City hires new ambulance director, C.J. Johnson

City Council
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     The City of Monticello now has a new ambulance director.

     During the Dec. 19 city council meeting, the council unanimously approved the hiring of current ambulance department paramedic C.J. Johnson as the director.

     When former Director Brian Hahn resigned earlier this year, a committee was formed to review applications and conduct interviews. Those on the committee included City Administrator Doug Herman, Mayor Dena Himes and Council member Chris Lux. Himes said they interviewed three qualified candidates, but in the end, they all agreed the position should go to Johnson.

     Herman noted that Johnson resides within the community, has the experience and skills, and is committed to the ambulance service.

     Under the employment agreement, it was also noted that Johnson would be allowed to work limited hours at Mercy Hospital as an ER nurse to maintain his patient care skills.

     Johnson would be paid a starting base salary of $50,000 with annual increases.

     The employment agreement is for three years, but Johnson could choose to leave at any time.

In other city business:

     • The council approved the fourth pay request from Eastern Iowa Excavating & Concrete, LLC in the amount of $113,672.34 for work on South Street. This leaves a current retainage of $33,991.86.

     • The council previously approved moving forward with a storm water cost share agreement with Jerry and Sherry Behrends. However, at the council meeting, Behrends indicated the installation costs for two options are twice what he previously agreed to offer.

     Behrends shared two different costs: $10,542 for 140 feet of concrete or $8,690 for 140 feet of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe. He said when the council previously discussed this project earlier this fall, he wasn’t in agreement to these dollar amounts.

     “As long as you can keep the cost down around $4,500,” stipulated Behrends, “I’m all in. But you’re talking $8,000 to $10,000 now. That’s way out of my ballpark.”

     Behrends also said he did not want to be responsible for maintaining the ditch if city debris should plug the pipe.

     The council decided to table approving the proposed agreement until Behrends and Herman had time to come to an agreement on the stipulations.

     • The city will conduct interviews for the Parks and Rec director and superintendent positions this week and next, starting with the director position.

     The city received around 20 applications for the positions.

     • The council discussed the Whiskey River liquor license, which is up for approval at the end of January.

     Police Chief Britt Smith said the owner, Milena Galliano, faces felony charges in Dubuque County. However, the trial has been continued several times. Smith said there does not appear to be a date in which this matter will be resolved in the near future.

     In addition, he said Galliano faces a second OWI offense in Jones County, but is being treated as a 1st offense because they have yet to get a conviction for the 1st charge.

     Smith did say the police department has seen a decrease in call volume when it comes to the establishment.

     He told the council if the owner is convicted of her current charges, this could either prevent her from getting a liquor license or have it revoked.

     “It comes back to the definition of good, moral character,” he said.

     Smith urged the council to set a public hearing on this matter, separate from a regular council meeting, in which the prosecutor of the case from Dubuque County and/or officers from Jones County would be present to offer the facts.

     “A hearing allows all of the evidence to be on the table to be considered,” he said.

     • The council approved a policy related to the use of fund balances including restricted, committed, assigned and unassigned funds.

     It’s already been the council’s practice to approve budgets that have set-aside funds, which is permitted. However, the state auditor recommends the city take an additional step to approve a policy stating how those funds may be spent.

     “It’s a procedure we’re already using,” explained City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen.

     • The council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending parking restrictions on N. Gill Street.

     After Smith spoke with the Monticello Schools Transportation Department, it was recommended that the No Parking signs stay in place as they currently exist, and that the code be amended to prohibit parking on the west side of N. Gill between Fourth and Fifth streets.

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