Reid Watson joins Akeley city staff
Reid Watson has accepted the positions of water and sewer maintenance superintendent and highway streets and roads maintenance department supervisor for the city of Akeley, effective March 1. Written By: Lorie R. Skarpness | 9:00 am, Feb. 27, 2021
The council made a motion to extend the offer for the city positions to Reid Watson at a special meeting Feb. 23.
The council approved a starting wage of $20 per hour, with wage increases based on completing the licenses required for the positions.
Council member Dan Riggs said pay equity will also need to be addressed, but doesn’t think Watson would accept the job for less since he is currently making $21 per hour.
Extreme cold leads to water woes
Ten days of continuous below-zero temperatures and wind chills that began Feb. 5 caused many pipes in the northland to freeze. Written By: Lorie R. Skarpness | 7:00 am, Feb. 24, 2021
Clint Olson, Jr. manages Elsner Well Drilling.
“People started calling when that wind came up Friday, Feb. 5,” he said. “It was phenomenal. I had through the roof numbers of calls I’ve never seen before. At one point, we couldn’t even give callers a time frame, just that they were caller X on the list. I think why things got so crazy busy is we’ve had a very nice winter. I don’t think most people were properly prepared for that extreme 40-mile-an-hour north wind.”
Akeley City Council sets special meeting for Thursday
The Akeley City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 to interview applicants for water-sewer utilities superintendent and street highway maintenance supervisor and to review a contract proposal for services by A&E if a contract is available at that time. Written By: Lorie R. Skarpness | 11:42 am, Feb. 17, 2021 ×
Options for contracted services for water and sewer discussed at the Feb. 10 Akeley council meeting included complete services for everything a city needs, such as employee training and helping employees obtain required state licenses.
Fees for services ranged from $2,000 to $3,000 per month. It was stated that most contracts for this type of services have a no-fault clause to end them with a 30- or 60-day notice.
Following Kelly Vanden Eykel s resignation city is looking at options to fill his various roles. Written By: Lorie R. Skarpness | 12:00 pm, Feb. 3, 2021 ×
A special meeting was set for 4:30 Tuesday Feb. 2 at city hall to explore options for filling jobs Kelly Vanden Eykl used to do.
The Akeley City Council accepted the resignation of Public Works Supervisor Kelly Vanden Eykel, effective Jan. 25, after nine years of service.
They set a second special meeting for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 to further explore options that were brought up at their Jan. 29 special meeting
“I have taken great pride in the work I have performed competently for the city,” Vanden Eykel said in his resignation letter. “I wish to walk away with my dignity and my head held high. I thank you for the time I had here, for the knowledge I have gained, the friendships I have made, and the growth I have found professionally.”