HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008.05.27 CC Minutes - Emergency Neighborhood MeetingMINUTES 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
City Council meeting of May 27, 2008
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entire north zone was activated. She described the timing of the notices, siren activations, and
tornado sightings.
Several residents mentioned that they felt the sirens should be on the whole time rather than timing
out. Deb said the County will be reviewing this issue in light of the method the National Weather
Service was to report tornadoes and the Hugo storm.
Mayor Miron discuss the following: volunteer efforts; encouraged people to minimize on -street
parking during the clean-up efforts during the week and over the weekend; responded to a question
regarding mail delivery in the neighborhood, with ongoing discussions with Postmaster (mail will be
delivered or held at the Post Office). Several residents suggested that the credentialing should
continue to keep out gawkers and others with no business in the neighborhood. Mayor Miron stated
that residents should keep their credentials and that the Sheriff's Department and City staff will keep
an eye out.
Administrative volunteer Nate Ehalt highlighted the volunteer efforts coming up this Saturday.
Residents need to be at home to let volunteers on their property.
Mayor Miron provided some information regarding the estimated damages within the City from an
assessment standpoint.
WBL Superintendent Ted Blaesing responded to a question regarding school busing; Ted stated that
they would be keeping buses out of the site.
Another neighborhood meeting will be held tomorrow at the Oneka Elementary School at 7:30 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jay Kennedy
City Engineer