“It was damn embarrassing,” said Clarkfield City Councilman Robert Schlenner to Clarkfield Police Chief Ian Hodge as he described an incident last week where minors were being destructive near Clarkfield Consumers Co-op.
According to Schlenner, after Clarkfield residents placed a 911 call at 10:00 p.m. to stop what was described as “some kids raising hell on bikes”, it took over 30 minutes for Clarkfield Police to respond.
Councilman Dave Biermaier asked Hodge to appear in front of the council to answer questions raised by what Biermaier called several complaints from local residents.
“I don’t disagree with you one bit, (the deputy) should have been there quicker,” said Hodge who assured the council that he had discussed the incident at Clarkfield Co-op with the deputy.
Biermaier also brought up an incident in Granite Falls where the Clarkfield Police Department was asked to provide mutual aid to the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff and Granite Falls Police Department in response to a complaint about minors drinking at an event at the Granite Run Golf Course. At least five squads from the various agencys responded to the complaint. One ticket for minor consumption was issued.
Biermaier questioned the prudence of Clarkfield police responding to such a call, while Hodge maintained that he would never want to deny assistance to another officer or agency. Taking both incidents in tandem, Biermaier questioned the need for the city to employ two officers. Hodge stated that the City of Clarkfield pays two officers for roughly the same amount that Yellow Medicine County and Granite Falls pays for one.
Said Biermaier, “We hear that one of the reasons to have two officers is to have a police presence to prevent crime, but when there’s no presence... I guess I’m just questioning what the city is getting out of the deal.”
Before leaving, Hodge thanked the council for the discussion and asked that they continue to come to him with any questions or problems when they arise concerning the Clarkfield Police Department.
Dumpster use
Pending the approval of the city’s lawyer, the Clarkfield City Council passed changes to the city’s garbage ordinance to regulate dumpster use in the city.
Changes to the ordinance will become effective Sept. 1.
All the changes to the ordinance center around the use of dumpsters or “commercial refuse containers” and refer to any large covered metal container, provided by the city’s licensed garbage collector, with a volume of more than one square yard.
A temporary permit for the use of a dumpster is now required and can be applied for at city hall at no cost. The city’s licensed garbage collector will not provide dumpster service until a permit has been secured.
The permit is valid for a period of 60 days and is then only to be used for the purpose of one-time cleanup projects such as new construction or remodeling. The only exceptions will be institutions such as churches or schools which due to normal operations produce large quantities of waste and apartment complexes that house four or more household units.
