Local first responders were honored with life-saver awards during the April 18 Cambridge City Council meeting.
Bruce Hildebrandt, Allina Health ambulance operations manager, explained an emergency call came in for a male experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Due to the timely response and medical efforts of the first responders, the man’s life was saved.
Receiving life-saving awards were Allina Health paramedics Sara Johnson and Christian Robinette; Cambridge Police officers Jason Harvey and Dan Owl; and Cambridge Deputy Fire Chief Will Pennings.
“It is an exciting time tonight,” Hildebrandt said. “Public safety entities in Isanti County respond to a multitude of calls on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes the outcomes are good, and sometimes they are not. On this day, we had a good outcome.”
The patient, Steve Sigfrid, credited the first responders with saving
his life.
“Without them, I would not be here,” Sigfrid said. Sigfrid also personally thanked each of the responders.
Hildebrandt also thanked the first responders for their efforts.
“The patient had no pulse,” Hildebrandt said. “Thank you to everyone who responded to him.”
Good news on bond sale
Nick Anhut, municipal adviser with Ehlers, presented the results of the $6.6 million bond sale to finance the city’s 2016 improvement and utility projects and permanent financing to effect a current refunding of the city’s 2015 general obligation temporary bonds used for 2015 improvement and utility projects.
Anhut explained Standard & Poor’s has reaffirmed the city’s AA bond rating.
“Your AA rating is intact and sound,” Anhut said. “Your stable operations, high fund balance and consistent financial practices offer affirmation and stabilization of the rating.”
Anhut explained seven bids were received for the April 18 bond sale from companies out of Minneapolis; Charlotte, North Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The low bidder submitted a 1.37 percent true interest rate and the high bidder submitted a 1.65 percent true interest rate, a difference of $120,826.
Anhut explained the presale principal amount of the bond was $6.605 million with a 2 percent true interest rate. The low bidder, Piper Jaffray & Co. out of Minneapolis, submitted a principal amount of $6.14 million with a 1.37 percent true interest rate. Anhut explained the close on the sale will take place May 17.
Cambridge Mayor Marlys Palmer was pleased with the results.
“This is really good news, and we will make sure we do this project with all the expertise available to us,” Palmer said.
Finance Director Caroline Moe explained the savings from the bond sale will be a direct savings to the city taxpayers.
“The savings we are incurring tonight will show up when we are doing our long-range financial plan,” Moe said. “The city’s property tax levies will also be less because of the great results we have seen today and these results will also help us control our utility rates. It’s nice to have days like this in finance.”
The city also heard a presentation from David Mol with Redpath and Company on the city’s 2015 financial audit. Mol explained a “clean opinion” was issued on the 2015 financial statements.
It was also noted this is the 13th consecutive year the city and Moe has received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting issued by the Government Finance Officers Association.
“Caroline, I congratulate you, I really do,” Palmer said. “You do an awesome job for the city of Cambridge and this is award is really special because it comes from your peers; people who do the same thing as you do all the time. To be recognized is outstanding, wonderful and we are really proud of you.”
Moe also gave credit to her colleagues in the city’s finance department for the award.