Brainerd has decided to modify the requirements for its new fire marshal/deputy chief position in the Brainerd Fire Department, in order to collect a larger pool of applicants.
Monday, the Brainerd City Council approved a modified job description for the position and decided to re-advertise for the opening.
The city received 11 applications during the initial round of advertising for the position, with only two applicants meeting the minimum qualifications. Six applicants did not meet the requirement of currently being a Minnesota State Certified Fire Inspector and three others did not possess two years of supervisory experience.
The revised job posting changes the requirement from possessing the Fire Inspector Certification to having the ability to obtain one within six months of hire. The city would cover the cost of obtaining the certification, but if the employee left within two years of taking the position, the employee would have to reimburse the city for the cost, council member Dave Pritschet said.
In a Personnel and Finance Committee meeting prior to the city council meeting, Fire Chief Tim Holmes said the certification requires the completion of a 40-60 hour class, at a cost of $850.
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The Civil Service Commission will now meet to re-advertise for the position, said Kris Schubert, human resource coordinator. Schubert will contact the 11 applicants and notify them of the changes to the requirements.
"Some of those people who applied will now qualify," Schubert said.
The fire marshal/deputy chief base wage is 75 percent of the fire chief's base wage, as the primary duties for the position will be inspections and deputy chief functions will be performed as needed. The wage is based on an average between fire inspector and deputy fire chief positions. A desired qualification for the position would be living at a residence no farther than 10 minutes away from either fire station in the city.
In other business, the council:
Set a time and date to interview the six candidates who applied to fill the vacant mayor position. The city council will interview Kevin Goedker, Chad McCoy, Ed Menk, Don Samuelson, Kevin Stumpf and Kevin Stunek from 5-7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 30. The council will then vote and select a new mayor following the interviews, with the new mayor being sworn in at the Dec. 7 meeting.
Recognized the Mills family for a donation to the Brainerd Police Department of 18 like-new Huldra Mark IV tactical rifles. The cost of purchasing the rifles as new would be more than $20,000. The donation allows the department to assign identical patrol rifles to all staff and vehicles, as well as upgrade the existing rifles. The Huldra Arms brand is owned and sold exclusively at Mills Fleet Farm, according to the Huldra Arms website. Stewart Mills III, accepting the certificate of appreciation on behalf of his family, said the line of firearms is designed for law enforcement use.
Received a report from Police Chief Corky McQuiston on the department's activity for the month of October. The department fielded 1,591 calls during the month, which compares to 1,576 calls during October of 2014.
Approved a draft agreement between the city and Crow Wing County for maintenance of certain roads which lie in both jurisdictions. The agreement has been in place for eight to 10 years, and affects portions of Ashmun Road, Sugarberry Creek, Serene Pine Court, McKay Road and Dellwood Drive.
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Accepted a bid for 2015-16 downtown snow removal from Tom's Backhoe Service. The city sought bids from six contractors and Tom's Backhoe was the only one to respond. The base bid for 4 inches of snow is $5,555 and each additional inch of snow is $1,485. This represents an increase of 10 percent over last year's unit prices.
Approved payments for temporary and utility easements for the 2016 Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project. The easements, paid to two property owners, total $2,310.
Approved a payment to Tim Thompson Plumbing in the amount of $4,200 for the 1517 Norwood Street sewer replacement project.
Approved a payment to the city of Baxter in the amount of $1,383 for the Fairview Road chip seal project.
Accepted with regret the resignation of Building Inspector Josh Stewart, effective Friday. The council also authorized filling Stewart's vacancy with a housing inspector and advertising for the vacancy.
Approved an engagement letter with CliftonLarsonAllen for 2015 audit services at a cost of $44,000.
Called for citizen applicants to fill two vacancies on the Cable TV Advisory Commission. There are also vacancies on the Charter Commission, Planning Commission, Rental Dwelling Board of Appeals and Walkable Bikeable Committee.
SPENSER BICKETT may be reached at 218-855-5859 or spenser.bickett@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/spenserbickett .
