by April Scheinoha
Reporter
Three Thief River Falls police officers received Lifesaving Awards at the Thief River Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, May 5.
Mayor Brian Holmer and Police Chief Dick Wittenberg presented the awards to Sgt. Doug Williams, and Officers Mark Bruggeman and Mike Roff. Each officer was also given a ribbon bar. Wittenberg told them he was proud of them.
The awards were presented for their actions Friday, April 24. On that day, at about 9:30 p.m., Law Enforcement Center dispatchers received a 911 call. Wittenberg said a man who has a history of heart problems had collapsed and was unresponsive. Bruggeman arrived first at the scene. He found the man facedown and unresponsive with no pulse. Bruggeman then rolled the man over and began performing CPR.
Roff and Williams soon arrived and provided lifesaving assistance until a Thief River Falls Area Ambulance crew arrived. The ambulance crew shocked the man’s heart twice with a defibrillator, restoring regular heart rhythm. The officers and ambulance crew then worked together to transport the man to Sanford Medical Center. He is now recovering.
The council approved a resolution in support of Arctic Cat’s application to the Minnesota Investment Program. The council was required to hold a public hearing for the matter. No one from the public appeared.
Arctic Cat is requesting $850,000 in assistance. It is considering expanding its Thief River Falls facility by 27,000 to 70,000 square feet over the next three years. It is anticipated that the proposed $25.7 million expansion and modernization project will retain 150 employees and add 39 employees over the next three years. The expansion plan is contingent on the approval of local incentives and a development agreement.
The council earlier approved a resolution in support of Arctic Cat’s application to the Job Creation Fund.
In a related, separate matter, a tax abatement hearing regarding Arctic Cat’s plans was scheduled Tuesday, May 12. Arctic Cat is requesting a total not to exceed $2.2 million in tax abatements from the city, county and school district over a 15-year term..
The council held a second reading of an ordinance to rezone Lot 4, Block 1, Oakland Park Fourth Addition. Mark Weston plans to purchase a property at 1218 Vanrooy Dr. to construct a 30- to 36-unit upscale, market-rate apartment building estimated to cost $3 million to $3.5 million. Construction is expected to begin this year. Vanrooy Drive is located south of Black Cat.
Weston and the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, which owns the property, requested to rezone the property from General Business District (C-2) to Multi-Family Residential District (R-4).
In a separate, related motion, the council approved a conditional use permit for Weston’s project. Weston and MMCDC requested the permit since the structure would exceed 35 feet. It has a maximum height of 43 feet. The building official and Thief River Falls Fire Department signed off on the permit.
The council heard about issues at Greenwood Cemetery. Council members have received calls regarding dog feces there. Parks and Recreation Director Joe Amundson was apprised of the situation. He said staff have notified people in the past that pets aren’t allowed at the cemetery. In some instances, police have been called for repeat violations.
Amundson was also told that people are driving on the walking path at the nearby Greenwood Trails. He indicated that some infrastructure is being installed to prevent that from happening again.
Holmer signed a proclamation pertaining to Long Term Care Week, which is May 10-17. In part, the proclamation noted that “the wellbeing and happiness of [Thief River Care Center and Oakland Park Communities] residents depend in large part on the nursing staff, nursing aides and others who provide daily, conscientious, hands-on care at Thief River Care Center and Oakland Park Communities and other long-term care settings.”
It further noted staff at both facilities “are trained professionals who collaborate closely with other health care providers to provide quality care and also to elevate the status of their chosen professions.”
The next council meeting is scheduled Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.