Mayor swears in new Greenfield police officer

GREENFIELD — Mayor Jimmie Schultz swore Benjamin Schueler in as Greenfield’s newest police hire at last Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The police force has had a vacancy for the last couple of months and was excited to land Schueler, who is from Hiawatha and is enthusiastic about living in a small community.

Schueler joins Jay Carstens and Chief Jeff LaBarge on the force. Carstens, from Carroll County, was hired last fall.

In other city business, the council:

• Approved the fiscal year 2022 budget

• Reviewed plans and awarded a bid to a contractor for a sponsored project at the sports complex (see separate story)

• Awarded bids for the city insurance, with work compensation going to Brocker, Karns and Karns and the rest going to Don Carlos Insurance

• Discussed garbage hauling, proposing a $700 fee charged to garbage haulers be eliminated, but no official action was taken

• Heard a Greenfield Chamber/Main Street and Development report from Stacie Eshelman and Gina School, reflecting that activities such as an Easter Egg Hunt would be happening, and a Main Street Iowa meeting is scheduled for March 25

• During City Clerk Becky Haase’s portion of the meeting, the council heard an update on the need to look at a solar energy ordinance and mowing for properties with tall grass that is in violation of city code