Seventy-nine calls were received by the New York Mills Police Department in September, according to Police Chief Jim Van Schaick.
"The department is healthy and strong," he said.
A 20-day seatbelt enforcement law is continuing until Oct 28.
"This is truly for the safety of the community," Van Schaick said.
Van Schaick pointed out that Officer Aaron Evenson has voiced interest as a D.A.R.E. officer and a member of Otter Tail County's S.W.A.T. team.
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"He has the qualities they expect," Van Schaick said. The department is doing great."
He pointed out that one big need was records management, which he said had a "huge redundancy issue." The police department is seeking newer technologies to avoid this problem.
"To have new computers in squad cars and technology that is fully functional is important to us," he said.
Van Schaick pointed out the current system is more than 13 years old.
Mayor Larry Hodgson said there is a definite call for a new records system.
The traffic problem with Route 67 is continuing to be addressed. Hodgson noted that lines and curbs need to continue to be checked.
"It's important to have it all done by winter," he said.
Weather conditions will hamper expansion and construction, according to the city engineer, as the asphalt needs to be a certain temperature for the new layers to stick and settle evenly.
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In other city matters, there is a dispute as how to pay contractors of Schrupp Excavation, LLC for the improvement project on Mills Locker Plant.
It was noted during the meeting that a development process was done differently than the bid proposed. The council is determining how much extra should be paid.
NY Mills was billed for downtime by Schrupp Excavating.
Schrupp did not attend the meeting after submitting a public request to speak to the council.
With the opening of a new business, Hodgson said he was "glad to see a business like Mills Auto Parts in town."
Jamie Robertson, executive director of the regional cultural center, requested payment of the third quarter of the city's 2010 donation to the cultural center.
A motion was carried to designate a city art and culture advisory board, which Robertson noted he would be "happy to be one of the members of" in a memorandum presented to the council.
Lynn Kasma, education outreach coordinator for the cultural center, presented information on Minnesota's Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) and the movement towards wireless Internet available throughout the city.
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The program seeks to improve an online presence for the city and area businesses. Further information will become available at the Civic and Commerce Association meetings as the program evolves.
Although Kasma works for the cultural center, the MIRC program is not affiliated with the center.
City Clerk Darla Berry was recognized for being recently designated as a certified municipal clerk by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
