Hugo Bits & Pieces
Parks Commission's Cheesebrow Resigns
Kitty Cheesebrow
Hugo Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Advisory Commission Chair Kitty Cheesebrow has announced her resignation, citing "increased work demands this fall with longer hours and greater responsibilities."
Cheesebrow, who has served on the committee for the last four-plus years, will officially step down on October 1, according to her August 7 resignation letter to Mayor Fran Miron and members of the City Council.
"Thank you so much for the opportunity to work on the Parks Commission. . I have enjoyed the work tremendously and feel pride in the accomplishments we have made," she wrote.
Cheesebrow added that she will continue to serve on the Hugo Historical Commission, which she termed "truly a labor of love."
Parks Commission Vice Chair Pete Pedersen has agreed to serve as interim chair until Cheesebrow's permanent replacement is named.
The council accepted the resignation September 18 and authorized city staff to advertise for a replacement, with Council Member Chuck Haas offering special praise for Cheesebrow's work. The council also will give Cheesebrow an official certificate of appreciation.
"She has served this commission well for all this time . and has been just a wonderful person to work with," Haas said. "We're sorry that her job change means that her time commitment to the city has to be less."
Parks Site Visits Slated
The public is invited to the city Parks Commission's October 11 tour of Hugo's new and existing park sites.
"If you're interested, call City Hall staff ahead of time so the necessary accommodations can be made," Miron said of the annual tour, scheduled to depart from City Hall at 5 p.m.
Miron's comments came after the City Council voted unanimously to accept the Parks and Recreation Commission's September 13 formal invitation to attend the tour.
"They're excited," City Administrator Mike Ericson said of the commission. "And they wanted to extend a personal invitation to the council."
Miron then added, "Obviously, the public is also allowed on the tour."
RCWD Advisory Committee Member Sought
The council also is looking for new members on the Rice Creek Watershed District's Citizen Advisory Committee, which, among other things, will guide the upcoming 10-year update of the district's comprehensive water management plan.
The advisory committee, which typically meets about once a month, also reviews regulations affecting water quality in the district, Miron noted at the council's September 18 meeting.
"The advisory committee is similar to our Planning Commission at the city level," Miron explained. "If anyone is interested, they should certainly come forward at City Hall."
Travel Reimbursement Policy Clarified
In response to Haas' recent inquiry about amending Hugo's travel reimbursement policy, City Hall staff indicated that an existing ordinance already covers council members' official out-of-town trips.
Haas had noted that while council membership increasingly involves travel to special meetings, conferences and other events outside Hugo, City Hall's reimbursement policy does not specifically mention out-of-town travel.
However, the city's ordinance on elected officials' salary and compensation can be interpreted as allowing reimbursement for official out-of-town travel, according to a September 11 analysis by City Hall intern Matt Stemwedel.
Stemwedel's analysis, which was presented at the council's September 18 meeting, specifically mentioned the compensation ordinance's sections on travel, training and mileage, which allow reimbursement if authorized in advance by the City Council.
City Attorney Dave Snyder agreed with Stemwedel, although he admitted that "by and large, we're talking about a very modest reimbursement policy - and, I might add, a little-used policy."
Haas, meanwhile, said official trips to out-of-town meetings and conferences of the League of Minnesota Cities or the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, for example, can be especially expensive.
"As the city grows . we'll probably be asked to attend more [out-of-town] meetings," he added. Council salaries "are very modest - and that's just fine. . But I think out-of-pocket expenses should be covered."
Haas also noted that reimbursement for council members' out-of-town travel is common in other Minnesota communities.
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