WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     Westbrook  — The city council has been concerned with the cost of police protection in the city for some time.

    With the police budget consuming about 18 percent of the city budget, city officials felt a new approach was needed to trim the budget and yet maintain good police coverage.

    The council passed a resolution calling for reduction in the police department. In part the resolution  states the city of Westbrook Police Department shall be comprised of a full-time police chief. In addition, part time officers may be utilized in the absence  of the police chief or when the chief, in consultation with the council, deems that additional coverage is necessary.



    The city council may enter into agreements and or contracts to engage the Cottonwood County Law enforcement to provide additional police protection as needed.

    The city council shall also negotiate and enter into an employment contract for services for the position of police chief which  shall address compensation for service, police coverage, duties and responsibilities, and benefits.

    A contract with current Police Chief Alan  Wahl is being prepared by the city attorney.

    The council is hoping to save about $30,000 a year by the restructuring of the police budget.

    Will wireless reception improve soon? Well after the Municipal Utilities began negotiating with Verizon Wireless several months ago, Westbrook likely will get upgraded in the near future.

    The city signed an agreement with Verizon and the full council approved the signing of the contract. Mayor Rocky Kolar told the council he hoped there would not be any more delays. The council also gave their approval for Verizon to proceed with installing the equipment for the wireless repeater on the water tower.

    The council will look into updating the liquor ordinance to reflect the current law allowing for serving liquor on Sunday.

    City Clerk Katie Steen told the council they need to replace two election judges. Persons interested in becoming an election judge can contact the city clerk.

    Training for judges is paid by the city. The council also voted to raise the judges pay from 9 dollars an hour to 10 dollars an hour.

    Duane Hooge of Bargen Inc. talked to the council about a new seal coating product that is supposed to work better than traditional oil and rock seal coating. The new product is supposed to penetrate the asphalt to a depth of about one and half inches.

    Mayor Kolar told him the council will have to figure out how much they can spend on the project. They will have to hold a special meeting in the next two weeks to decide whether to lock in the price quote for materials.

    The council discussed the 20 mile per hour on First Avenue speed limit. Council person David Moriarty felt there should be reduced speed warning signs approaching each end of the speed zone. The council will check with the county about placing the signs, as it is a county designated road.

    The following building permits were granted: Shaun Vande Kieft to build a garage and steps at his residence on Birch Ave; Loose Moose for a wood fence and wood sign; Rodney Johnson for an entry way on Fourth Street; Joe Koenig for a shed on his property on Sixth Street; Grace Lutheran Church to remove sidewalk on the north side of the Church. Must get variance from neighbors.

Police Report

    Four tickets; 6 open doors; 1 arrest; 1 funeral escort; removed juv. from resident back to Indiana; 1 vehicle impound; DAR - no insurance, call to 412 Elm Ave, property damage gas meter OK; assist home owner in house lock out; case of juv. charges driving without license; assist state patrol removing deer from Highway 30; call to high school fire alarm; assist hospital, disorderly male patient; domestic case, male party removed  from residence; juv female taken to detention,