Two new police officers were sworn-in as part of the proceedings at Tuesday’s Becker City Council meeting.

 

Becker Police Chief Brent Baloun introduced Paul Hickerson and Brian Flynn and Clerk Julie Blesi had them give their oath before a packed city chamber hall full of friends, family and well-wishers.

Hickerson grew up in Otsego and has had a lifetime passion for justice. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University in St. Paul and attended law enforcement skills training in Alexandria. He was hired by the city in April.

 

Flynn grew up in Hopkins and initially joined the Minnetonka Police Explorer program his senior year in high school. He attended Winona State University and also completed his law enforcement skills training in Alexandria. Flynn was hired by the city in May.

 

Attorney Scott Lepak passed out an accommodation and reimbursement agreement between the City of Becker and BNSF to have BNSF’s contractor perform the extension work of the utility casings the city wants done on BNSF property for the rail expansion.

 

This agreement, Lepak says, will allow the rail company to complete its expansion of the line and extend the casings at several points along the line.

 

In May, the city granted a temporary construction easement to BNSF to conduct construction activities on the city’s property. Lepak asked council to consider extending that easement agreement by an additional 120 days to ensure the project get completed in that time frame.

 

It will also allow BNSF to finish any “punch list” items, if any needed to be resolved.

 

Lepak recommended the easement be granted so the project can continue without interruption and council concurred.

 

Council pulled the agenda item titled “permanent easement for Hancock Ave. at-grade crossing” for Tuesday’s meeting.

 

The item was to grant BNSF a permanent easement over a portion of its property to complete realignment improvements to the public roadway crossing at Hancock Street.

 

Council will look to further discuss the agenda item at a future workshop or council meeting.

 

Clerk Blesi presented two proposed drug and alcohol testing policies — one for commercial drivers (DOT) and one for employees and non-commercial drivers (non-DOT).

 

Blesi said it was important for the city to distinguish between federal DOT and non-DOT drug and alcohol testing, since it is crucial for DOT tests to be completely separate in all respects. She said it was especially important for compliance with federally mandated random DOT drug and alcohol testing rates for employers.

 

Blesi said the League of Minnesota Cities recently posted model policies for both tests and staff decided it would be worthwhile for the City of Becker to update their existing policies.

 

The federal 1994 DOT highway administration regulations require drug testing in certain circumstances for certain employees who perform “safety-sensitive” functions in conjunction with a commercial driver’s license. Blesi’s updated policies address who can perform the tests, how they are collected and what procedures need to be followed when returning an employee to safety-sensitive duties following a DOT drug or alcohol violation.

 

Blesi said the personnel committee and Attorney Lepak reviewed the two policies and approved them. 

 

Council Members Tracy Bertram and Lori Keller motioned and seconded the two policies and all members approved.

 

Treasurer Sarah Brunn said she had been working over the past few months with Sherburne County on developing a workplace wellness program. As part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). funding has been made available to the county to assist in the development of wellness activities. Brunn said she applied for the funding of an employee intranet site and was officially approved earlier this month in the amount of $5,000.

 

Brunn said there are no matching funds required and the only commitment for the city is to provide for on-going maintenance and enhancement of the site once it is completed.

“The city is hoping to leverage the site and its information to kick-start an enhanced wellness program,” said Brunn.

 

The site will provide many benefits to employees, Brunn said, on various wellness components and will also assist the city in coordination of the various city medical benefits which can include reducing health care costs, increase productivity and reduce absenteeism.

 

The funding for the project will be used to pay for hardware, software, licenses and IT set-up.

 

• Meet with the Mayor will occur Saturday at Kolbinger Park at 9 a.m.;

 

• A benefit for the Maurer family is scheduled for Sunday at St. Marcus Church in Clear Lake from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.;

 

• Cruise Night is scheduled for Wed., Aug. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Becker Furniture World;

 

• A clay shoot is scheduled for Sept. 10 at Wild Marsh for the Farm Friends Barn fundraiser starting at 2 p.m.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.