The city is required to hold public education meetings on the issue. The Wetterling Foundation helps with the meetings. The State of Minnesota has found that, as a matter of policy... “If members of the public are provided adequate notice and information about a sex offender, who has been or is about to be released from custody and who lives or will live in or near their neighborhood, the community can develop constructive plans to prepare themselves and their children for the offender’s release.”
Offenders must register under Minnesota law. Offenses range from first degree murder, kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct, predatory crimes, using a minor in a sexual performance, possession of pictorial representations of minors or committed as a sexual psychopath, sexually dangerous person, or comparable offense in another state within the last 10 years.
Under the notification plan, the local police department will receive a fact sheet on the offender. This includes: state of the offender’s rights, his or her picture, physical description, and address at which the offender intends to reside.
Township police contract In other business: *The council approved a resolution ordering improvement and preparation of plans for the west end lift station. The council did not decide how the project would be assessed. *Willie LaCroix, Paynesville Area Health Care System administrator, informed the council the hospital rebounded from the previous year when the clinic was built and had a $450,000 turn around in the budget. *The council approved an agreement with the Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council for a Summer Youth training program. The youth will build and maintain a concession building at the Veteran’s Lake Park and erect a lookout tower (12 by 12 by 24 feet) at the park as well. Cost to the city is the materials needed for the projects, about $6,250. *The council approved changing the city hall office employee working hours from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., effective immediately.
The Paynesville Township Board and the Paynesville City Council approved a joint powers law enforcement agreement effective April 11. The contract will run from April 10, 1997 to April 10, 2002 and is for 1,200 hours of protection. If the police department should need more hours, they will be paid at $21.57 per hour after that. The township will pay $25,570 yearly to the city.
*The council approved the airport commission ordinance. The commission will be composed of five members, of which two are licensed pilots.