2025.04.07 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Meeting Minutes for April 7, 2025 Page 2 of 7 Michael Nunan provided the Council with his previous work experience as a deputy, saying he had served in St. Paul Park, Le Sueur, and Henderson. He started with Washington County in January. Starry provided a report on activities at the Sheriff’s Office. He began by explaining the price per capita for Hugo was $104.62, which was considerably less than other cities. Under the Hugo contract, the City receives the full breadth of the Sheriff’s Office. He talked about CrimeView, new software that pulls data from the dispatch center. This helps them spot trends and understand crime patterns. He discussed the increased number of thefts from vehicles in parking lots and cautioned residents to ensure valuables are hidden and doors are locked. Starry reported on the 9,784 service calls the Sheriff’s Department received, which was 7% more than in 2023. The Department issued 561 tickets in 2024 but had many other traffic stops that involved education and/or a verbal warning. There were 272 cases assigned to the investigation’s unit, 118 of which were assigned to Detective Jaring. Arrests and motor vehicle accidents remained about the same as in 2023, and mental health/persons-in-crisis calls had declined. He attributed this to their new system that embedded a crisis communicator and a coordinated response team, which are able to meet needs quickly. He encouraged people to call 911 if they ever see anything suspicious, no matter the time of day, and warned of the continuing fraud tactics being used. Accomplishments during 2024 included the seizure of over $4.1 million in drugs, the arrest of five men recently involved in human trafficking, two national awards received by the K9 Unit, and the positive interactions children have had through the DARE program. He provided a reminder that April 13–19 was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, May 4–10 was National Correctional Officers Week, and May 11–17 was National Law Enforcement Week. He invited the Council to attend the Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the Courthouse on May 15, 2025, at noon. He thanked the Council for their continued support, and Mayor Weidt expressed appreciation for all the experience their team brings to Hugo. Update from Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron was in the audience. Mayor Weidt asked him to give an update on activities at the County. Commissioner Miron began by saying they appreciate the leadership of Sheriff Starry and that the Sheriff’s Department has the full support of the Washington County Board. The County will be working on improvements to Highway 61, and more information can be found on their website. At the last County Board meeting, they honored Adam Josephson, who recently retired from MnDOT. The County is beginning the budget process, keeping in mind that there are many uncertainties due to reduced state and federal funding. Miron said he believed the County had done a good job maintaining a healthy level of reserves.