2008.05.27 CC Minutes - Emergency Neighborhood Meeting

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MINUTES FOR THE EMERGENCY HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 27, 2008 AT THE ONEKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO MAY 25, 2008 TORNADO Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. PRESENT: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, PW Director Chris Petree, PW Lead Worker Tom Smith, CD Assistant Dennis Fields, City Engineer Jay Kennedy, Fire Chief Jim Compton, and Administrative Volunteer Nathan Ehalt OTHERS: Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton Mayor Fran Miron provided some general comments regarding the progress and event of the day. Mayor Miron suggested daily meeting at 7:30 pm at the Oneka Elementary School each night for the rest of the week, then updated residents regarding the Prindle Family Fund at US Bank of Hugo. The Mayor reported that a lost and found has been established at the City's Fire Hall to allow residents to look for items of importance. PW Director Chris Petree provided an update regarding debris removal. Handouts available at the meeting outlined how debris should be sorted and placed curbside. Some removal was completed in the neighborhood this day, and the effort will be quadrupled tomorrow, with construction debris being the focus. Over -night efforts are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday nights to get the neighborhood cleaned quickly. Mayor Miron mentioned a burning ban in the neighborhood, and that there is a sign-up sheet for professional volunteers to come to their property. Mayor Miron reported the following: Hugo Relief Funds are setup at the Lake Area Bank in WBL and the US Bank in Hugo; a $10,000 donation from Xcel Energy; donations can be made to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Food Shelf. Many donations have already come in and were available at the meeting for residents to take and the process for distributing the funds. More information will be available later. The Red Cross will be providing meals at the Hugo American Legion Post 620, with other services and out -reach services available at the Mpls Red Cross by appointment at 612-871-7676. They will be involved on Saturday's cleanup day providing snacks and first-aid stations. Offers of housing have come in with a list being provided at the meeting. Mayor Miron discussed criteria for credentials that will be required to gain access to the tornado site and outlined the following: no more resident credentialing; media has credentials for access to the neighborhood; contractors/insurance adjusters will continue to be credentialed; Attorney General's Office is available to assist if there are issues with insurance contractors; residents should contact law enforcement or City staff if they are uncomfortable with people in the neighborhood or witness non -credentialed individuals or contractors; and on -lookers and others who do not serve any purposed in the neighborhood should be referred to law enforcement. Mayor Miron discussed emergency management protocols and reported information regarding number of sirens, maintenance intervals, time out of the sirens, the fact that there is not an all -clear siren. Deb Paige from Washington County described the procedure related to the emergency sirens