Preston Appoints Tourism/Chamber Director

The Preston City Council appointed a new Tourism/Chamber director at the March 5 meeting.

City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton reported there had been 10 applicants. Three were interviewed and the position was offered to Kristina LiBretto. She is a relatively recent resident of the city, having moved from New York. LiBretto will begin at her new job on March 11.

A discussion on how best to appropriate Public Safety Funds continued. The city received a total of $58,157 from the state. In early February, approval was given to use a portion for the purchase of new pagers. Throckmorton reported that 42 ANCOM pagers were ordered at a cost of $15,813 for fire department and EMS.

Resolutions were adopted to accept a transfer of Public Safety Funds from Lanesboro in the amount of $15,819.50 and from Fountain in the amount of $5,000. These funds were added to the portion used for police equipment. Equipment includes three toughbook computers, three portable radios, three radar units, and one squad camera. The total cost of the equipment is $51,436.28. Of this total, $30,616.78 will come out of Preston’s portion of the Public Safety Funds; the balance will come from Lanesboro and Fountain.

A motion was approved to use the funds for police as listed above and to divide the remaining $11,727.22 of Preston’s Safety Funds equally between the fire department and the EMS, so they can decide how to best use the remaining funding.

• Ilene Edwards reported that three Pop-up Markets are planned for 2024: May 18 (Trout Days), July 13, and September 21 (Autumn Trail). The downtown Pop-up Market dates were approved as presented.

• A driveway access request submitted by Pauline Orban (112 Valley St. NW) was approved. A conditional use permit was approved at the February 20 meeting that will allow the use of the single-family home for boarding and lodging. One condition requires the provision of one on-site parking space for each of the three bedrooms. Plans have been submitted for a paved driveway (9 foot by 85 foot) and a parking area (27 foot by 18 foot) on the property. Thirty foot of curb will have to be removed.

• An employee assistance program was approved. Throckmorton explained, in order to be eligible for the State Disability Fund, which can reimburse expenses for employee claims, the city will need to provide in-service training or an Employee Assistance Program. He recommended a program provided by SandCreek which will provide three sessions per client per incident. The total cost for 67 employees will be an annual expense in the amount of $1,005. The total cost will be broken down and come out of each department’s budget.

• The city council will meet next on March 18.