ADMINISTRATION - Jon Haukaas, Director of Public Works
Title
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR A TWO DAY PER WEEK INSTITUTION COMMUNITY WORK CREW IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,500.00
Background
The State of Minnesota, acting through its Commissioner of Correction offers Institution Community Work Crews (ICWC) to cities to provide labor for local efforts at the purchaser’s discretion. The ICWC Program’s structure and philosophy were modeled after the Minnesota Department of Corrections’ (DOC) Sentencing to Service (STS) program, which had already established an excellent track record of working in the community. Carefully selected, non-dangerous, minimum-security inmates work on crews under the supervision of a qualified DOC crew leader. The program goal is to teach social and work skills while communities accomplish projects.
This contract provides the City of Blaine with an ICWC crew on Mondays and Wednesday (two days per week) for 52 weeks. The total expense to the City for all compensation and reimbursements to the State under this contract is $44,500.00 as our share of the cost of providing a crew leader and placing the work crews into service on the ICWC Program during the term of this agreement. The City may request additional time at an overtime rate for projects such as storm or event clean up.
A description of the program and examples of projects in other cities are attached. We plan to begin utilizing them to perform clean up along major roadways such as TH65 and landscape bed improvements through our major parks. Buckthorn, EAB removals, and storm pond clean up will also be major project items under this contract.
Recommendation
By motion, authorize the Mayor and City Manager to contract with the State of Minnesota for an Institution Community Work Crew in the amount of $44,500.00.