A local event center has asked the Hartley City Council to help with pandemic-related revenue shortages.

According to discussion at the council’s meeting Jan. 11, the Hartley Community Center Board of Directors recently approached the city with a request for assistance. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it nearly impossible to host large events, which is the bread and butter of the facility’s revenue stream.

The council expressed a willingness to pay for the community center’s insurance costs on a short-term basis. Members also believed the facility’s director should go on unemployment until bookings increase. If they need to stay on to complete minimal work, Council Member Brian Myers suggested they apply for partial unemployment.

“If you’re not making any income, you’ve got to cut everything except your main expenses,” said Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff.

The council agreed that any financial assistance would be on a very limited, short-term basis not to exceed six months. Nothing was officially agreed upon, and council members wanted to hear more from the community center’s board at next month’s meeting.

• Fire department, ambulance heads give annual updates

Hartley’s emergency response services remain well staffed, according to annual updates from Fire Chief Brad Meendering and Ahrenstroff, who leads the ambulance squad.

Meendering reported that the fire department has 22 volunteers, four short of the 26-member maximum. The department responded to 36 calls in 2020 and also purchased 10 new air packs.

The new equipment replaces 13 old air packs.

“Realistically, if I need more air packs at a fire, we’ll have mutual aid called in,” Meendering said.

The air packs were purchased with a $10,000 grant from the O’Brien County Community Foundation, $25,000 from fundraisers and $29,000 from the city.

“We are thankful for all the city does for us,” said Meendering.

Ahrenstorff reported 246 ambulance calls this year. The team is comprised of 11 medics and three drivers, which is the most of any squad in O’Brien County.

“I feel pretty proud about that, and I still have people asking about helping out,” Ahrenstorff said. “I’m happy with those numbers.”

The 246-call total was 30 more than the previous year and included 45 hospital transfers.

“It just seems each year it’s more and more,” said Ahrenstorff.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added stress to EMTs’ jobs this year. The ambulance team has responded to 25-30 coronavirus-related calls and wearing increased personal protective equipment has been priority No. 1.

“It’s been quite a challenge trying to keep everyone on our squad safe,” Ahrenstorff said.

• Appointments

New Year appointments were also approved on Jan. 11.

Erica Haack was appointed city clerk/administrator, Sheri Tewes was appointed deputy city clerk and city treasurer, Jaron Benz was appointed superintendent of public works, Joe Hengeveld was appointed police chief and Phil Sweeney was appointed zoning officer

The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News was named official city newspaper, and Savings Bank and United Community Bank were named the official city depositories. Brandon Krikke was appointed city attorney with Harold Dawson as assistant city attorney.