides this kind of service at a cost of $20,000 or more. Councilman Robert Maust suggested they take some time, noting that they have good people to handle Hoffman’s duties in the interim. Mayor Kurt Reicks expressed his opinion, saying it is better to spend the money and take advantage of the firm’s expertise.
Hoffman said the city staff is well prepared to take on most of the responsibilities of the city administrator for a time. He suggested the mayor may be called in if there are any zoning issues in the interim. Jim Bakken will likely take on the role of the new general manager/Public Works position. At the next city council meeting, the way forward on the search process for a new city administrator will again be discussed, along with any other related issues.
A motion was approved to allow Hoffman to keep his tablet computer. Maust congratulated Hoffman on the good job he has done for the city.
Letter of support for historic elevator project
Jon DeVries, speaking for the Preston Historical Society and the Historic Riverfront Campus Masterplan Committee, asked the city council to endorse a letter of support for a grant application for the reconstruction of the scale house/bagging shed, handicapped public access to the historic trailhead and to the 1902 Milwaukee Elevator, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The letter of support is for a grant application for funds from the Minnesota Legacy Fund. Historical consultant Robert Vogel/Pathfinder CRM LLC has estimated the reconstruction and other historical improvements to make the elevator an interpretive center and the anchor of the historic campus will cost $597,600. The historic campus will preserve the history of the area. Once the masterplan is completed it is expected to have economic benefits for the area, as a destination tourism center. Rep. Greg Davids supports the project as do several Preston area organizations including the Preston EDA and the Fillmore County Historical Society. The letter of support was approved on a 3-2 vote. Maust and councilman David Collett voted no.
Other business in brief
• The ambulance write-offs for 2021 in the amount of $101,296.46 and in 2020 in the amount of $8,637.68 were approved. The write-offs consist of the funding gap between the ambulance rates and what private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid reimburse for a call. The 2020 accounts receivable balance write-off in the amount of $9,918.31 was approved. This is largely uncollected debts. These debts are not forgiven but are not likely to be paid and are written off for accounting purposes.
• The fire department write-off in the amount of $300 was approved. This charge was for a single-vehicle accident involving an out-of-town freight company. This debt is not forgiven but is unlikely to be paid and is written off for accounting purposes.
• A donation of $100 was approved for the post-prom committee. Post-prom parties sponsored by schools provide a safe and organized late night activity for prom attendees.
• The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, February 22.
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