Brainerd City Council: City engineer to retire

After 30 years of service to the city of Brainerd, city Engineer Jeff Hulsether is calling it quits.

The Brainerd City Council Monday night received Hulsether's resignation for purposes of retirement. His last day will be June 9.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to have served the residents of the city of Brainerd over these past 30 years," Hulsether wrote. "And I want to take this opportunity to thank the city for that tremendous career opportunity."

It's rare for an employee to stay in one place for 30 years, city Administrator Jim Thoreen said. Council members did not comment on Hulsether's notice during the meeting.

The council also took action on finding Hulsether's replacement. The council approved a motion to post the city engineer job internally, so any qualified city employees can apply for the opening. It is expected assistant city engineer Paul Sandy will apply for the position.

Following city policy, the job will be posted for three days after which applicants will go through the city's interview process, council member Gabe Johnson said. Following the interviews, city staff will pass on a recommendation to offer a job to the candidate if those staff members deem the candidate qualified. The council can then approve that recommendation or choose to fill the position using a different process, Johnson said. The city could hire an outside consultant to run the hiring process or have Thoreen and Kris Schubert, human resources coordinator, conduct the search.

In other business, the council:

Received a written report from Police Chief Corky McQuiston on the department's activity for the month of February. The department received 1,467 calls for service during the month. This compares to February of 2016, when the department received 1,248 calls for service.

Accepted a grant from the Otto Bremer Trust in the amount of $44,650. The grant is for the Brainerd Public Library to provide an innovator lab, where community members can create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using technology, materials and instruction.

Authorized the hiring of Miranda Lambert, current community service officer with the Brainerd Police Department, as a records management technician with the department. Her hiring is effective March 21 and she will be paid at 85 percent of the base wage, according to the city's salary administration plan. This amounts to $20.21 per hour. The council also authorized hiring a replacement for Lambert's vacant community service officer position.

Authorized the sale of two decommissioned Brainerd Police Department squad cars. The vehicles are being replaced through the city's lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management.

Authorized the sale of a decommissioned Parks and Recreation Department van. The vehicle is being replaced through the city's lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management.

Approved a temporary 3.2 percent malt beverage on-sale license application submitted by the Brainerd Eagles Club for an event April 22 at Memorial Park, 1700 Mill Avenue.

Approved a temporary on-sale liquor license application submitted by the Brainerd Jaycees for an event May 6 at the Essentia Health Sports Center, 502 Jackson St.

Approved a lawful gambling application for exempt permit submitted by Brainerd Lakes chapter of the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association for a raffle Oct. 28 at the American Legion Post 255, 708 Front St.

Approved a lawful gambling resolution authorizing the American Legion Post 255 to conduct off-site gambling May 6 at the Essentia Health Sports Center, 502 Jackson St.

Approved a lawful gambling resolution authorizing the American Legion Post 255 to conduct off-site gambling July 7-9 at Memorial Park, 1700 Mill Avenue.

Approved a contractor payment to Short Elliott Hendrickson for work through Feb. 25 on the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project in the amount of $6,598.

Approved an event/street closure application submitted by Aadzuhman Shrine Club for a motorcycle rally and car show June 25 in downtown Brainerd. The event will use a parking lot at the corner of South Sixth and Front streets, which is a private lot. The request is for the use of the public parking lot at the corner of South Seventh and Front streets and the closure of Front Street between South Seventh and South Eighth streets.

Approved an event/street closure application submitted by Lowell Elementary School for the Lowell Elementary School Walk-A-Thon from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 11. The request is to close Third and Fourth avenues between G and H streets and G Street between Third and Fourth avenues during the event.