2021.10.18 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for October 18, 2021 Page 3 of 5 Approve the Withdrawal of Jodie Guareschi’s Retirement from the Fire Department At its September 7, 2021, meeting, Council approved the retirement of Jodie Guareschi from the Fire Department. Since then, Jodie had stated her desire to remain on the Department. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the withdrawal of the retirement of Jodie Guareschi from the Fire Department. Approve Hiring of Anna Wobse as Finance Director On May 19, 2021, Council appointed Finance Coordinator Anna Wobse as the Interim Finance Director after the passing of Finance Director Ron Otkin on May 5, 2021. On June 7, 2021, the Council directed staff to negotiate a contract with Baker Tilly to provide executive recruitment services for a new finance director. Over the next four month, the recruitment process took place concluding with interviews of five candidates held on October 4 and 5, 2021. The interview team consisting of City Administrator Bryan Bear, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, Public Works Director Scott Anderson, Council Member Mike Miron, and former Council Member Chuck Haas selected current Interim Finance Director Anna Wobse to be the best fit for the position. Mayor Weidt removed this item from the Consent Agenda to thank everyone involved in the interview process and thank Anna keeping the City on track as the Interim Finance Director. The Council took turns congratulating her for her hard work and dedication to the City. They were pleased with application process, and a comment was make that you have to look outside to figure out what you have on the inside. Weidt made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the hiring of Anna Wobse as the new Finance Director. All Ayes. Motion carried. Update on Annual Bus Tour The City held its annual bus tour on Saturday, October 9, 2021. City Administrator Bryan Bear provided a recap of the tour. Eighteen sites were visited and there was discussion afterwards. Some of the things talked about were affordable housing, infrastructure and development, needs along the Highway 61 corridor, stormwater reuse projects, park developments and trail connections, and fire protection in rural Hugo. The Hugo Fire Department served as hosts this year with the tour beginning and ending at the Fire Hall. Bear brought up the topic of how to get more participation from commissioners in the future. There was a suggestion to talk about it during the commissions’ goal setting sessions to see if a different day or time would work better. Update on North Monument Sign Community Development Director Rachel Juba explained that in 2020, staff had provided the City Council with a new northern entry monument sign design for Highway 61 that was a smaller replicate of the existing monument sign on CSAH 8. At the time the cost estimate provided by WSB was $109,000 with a 20% contingency. The City Council had directed staff to