Hard work results in longer days
NEW RICHLAND
Editor/Publisher
Mayor Gail Schmidt welcomed new City Administrator Michelle Johnson during the New Richland City Council’s regular meeting, April 26. Johnson’s first day was Tuesday, May 4.
Following a discussion regarding city financials, the consent agenda items were approved. The People’s Service report was tabled until the May 10 meeting, when the department plans to announce the new city employee filling the vacancy left by now full-time peace officer, Josh Knutson.
Streets and water report
Maintenance Department Director Ryan Nissen presented the Streets and Water report and asked the council to consider street improvements for 2021.
NR city administrator hired
NEW RICHLAND
Editor
The New Richland City Council announced Michelle Johnson has accepted an offer to be New Richland’s next City Administrator at its regular meeting, Monday, April 12.
Many New Richland residents were surprised to hear of the resignation of City Administrator Sara McKay after just several months on the job. Council acted swiftly and offered the position to the person they felt was the next most qualified candidate from those candidates interviewed last year.
Councilperson Loren Schlaak asked whether Johnson’s experience would allow her to do the job effectively.
Mayor Gail Schmidt is confident she’s ready. “She comes highly recommended. She’s got city clerk experience. She knows the fund accounting. She’s got a degree in accounting. She’s got experience on the city council, and in the clerk [position/office], and now she’s been at the county.”
CARES Act money mishandled across Southern Minnesota
NEW RICHLAND Editor
Of nearly $7.5 million distributed to eleven southern Minnesota cities to support struggling persons and businesses, roughly 17.5 percent ($1.3 million) was awarded to local businesses according to federal guidelines. The remaining funds appear to have been used to pad city checkbooks.
Many southern Minnesota cities have used a loophole to allow the use of money from the Federal CARES Act program according to their own discretion. Cities are taking these funds and using them for previously budgeted safety salaries. Doing this allows these cities to take the funds previously allocated for public employee salaries and deposit them, as one director remarked, “Right into the bank account.”