Police and EMS recognized for life-saving work at City Council meeting

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Charles City police officers and AMR first responders were recognized with a life-saving award during the regular meeting of the Charles City Council on Monday, Sept 18.

On June 24, officers Rhett Belew, John Jenkins and Hunter Ortmayer, along with first responders Justin Schuttler, Dawn Staudt, Skyler Sibbits, Sarah Ashley, Josh Neupert and Cole Schmidt responded to a Charles City resident having a cardiac emergency.

“The person that they did this on was none other than one of our retired officers,” said Police Chief Hugh Anderson.

Unbeknownst to them at the time, the officers were rendering life-saving treatment to Victor Dunn, a retired Charles City police officer who served on the department as far back as the late 60s.

By quickly rendering CPR, the first responders were able to resurrect Dunn, restarting his heart five times on the trip from Charles City to Mason City.

“CPR is huge to do right away,” said AMR Operations Supervisor Dawn Staudt, who presented her team with their awards. “It can be the difference between brain death and survival.”

Dunn is now doing well with his recovery and attended the ceremony to meet some of the people who saved his life. The council chambers at City Hall were filled with friends and family as the first responders were recognized for their life-saving work.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Anderson. “We don’t give these awards out lightly so when they come it’s a special thing.”

In other business, the council approved a $47,861.57 bid from Hydro Klean to monoform nine city maintenance holes that are in need of rehabilitation.

Rather than digging up and replacing the entire maintenance hole, monoform creates a layer of concrete around the interior that fills in the cracks in the decaying brick to stop leaks and reinforce its structural integrity.

The council also approved two change orders for the Southwest Water Main Looping Project to install an additional tap and valve in order to avoid interrupting service to area businesses and to cover repairs to an unmarked sanitary sewer.

Finally, the council approved the seventh pay order for the Million Gallon Clearwell Project in the amount of $353,119.75, bringing the total payments to $2,616,115.70 thus far.

A public hearing about the Clearwell project, required as a condition of the Community Development Block Grant that is going towards the project, has been scheduled for the Oct. 2 meeting.