Resignations accepted by Hartley City Council

A pair of resignations will have the Hartley City Council looking to fill some big shoes in the coming months.

Public Works Director Jaron Benz and Gas Superintendent Adam Lux submitted their letters of resignation last week. Lux's last day will be Dec. 30 while Benz will punch out for the final time on March 31.

Lux has been with the city since May of 2008 while Benz started in May of 2018.

"[Both] are leaving under good terms," City Administrator Erica Haack said after Monday's council meeting. "We are grateful for their many years of dedication and service to the city."

The council agreed to start advertising both positions immediately.

In other business, members of the Hartley Emergency Ambulance Rescue Team (H.E.A.R.T.) were directed to proceed with plans to expand the emergency services building. Once built, the 58' single-story addition will extend north and south along the west side of the building.

"Do it right so it fits the community's needs for all we provide," said Council Member Jerry Olson. "Don't skimp."

The council directed H.E.A.R.T. members to obtain estimates for material and labor to build the addition. The figures will be given to the council for budget planning purposes for the next fiscal year, which is when the project will take place.

The expansion is necessary to house an extra ambulance for H.E.A.R.T. The squad is in the market for a used rig to complete transports so the existing ambulance isn't removed from local service while taking patients from one medical facility to the next.

The team's current ambulance was purchased in 2020 and already has more than 54,000 miles on it. Its predecessor was replaced and sold at 63,000 miles.

The ambulance team is currently weighing its options for another truck. Members had previously set their sights on a used ambulance that was available in Sanborn, but the vehicle has seen better days, according to discussion.

"I'd rather see you spend more and get something nicer," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld.

In other ambulance-related business, the council agreed to implement a service charge policy for the City of Sanborn. Each time H.E.A.R.T. responds to a call in Sanborn's territory, the city will now be charged $350. Revenue generated from the calls will help offset gas and vehicle maintenance costs.

Sanborn currently has no ambulance service due to a lack of volunteers. All medical emergency calls are being handled by squads from Hartley and Sheldon, who have split Sanborn's territory in half.

"We need to charge them something to hopefully spark them to get [their ambulance] going again. They haven't been doing anything for a long time," said H.E.A.R.T. member Darla Meyer. "It's more of a statement. It's not really about the money."