Thompson to be hired as part-time officer
Minneota will get a new part-time police officer and a summer intern after action Monday night by the Minneota City Council. Minneota Police Chief Bill Bolt asked the council to employ Jonathan Monterroso as a Summer Intern/Community Service/Bike Officer.
Monterroso is a resident of Marshall with family ties in Minneota and Ghent. This will be the second straight summer Chief Bolt has used an intern. He has also offered a part-time job offer to Austin Thompson, who served as last summer’s intern.
The Minneota Police Department has had trouble maintaining enough officers on a part-time basis so Thompson’s addition should be beneficial to the community, according to chief Bolt. Thompson, a native of Minneota, is completing his law enforcement officer education at Minnesota West in Worthington. He will be eligible for hire as an officer in June.
“He has an excellent reputation in the community and has provided dozens of hours of additional ride-along experience,” said the chief. In the past, the department had five part-time officers. Currently, the department has two part-time officers who work full time in the private sector.
Minneota has been working with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council to “take advantage” of their “On the Job Training” program, said Chief Bolt.
“They will provide 50 percent reimbursement for wages during a part-time officer’s training period, up to 360 hours, along with assisting the officer in paying for additional pre-employment expenses,” said the chief.
Thompson will still need to pass the state license exam along with pre-employment checks and exams. As for Monterroso, he is a first-year law enforcement training officer at Alexandria Technical and Community College.
IN OTHER action the board:
•Approved an annual benefit increase to the fire relief association. They increased the benefit level $100 to go from $1,400 to $1,500 per year.
•Approved an abatement of taxes from the Schott Building, which has been sold and is bringing new business into town, said Bill Ufkin of ADOM (Area Development of Minneota). “We look at this as being positive for the town,” said Ufkin. He said $2,700.20 was the total tax bill. Ufkin was asking the council to abate the taxes on the property. “For the betterment of the community, I’d make that motion,” said Councilman Tim Koppien. The council approved the abatement.
•Approved much needed street reconstruction. The council voted to reconstruct one block of both Jackson and Grant Street. “Both of the streets are in need of reconstruction due to their current condition enhanced by the harsh winter,” said City Engineer Trent Bruce. Jackson is the priority because it’s a bit worse due to the amount of traffic that uses the street. The streets need asphalt work and an aggregate base and is estimated to cost about $200,000.
•Approved zoning permits for:
—LaVern Evers of 205 N. Wilson Street for a storage shed;
—Robert Myhre of 208 W. 3rd Street for a shed and
—Andy Buysse of 103 S. Wilson Street for a vinyl fence.
•Approved a request from the City of Ghent, which asked Minneota if they can rent Minneota’s mosquito sprayer this summer. The council approved renting it to Ghent. The city will adopt a payment schedule for renting the spraying equipment.