Red Wing City Council briefs

City will hold public meeting on MNGL

Red Wing City Council decided to schedule a public meeting to give citizens a chance to present ideas on the future of Mississippi National Golf Links.

“We always get great ideas when we talk to the public and we wanted to get some great ideas on what to do with the golf course,” Council member Dan Bender said.

Council member Peggy Rehder said she liked the idea of a public meeting so various groups of citizens can see and hear from other groups who have their own ideas as well.

“I don’t think people are really aware of how widespread the interest is,” she said.

Mayor Dennis Egan said the meeting would also give the city an opportunity to share the information it has with anyone who is less informed about the golf course. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 20 in the Foot Room of Red Wing Public Library.

Fire department welcomes two new personnel

Red Wing Fire Chief Tom Schneider introduced two new personnel to the City Council, congratulating each of them for finishing their probationary period requirements.

Hager City native Mike Dopkins has been a paid on call firefighter for Red Wing since 2001. Chad Sirek is originally from Rice Lake, Wis., and came to the Red Wing Fire Department after working as a paramedic at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

Both Dopkins and Sirek completed probation in September.

About one dozen other Red Wing firefighters joined Dopkins and Sirek before the council as Mayor Dennis Egan officially proclaimed Oct. 7-13 Fire Prevention Week 2012 throughout the city.

In other news

• The council voted unanimously to issue bonds to Fairview Woods LLC for the refinancing of Deer Crest Assisted Living Facility.

• Council members approved a grant agreement from the Minnesota Department of Transportation in which the state covers nearly 57 percent of the cost of needed repairs to the hangar and arrival/departure building at the Red Wing Regional Airport. The city will pay $4,920.

• Monday’s City Council meeting lasted 1 ½ hours before going into closed session to discuss the closure of Mississippi National Golf Links and the implications it may have on the lease between MNGL and the city. Council member Mike Schultz was absent.

— Compiled by Regan Carstensen, staff writer

Tags: red wing, city council, government