City Council Throws Out Curfew

On Monday, August 15, the Minden City Council failed to pass a motion adopting the Curfew Ordinance.
During their inspection of Bills and Claims, the council discussed payments to multiple phone companies, questioning whether there was a cost-efficient way to combine them into one bill. The Minden Fire Department kitchen was remodeled, but the MFD reimbursed the city for the cost. There was conversation about the excessive overtime being incurred. Council Member Larry Evans, in particular, inquired as to how so much overtime can build up each month. City Treasurer Matt Cederburg said some overtime would be budgeted in the coming budget meeting.
The last couple years the city has accrued between $20,000-25,000  in overtime. Cederburg plans to budget for $15,000, meaning the overtime does need to be reduced. But the council also agreed, with police and sewer departments understaffed, the city was saving money on benefits and other things that helped cover the overtime. The Bills and Claims were approved.
The council heard a proposal to shut down part of First St. for a 5K run in honor of Jeffery Hanson on Saturday, August 27. According to the plan for the run, the road wouldn’t have to be closed because the plan is to leave Hanson’s grave in the cemetery, go 2.5K westward out of town, and then back. The council agreed no approval was necessary, but instructed the organizers to communicate with Minden Police Department about an escort.

For more, read The Minden Courier