Abigail Krzmarzick and Mason Mathiowetz were this year’s winners of the Sleepy Eye Police Department’s bike raffle. Riders earned a free Dairy Queen cone and a chance to win a new bike from McCabe’s Ace Hardware if they were “busted” for riding safely including riding with a helmet on. The winners were announced at the Party in the Park event. Below, Officer Elliott Waterbury poses with the winners.
Above,
The City of Sleepy Eye City Council has approved a separation agreement with City Manager Kelli Truver.
The Council held a closed meeting April 24th to discuss a disciplinary problem. Following this meeting, Truver had been placed on paid administrative leave.
A follow-up meeting was held Monday (4/29) morning. This meeting was also closed. Following the closed part of the meeting it was announced Truver and the city had agreed to separate.
More info about the agreement will come with an official city press release.
Truver had begun duties as new city manager in February following the retirement of Mark Kober.
City of Sleepy Eye Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2019
The City of Sleepy Eye (City) makes the following second statement related to its City Manager:
Kelli Truver has been employed as City Manager with the City since February 2019. The City
and Kelli Truver executed a Separation and Release Agreement (Agreement) on April 29, 2019.
The City and Kelli Truver felt it was in the best interests of each party that Kelli Truver amicably
separate from employment with the City in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Agreement.
The Agreement provides that Kelli Truver has voluntarily resigned from employment with the
City on April 29, 2019, which is her last date of employment with the City.
The City Council approved a motion at its City Council meeting on April 29, 2019 to
communicate with its previous third-party consultant to assist the City with the transition to a
new City Manager.
Russell “Bob” Elston, Public Works Director will continue to be assigned to perform the duties
and responsibilities of City Manager in the meantime.
The City Council is confident that the City
will continue to operate effectively and efficiently during this transition.
Kelli Truver
In a special council meeting held Wednesday at noon (4/24), the Sleepy Eye City Council voted unanimously to place city manager Kelli Truver on administrative leave as a result of a disciplinary action.
Following a one hour and twenty minute closed meeting, the council opened the chambers back up to the public. At which time a motion was read by Mayor Wayne Pelzel stating, “City Manager Kelli Truver be placed on administrative leave effective immediately until otherwise determined by city council.”
The motion also stated Public Works director Bob Elston will be assigned the responsibilities of city manager in addition to his duties as public works director, effective immediately.
A meeting involving this agenda item will continue on April 29th at 9 a.m.
Truver began her duties as the community’s new city manager in February.
The Sleepy Eye Ambulance crew members along with police officers and firemen were present at the Open Forum prior to the start of the regular Sleepy Eye City Council meeting Tuesday night to deliver a very powerful message. In a statement read by Ambulance Coordinator and Emergency Manager Shari Hittesdorf, it was indicated Sleepy Eye may be without EMS coverage at times beginning in May due to a labor law impacting how staff is paid.
Below is what was read to the council by Shari:
In November my husband suffered a stroke. He was able to make a full recovery because of quick actions from start to finish. The Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service played a vital role in getting him to the Emergency Room on that day, within minutes of onset. Abbott Northwestern Hospital was so impressed with the way things played out, they made it a case study.
If he would have another stroke next month or anytime beyond, that prompt ambulance service response may now not be possible.
You may think this impending interruption of 24/7 ambulance service in Sleepy Eye might be because we are short staff. Well, we do desperately need emergency responders to join our team and we will give everything we have in the next few weeks to recruitment…but the lack of a response in this case is NOT being caused because of a staff shortage…it is because of an overtime labor law recently brought to light.
The Sleepy Eye Ambulance Crew members want to cover all shifts, we want to respond to all 911 pages, it’s making many of us, literally sick to our stomachs to think we won’t be able to.
But we can’t, because of this law…no one is allowed to work over 40 hours per week without overtime being paid, and according to the Dept. of Labor, our call time counts as “Engaged to Work”.
And to complicate this situation, if someone is employed by the City of Sleepy Eye including the Sleepy Eye Medical Center, Ambulance call time would need to be added to OUR work hours…making it nearly impossible to take call time… or face the consequences of the employer paying overtime.
Yes, this affects me. As the Ambulance Coordinator and Emergency Manager for this community, as the person with the most experience, the person who trains our EMTS, not to mention teaches the doctors, nurses, firemen, police officers, lifeguards and so many others with emergency response courses…I will be very limited in how often I can respond to emergencies. VERY LIMITED!
There are some tremendous implications because this situation…for our local police officers, county deputies, firemen and our local hospital…but mostly the ones that will suffer will be our would-be patients.
At this time, I do not have a plan in place to cover all the time slots in May that I otherwise would have been able to place our current staff in. I do not know who will respond to immediate life-threatening emergencies. And, I don’t know if our lack of response will prompt legal consequences.
What I do know is myself and our five boys were so incredibly blessed that our husband and father had the prompt care he got that fateful day in November. Not lucky, blessed…because luck would imply it happened by chance…he received proper treatment because of the training, hard work and dedication of a lot of people including my teammates on the Sleepy Eye Ambulance.
We got home from an Abbott checkup a few hours ago with basically a clean bill of health.
There are several people in this room right now who too have had positive outcomes to their medical emergency, in part because of the quick response of our local EMS agency
But come May…Well, I can’t help but wonder….
Which families will be blessed and which will have to rely on luck?
I am begging you, the council, to HELP your community in any feasible way, resolve this pending catastrophe.
The Sleepy Eye Police Department showed off their new station at an open house held Monday afternoon. They won’t officially make the move to the new location at 200 Main St. East (old Liquor Store) until late next month but have been slowly getting things ready.
St. Mary’s High School Theology teacher and cross country coach, Neil Kirchoefer, has been charged with Possession of Pornographic work involving minors. St. Mary’s did place Kirchoefer on leave last fall after discovering the material, after which time he resigned his position. He has been a member of the staff since 2016.
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Sleepy Eye Police Press Release
2-8-19 Press Release
On 11-28-18 the Sleepy Eye Police Department was contacted by St. Mary’s School Administration. Administration was informed by a teacher that possible child pornography was viewed on one of the school’s laptop computers. Administration brought the laptop computer with them and turned it over to the Sleepy Eye Police Department for investigative purposes. The laptop computer was given to teacher Neil Kirchoefer by St. Mary’s School for school use.
The Sleepy Eye Police Department conducted an investigation that included interviews with the teacher that saw the suspected pornographic image and Neil Kirchoefer on 11-28-18. On 11-28-18 a search warrant was completed on Neil Kirchoefer’s residence in Sleepy Eye that resulted in the seizure of a cell phone and an additional laptop computer. St Mary’s school voluntarily turned over 2 additional electronic devices that Neil Kirchoefer used while working.
The Sleepy Eye Police Department was assisted by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in the analysis of the electronic devices. The Brown County Sheriff’s Investigator transported all the electronic devices to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to be analyzed by an Internet Crimes against Children expert.
On the evening of 2-7-19 the Sleepy Eye Police Department received the computer analysis from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office through the Brown County Sheriff’s Investigator. Based on the information in the report and in consultation with the Brown County Sheriff’s Investigator and the Brown County Attorney’s Office Neil Kirchoefer was arrested and placed in the Brown County Jail the morning of 2-8-19 and charged with Possession of Pornographic Work Involving Minors, MN statute 617.247, and Use of Minors in Sexual Performance Prohibited, MN statute 617.246.
St Mary’s School has provided quality assistance and information that helped bring this case to light and assist in charges being brought against Neil Kirchoefer. St. Mary’s School Administration has kept in communication with the Sleepy Eye Police Department throughout this investigation.
At this time there is no information that any juveniles from Brown County were victimized by Neil Kirchoefer. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sleepy Eye Police Department.
St. Mary’s School Press Release
A few Sleepy Eye die-hard baseball fans gathered at Sleepy Eye Baseball Park on Oct. 16th to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the famous Babe Ruth visit to Sleepy Eye. Within a few minutes of this picture being snapped, the men found out “The Boy” in the photo, Len Youngman, had passed away at the age of 107. (See KARE 11 Land of 10,000 stories “The Babe, the boy and the ball” video below) Len’s funeral will be held October 27th. Plans are in place for the Emmy that Boyd Huppert won for the story which is now located in the Sleepy Eye Museum will be delivered in time for Len’s visitation.
Brown Co. Sheriff Press Release
On Wednesday October 17, 2018 at 11:02 a.m. the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Sleepy Ambulance Service, and Sleepy Eye Fire Department responded to a residence in Stark Township, 17003 255th Ave, Sleepy Eye, for a farm accident. Kaleb Fischer (19), was found by family, and sustained critical injuries while repairing a manure spreader. Fischer was airlifted from the Sleepy Eye Medical Center to HCMC where his condition was critical.
On Friday October 19, 2018 the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Brown County Sheriff’s Office that Kaleb Fischer passed away at 6:54 p.m., this date, from the critical injuries sustained in this tragic accident.
The Sleepy Eye Education Association recognized Karen Okerman as their 2018-2019 Friends of Education Award winner. Below is the presentation speech:
Karen is an essential part of our Kindergarten classroom and our school. From the hours she pours into artwork and posters for special nights, to the items she donates to school, to the time and energy she puts into every student who crosses her path to make them feel special and loved, Karen Okerman is an asset to this school. To name a few things, she has painted murals for our Kindergarten classrooms, and giant posters for reading night, created activities for students during hobby day, and works tirelessly to help every student she can succeed. As a first year teacher, Karen has been a lifesaver to me in the classroom, giving me information I need to know, and has become my dear friend. She does all of these things, and many more, without a desire to be recognized or congratulated. Karen does these things because she loves this school, and our students. Karen Okerman is a one of a kind person, and this school would not be the same without her.
