Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
March 27, 2009
The Emergency City Council Meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building at 12:00 P.M., Friday, March 27, 2009, all members of the City Council having been duly notified of the meeting and the business to be transacted.
Present: Mayor Matt Brenk; City
Administrator Robert Louiseau; Police Chief Kelvin Keena; Public Works Director
Bradley Green; Fire Chief Jeffrey Swanson; Community
Development Director Larry Remmen and City Attorney William Briggs.
Aldermen: Anderson, Aune, Heltemes, Marks Erickson, Sukke, Tollefson and Zeman.
Absent: Aldermen: Imholte and
Tucker; City Attorney William Briggs; Assistant City Administrator Lynne
Krieger; Finance Officer Louis Guzek; Public Utilities Superintendent Curt
Punt; City Engineer Gary Nansen; Liquor Store Manager Bradley MacMaster and
Building Official Calvin Mayfield.
Mayor Brenk explained the purpose of the meeting was to update Council Members on the status of evacuees from the Fargo/Moorhead area who may be coming to Detroit Lakes and Becker County as a result of the flood. Mayor Brenk then called on Police Chief Kelvin Keena to update Council Members.
Chief Keena noted at 11:00 A.M. today, Becker County had activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to the potential of residents from the Fargo/Moorhead area coming to Detroit Lakes and Becker County. Several families had come to the area in the last couple of days and local hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities are receiving residents from special care facilities in Fargo/Moorhead.
The Emergency Response Plan calls for persons seeking assistance to go to Detroit Lakes Armory for check-in. From there evacuees will be relocated to appropriate homes in the community. The intent is to limit the time evacuees would spend at the Armory to no more than a day and process them into the community for longer term stays as necessary.
The EOC is currently taking calls from residents and developing a catalog of resources available from local residents. Resources being offered include temporary housing, food, pet shelters, beds and similar items. The EOC has been in contact with the Red Cross and Salvation Armory. They are available to help with food, vouchers and other services the evacuees may need.
Chief Keena noted, at this time, it appeared most residents who had to evacuate were being cared for in shelters in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
Chief Keena noted he has had two officers on duty in Moorhead the last several days at the request of Moorhead law enforcements officials.
Fire Chief Swanson noted he would be sending a crew of firefighters to man one of Moorhead’s fire stations for an approximate 48 hour period on Sunday and Monday.
Public Works Director Green noted his Department was assisting with the relocation of special needs patients to facilities in our community. He also noted six trucks had been in Moorhead hauling sand earlier in the week.
Chief Keena encouraged citizens desiring to help, to contact the E.O. C. at 847-7053. This will enable local emergency officials to coordinate resources as needed. He also noted that volunteers desiring to help in the Fargo/Moorhead area should call ahead as local officials there need to control activities for safety purposes.
Mayor Brenk scheduled another Emergency Meeting for Monday, March 30 at 12:00 P.M.
Mayor Brenk thanked staff for their efforts and the assistance they have provided. He adjourned the meeting at 12:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Louiseau
City Administrator