BAXTER - Students with mild to moderate disabilities will be able to work with Baxter's Parks and Trails Division for soft skills employment training.
Tuesday, the city's Parks and Trails Division sought approval to participate in Central Lakes College (CLC) Occupational Skills Program. Through the program, a supervised student would work with Parks and Trails Tuesdays and Thursdays now through May 12. The pre-internship training was approved as an agreement between the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, CLC and Baxter.
The student learning experience is expected to include projects such as cleaning up brush and marking ball fields, flooding ice rinks, raking and snow removal, detailing trucks and minor equipment repair. Soft skills are defined by the Department of Labor as work readiness skills with key skill areas in communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and professionalism.
In other business, the city council:
Banned parking on either side of Inglewood Drive from Excelsior Road to Highway 210. With the improvements planned for Inglewood Drive and with state aid funds being used for the project, the city reported there is not adequate parking on both sides of the street to meet requirements.
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In a similar move, the city banned parking at all times on both sides of Novotny Road from Highway 371 to Dellwood Drive. Parking was also banned on Dellwood Drive from Novotny Road to Whispering Woods Lane. Parking was also restricted on Isle Drive from Highland Scenic Drive (County Highway 48) to Glory Road.
Approved installation of the "Yellow Ribbon" community signs. Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted explained the city has been working with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign for several years. The area was recognized as a "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Community" and plans were in place for two signs with that designation at the northern and southern entrances to the city with the population sign.
The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon committee includes representatives from Baxter, Brainerd, Crow Wing County, local military branches and private businesses. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon works to connect servicemembers and their families with community support before, during and after deployments. With the community designation, the committee worked to purchase 10 signs. Brainerd plans to install two and Crow Wing County will place six, the Baxter Police Department reported.
Exsted said the move for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon signs has been complicated a bit by the signs the city approved to install designating the community as a Blue Ribbon community for the Brainerd Public Schools honored by the National Blue Ribbon award for the nation's best-performing schools. The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign estimates the signs will cost $200 each and is working to reimburse the city for costs.
Exsted said he was hopeful the city will be able to move forward with the signs recognizing the square footage is increasing for the population sign, Paul Bunyan Trail sign, Blue Ribbon school sign and now the Yellow Ribbon sign. With the council approval, staff will install the signs at no charge and work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on the installation.
Directed staff to get proposals from engineering firms for professional services related to city's annual mill and overlay street projects and full reclamation projects in 2015. The work is part of the city's pavement management plan to extend pavement life and work on a regular basis to ensure the streets are in good shape. This is the first year the plan will be implemented. Staff recommended sending the requests for proposals to Bolton & Menk, Short Elliott Hendrickson and Widseth Smith Nolting.
Heard updates with council member Quinn Nystrom and Acting Mayor Todd Holman attending the League of Minnesota Cities conference this past weekend in the Twin Cities with sessions for newly elected and more senior elected officials. Council member Steve Barrows previously attended training. Noting Nystrom's experience, Barrows said it was exciting to see the number of young people who stepped up to seek public office.
Holman noted the League courses on being creative to encourage more civil engagement with government. He also attended the Brainerd School District celebration for the six elementary schools recognized with the Blue Ribbon, noting the recognition comes with the work of family, administration, faculty and support staff.
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Met in closed session for land acquisition and for labor contract negotiations.
RENEE RICHARDSON, associate editor, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz .
