In a special council meeting and study session, the Babbitt City Council agreed to maintain its police department.
While no official vote was passed, the study session consensus amongst council membersasstatedbyCouncilor Duane Lossing was that, “the community wants us to have our own police department… it’s not gonna be perfect, but it’s better than losing our police department.”
After exploring potential mergers with Breitung, Ely, and East Range Police Departments, and a contract with St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the community and council voiced their desire to maintain the department, despite overtime hours and understaffing issues.
Currently the Babbitt PD has two full-time officers and the rest of the hours are covered by contracted officers from around the county.
There is one other officer projected to join the Babbitt police department, Cory Merten. Merten would be starting no later than July, pending graduation from police school.
Todd Heikkila, interim police chief, said, “You can definitely do a four-man department, but you’re gonna still have the overtime for vacation, sick days, but yes, we were four-man for a long time and it is very doable.”
Once established that the PD is here to stay, the council discussed how to incentivize applicants to Babbitt.
Mayor Andrea Zupancich referenced a conversation she had with Hermantown police officers.
“It basically boiled down to our wages,” she said.
This led to discussion on raising the hourly wages for Babbitt officers. Currently Babbitt PD makes $32.13 an hour, while Ely officers make up to $34.92.
Some other ideas were to have a $10,000 sign-on bonus for two-year minimum contracts, a $3,000 bonus, or a canoe, which was an incentive program Ely ran a few years ago. If interested in applying to the Babbitt Police Department, visit https://www.babbittmn.gov/ employment-opportunities.
The council also discussed the budget outlook for the department. There are several purchases that will need to be made in the next few months, now that the city is not outsourcing their PD equipment.
A new squad car running between $50,000-$70,000 depending on outfitting, updated computers to run new required software which would run about $5,000, and an FBI-directed door alert system for access to the PD are among the budget items.
The city council meeting itself was brief, about 15 minutes. George Eilertson of Northland Securities recommended the council delay action ona resolution regarding the West Babbitt general obligation bond awarding.
“Theconsensuswasthatwewere looking at the issuance of long-term bonds, and a better fit might be…a short-term financing obligation, in light of other opportunities the city may have.”
In other business, the council:
• Tabled a discussion regarding clerk-treasurer wages pending council member Joseph White’s presence.
• Approved city clerk Nancy Sanford’s application to the municipal clerks and finance officers of America Mentorship Program.
• Accepted the counter-offer regarding the closed session West Babbitt Development Agreement.
• Approved a resolution authorizing sponsorship of ATV, Snowmobile, and ski trails operated by the Babbitt ATV and Snowmobile Club.
• Approved Rebekah Littler’s ambulance training.
• Approved a rezoning ordinance.
