The Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge Police Department celebrated the donation of a new bike to the Police Bike Patrol Unit during the Oct. 3 City Council meeting.
Cambridge Police Chief Tim Dwyer explained in April 2016 the Police Department applied for the Community Foundation Grant through Cambridge Wal-Mart to purchase a new professional-grade police bicycle and needed equipment to expand the Police Bike Patrol Unit.
“The Cambridge Police Department has been very active in bike patrol activities for the last three years as part of our community policing program,” Dwyer said. “Officer Jesse Peck and officer Kevin Gross have both gone through specialized training with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Bike Patrol Units. They have logged many hours of bicycle patrol in our city parks, on our trails, in residential neighborhoods and during special events. Up until now, we have had only one bicycle available and expensive bike patrol equipment has been limited.”
Dwyer explained last month he was notified by the Wal-Mart Community Grants Team and Cambridge Wal-Mart store manager Grant Wilsey that the department had been selected to receive a full $2,000 grant.
Dwyer said the department worked with K.C. Bohn from Outdoor Edge in Cambridge, who provided the department a top-of-the-line-profession Bear Grease Salsa Fat Tired bicycle at cost, along with desired equipment and uniform accessories. Total cost was just under $2,000, which the grant completely funded.
“The Cambridge Police Department is extremely grateful to the Wal-Mart Community Grants Team, Wal-Mart in Cambridge and Outdoor Edge for making this opportunity a reality,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer noted this is the second bike Outdoor Edge has provided to the city at cost for its Bike Patrol Unit.
“We are glad we are able to help out with this,” Bohn said.
Wilsey said Wal-Mart is happy to support the efforts of the local community.
“Wal-Mart has always been supportive of our local Police and Fire departments,” Wilsey said. “It’s a great way to intermix and intermingle with the public.”
Gross said he’s excited to be a part of the Bike Patrol Unit.
“I love the opportunity to be out in the public, and this will provide us with more opportunities to meet and greet the public,” Gross said.
Mayor, council members approve raise
For the first time in 10 years, the Cambridge City Council approved a $2,500 annual salary increase for its mayor and a $1,500 annual salary increase for council members.
Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the annual salary of the mayor will be $7,500. Previously, the annual salary for the mayor was $5,000.
Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the annual salary of Cambridge City Council members will be $5,600. Previously, the annual salary for council members was $4,100.
Council Member Howard Lewis cast the sole dissenting vote against the salary increases.
“A 36 percent increase for council members and a 50 percent increase for the mayor is a lot, and no one gets that kind of raises,” Lewis said. “The job of the council and the mayor is to listen to the citizens and respond to their needs.”
Lewis reminded the council of the late March Minnesota Design Team visit when community members were asked if their taxes went up $200 per year, what amenities they would support. The responses were a community center, downtown beautification, YMCA, library and an overpass or underpass for the train tracks.
“Of of these five things listed, we got three of them done,” Lewis said. “That is only 60 percent, which is a D-minus. A D-minus is not a passing grade.”
Lewis reminded the council a petition containing 950 signatures in support of a YMCA and aquatics center was presented to the Council.
“Of the 950 signatures, some were citizens of Cambridge, but most were not,” said Council Member Lisa Iverson.