After months of discussion, the City of Rushford Village has officially hired Kyle Chiglo as the new Public Works/Maintenance Supervisor. Following an interview with the Personnel Committee, comprised of Councilors Robert Hart and Roger Knutson, Clerk Mary Miner, and Scheck, it was recommended that the hire be approved by the council. Chiglo was an applicant five years ago when the Village hired current supervisor Travis Scheck, but Chiglo pulled his application before final interviews could be conducted. This time, he was the lone applicant.
Knutson, who has extensive experience with public works, serving as the City of Rushford’s Director, noted that Chiglo does not have a wastewater certificate and would need to get a collection license at a minimum. His water licensing status is similar. “He felt confident he could pass those,” he noted. In the interim, the Village will be able to utilize Scheck’s licensures.
“One of the problems is that you have to work for a year before taking the tests. At the same time, it can be a lot. It’s nice if you can do separately, but the sooner the better,” added Knuston. He felt the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency should be made aware of the challenges with licensures and the agreement with Scheck to continue writing required reports until Chiglo is licensed.
Chiglo is currently employed by Norway Township and it was noted that his intention is to continue to work for them part-time, as he takes this new full-time position with the Village. The job is essentially up to 40 hours per week in the spring/summer/fall and up to 32 hours in the off-season. He will begin work immediately. “Obviously he fit well and he was our only applicant, we recommend to approve his hire,” added Knutson.
“We’re fortunate to find someone this qualified,” said Hart. “He’s a quick learner.”
Further discussion of the department included a suggestion to document goals and a set pace of what projects are being done, as well as continuing to search for a part-time worker. “For safety reasons, more efficiency, and backup, if we have the funds,” clarified Knutson.
In other news, partially completed mapping of utility lines in South Rushford will resume. Work was begun several years ago by Bolton & Menk, but with more pressing projects and a staffing change, the mapping halted. Current City Engineer, Derek Olinger, will resume work. The cost is an estimate $1,200-1,500.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping is critical as it now only shows underground areas of underground utility, it highlights curb stops and shut offs by Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, contouring, and more.
“It’s really handy for locating, for determining flows; it speeds up locating so much,” stressed Knutson. Having the information available for all city staff and related entities also keeps everyone on the same page, even with department or council turnovers.
“It’s giving you a better proximity of finding things,” added Scheck. “With someone new coming in, it’s going to be a very handy tool.”
Another area of concern for South Rushford, brought to the council’s attention by residents Evan Meier and Jonas Sublett, is speeding within neighborhoods. Meier noted concern for children in the area, as well as walkers in the area of Plummer Street and Darr Lane. The city had worked cooperatively with the county to order a radar sign for the area of Plummer and Main Street and the sign was due this spring. However, current discussion with the county indicates they are waiting on other cities to pay their portions before the signs are ordered.
Discussion also covered the recommendation of a speed bump for Plummer Street. The Village had placed one on nearby Goodrich Street in 2019 and received a lot of opposition to it from residents. It was later removed for winter. Meier indicated he had some preliminary cost estimates which he would forward to the city. The city may choose to utilize the speed bump in possession from Goodrich Street, but several noted it was an “aggressive speed bump.”
Both Meier and Sublett maintained that the majority of speeding in the neighborhood is not residents, but deliveries and visitors to area homes, as well as those not understanding it’s a dead end street. Both Plummer Street and Darr Lane are downhill slopes. The area is zoned 30 miles per hour, but around children at play signs, the recommended speed is 20 miles per hour.
“It’s only a matter of time until someone gets hurt,” stressed Meier. “There’s just so many kids there right now. It’s scary. They’re coming up to play [at the city park] all the time and the people walking up that road… it’s awesome. It’s great, but something is going to happen.”
Knuston suggested the topic be added to the agenda for the July meeting to allow the council to do some neighborhood canvassing and fact finding. “It gives us some time to think about it ourselves. It’s important for you guys to bring it forward.”
In the meantime, the Village will look at placing a yield or stop sign at the intersection, which is currently uncontrolled. City Attorney Joe O’Koren indicated that both St. Paul and Minneapolis recently went through the process to reduce speeds on city-owned and maintained streets and suggested the Village could do the same. He will conduct some fact finding on legalities and safety. A letter will also be mailed to all area residents will be sent via certified mail from O’Koren regarding the issue and the possibility that the city may install the speed bump. If residents do not sign for the certified mail, a secondary letter will be mailed.
“We have to look out for the residents, the children of the Village especially,” noted Scheck.
“I want to stress we’re not doing this to be confrontational. We’re doing this to help everyone up there,” added Knutson.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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