“It is not a huge ….

“It is not a huge dollar amount,” said council member Laura Holmes.

Council member Dave Brandner questioned a shorter closure such as when an isolated thunderstorm comes through the area. Those shorter time closures would remain without pay with the weather closure pay only being if the pool was not open for the full day.

Council member Christine Weix spoke in favor of the change noting that the workers are not able to do anything else during that rain day because they are expected to be able to come in if called. She equated it to having on-call pay.

One of the challenges facing the city, and all other employers is the lack of workers for lifeguard positions. While Harris said they had enough to open the pool, he said he would like to have more.

City council seat

Ken Coyer will now be representing the city’s second district which includes wards 3 and 4 located on the city’s southeast side.

Earlier this spring newly elected council member Erica Peterson had announced that she would be resigning from the position due to her family move out of the area. She said she expects to be at their new home full time by this weekend.

Wellner said that Coyer had approached him with interest in the position. Coyer is a familiar face at city hall. He had a long career with the Medford police department retiring as chief several years ago.

Wellner said he met with Coyer about the council position and brought his name forward for the council to approve appointing him to fill the remainder of Peterson’s term.

Alderman Mike Bub questioned if the position could be filled for the nearly two years remaining in the term or if it needs to be voted on in the next spring election. City clerk Ashley Lemke said they checked on it and were told the appointment could be for the full term.

Council members unanimously approved Coyer’s appointment.

Wastewater study

The city of Medford will spend $23,100 for a study to increase the amount of level of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) that can be accepted at the wastewater treatment plant.

According to wastewater superintendent Alex Zenner, the city has been getting close to its BOD limits even before they began accepting additional loads from outside the city. He told council members there have been months where they went over 90% and even at times exceeded the amount authorized for the plant.

Zenner said the effluent from the plant has remained within acceptable levels regardless of the BOD load and the purpose of the study is to have the engineers from the firm Short Elliott Hendrickson determine the additional capacity that is available at the plant. He said this will also dovetail with the sizing of the aeration blowers and diffusers as part of ongoing plant upgrades.

The cost of the study will be paid out of money budgeted in the utility for capital construction projects.

In other business, council members:

_ Approved issuing the annual tobacco license renewal to Holiday Station at 110 S. Eighth St.

_ Approved liquor licenses for seven business. Approvals for retail sales went to Vintage Naturals and Holiday Station. Beer license was approved for Uncommon Ground. Beer and liquor licenses were approved for Marilyn’s Fire Station and for Cravings and wine licenses were approved for Uncommon Ground and The Grey Dog.

_ Approved a housekeeping measure to formally vacate a portion of Pep’s Drive. The road as built does not exactly match the road as it appears on the plat. With the planned residential development of the area, the city is bringing the legal description of the road to match what is actually in place to make it easier for future development of the area.

Area business and civic leaders gathered on Monday to mark the formal beginning of the renovation of a long-vacant downtown building at corner of Main Street and Division Street in downtown Medford. The building, which has been vacant for at least 30 years will be renovated and remodeled to include a wine, cheese and book store on the main level and apartments on the upper level. Work is expected to be completed by this fall with an opening before the end of the year.BRIAN WILSON/THE STAR NEWS