01-15-03 WSITEM 3.2.
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 15, 2003
4:30 PiI
1. Mayor Fournier will call the Workshop to order -
Mayor Fournier called the Workshop to order at 4:33 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Virginia Wendel, Vern
Heidner, Dan Scharber and Jerry Struthers.
Sheriff Gary Miller and Deputy Dan Anselman.
Staff: Mike Robertson, City Administrator; Judy Hudson, City Clerk.
Discussion of Police Issues.
Mayor Fournier updated Sheriff Miller that the City Council has decided to form a Police
Commission with seven residents and two Councilmembers. Mike Robertson asked
about the scheduling of deputies for Otsego. He said he would like to see the same
officers on for the full 6 -day shift rather than splitting the shifts so that they would
become more familiar with the City and its ordinances.
Sheriff Miller explained he doesn't do the scheduling but it is a very complex system and
he will look at the schedule.
CM Struthers asked that the loose dogs should be turned over to the Monticello Animal
Control rather than just returning them to the owners. The Council agreed. Sheriff Miller
said there would be County Wide Meeting for all officials to discuss issues such as dogs
with the County Attorney.
Deputy Anselman went over the 2002 Nuisance Calls. Sheriff Miller said they applied
for a grant for added snowmobile patrol and did receive it for St. Michael, Monticello and
Otsego where they have 24-hour coverage. Mayor Fournier said they must be doing a
great job because he hasn't received any snowmobile complaints.
Both Mayor Fournier and CM Heidner said they haven't received any phone calls on law
enforcement issues or complaints for the last couple of months. Sheriff Miller said the
crime rate and calls in Otsego have gone down and attributes this to the 24-hour
coverage.
Mike Robertson asked what generates a search warrant. Sheriff Miller explained they
have a computerized system that a clerk enters all activity and calls. Wright County is the
States 10`h largest agency and the 4`h in arresting drug related calls and gives credit to the
Drug Task Force. The Sheriff said he encourages everyone to call in to report anything
they consider suspicious because it is all entered into the database.
CM Heidner asked if the Sheriff's Budget would be affected by the State's shortfall.
Sheriff Miller said it would be but that Wright County is in better shape than a lot of other
counties.
City Council Workshop of January 15, 2003, cont'd. Page 2.
Deputy Anselman said Monticello is having their Police Commission Meeting next
Wednesday night at 7 PM.
CM Heidner feels that having the deputies driving through the neighborhoods especially
in the afternoons has made a lot of difference. Sheriff Miller said he would reinforce the
neighborhood drive through with the officers.
CM Struthers requested to have at least one officer's log to review with the Sheriff
Report.
The next Police Workshop was set for April 15, 2003, 4:30 PM.
Mike Robertson requested the Sheriff to direct the dispatchers to tell Otsego residents to
call City Hall for City Ordinances. The Sheriff said he has already done that.
CM Wendel updated the Council on her recent River Rider Meeting with Wright County
River Rider has merged with Sherburne County and there will be a reductions in routes.
Mayor Fournier set a Public Work's Subcommittee Meeting for Thursday, January 30`x' at
4:30 PM and an Administrative Subcommittee Meeting for February 6`h, 4:30 PM.
Workshop,atljourned at 5:,'�4 PM.
`AKyor LI�6 Four'fiier
Recorded by Judy Hudson, City Clerk
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