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Zoning proposal adds shrimp to ag land uses

MARSHALL — A proposed change to city ordinances would help make it possible for Ralco to build a shrimp growing facility in Marshall. However, there are more steps — like a public hearing — the Marshall City Council will have to take before an amendment could go into effect.

Tru Shrimp, a subsidiary of the Balaton-based agricultural company Ralco, is planning on developing shrimp growing and processing facilities in southwestern Minnesota. Earlier this spring, tru Shrimp representatives said Marshall was being considered as a location for a shrimp production facility.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the city council, Ron Prorok addressed council members about why the ordinance change was being proposed. Prorok is working for the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce as a liaison with tru Shrimp.

Prorok said the proposed ordinance change would add indoor shrimp growing to the list of approved uses for land zoned as “agricultural” within city limits. Shrimp farming wasn’t mentioned in city zoning ordinances before, he said.

The agricultural use would only apply to a shrimp growing facility, where shrimp are raised in tanks. A plant to process the shrimp, if one is built in Marshall, would still be considered an industrial property.

Council members voted to introduce the proposed ordinance change and called for a public hearing on the matter May 9.

• A proposal to create a new job classification for maintenance operators at the Marshall wastewater plant led to some discussion by city council members on Tuesday.

Marshall human resources director Sheila Dubs said the proposal wouldn’t mean new hires at the wastewater plant. Rather, the proposal would create a position, wastewater senior maintenance operator, to which qualifying maintenance operators could be promoted. The position would include qualifications of having five years’ experience in wastewater treatment or a related field and having a valid Minnesota Class C wastewater operator certification.

Dubs said having opportunities to advance is one way to help encourage staff retention and recruitment.

Marshall currently has three wastewater maintenance operators who could potentially qualify for the new position, she said.

Council members had a mix of positive and negative feedback for the proposed new job classification and pay schedule. Council member Craig Schafer said retention and recruitment were important for the wastewater plant.

“The industry is retiring more operations people than are coming forward,” Schafer said.

However, council members Glenn Bayerkohler and James Lozinski questioned the need to have a new operator position. Bayerkohler asked if the senior operators would have the same job description as the current operators.

The new position “does expand the work,” Dubs said.

Marshall wastewater supervisor Bob VanMoer said he thought the current maintenance operators bring a lot of skill to their jobs, even beyond what’s required in their current job descriptions.

Lozinski also questioned the cost of creating a senior position that three people would be qualified for.

Bayerkohler said it might be better for the city to re-evaluate its salary schedule, without adding new city positions.

“I’d agree with Glenn on that,” Lozinski said.

In the end, however, council members voted 4-2 in favor of approving the senior wastewater maintenance operator position, and amending the city wage schedules accordingly. Bayerkohler and Lozinski cast the votes against.

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