City council approves five items
By Scott Bellile

An “anonymous” man wearing a paper bag on his head applauded New London’s interim fire chief’s service to the city at the New London City Council meeting on Jan. 12.

“I’d like to congratulate that Dick Muskevitsch fellow for his 42 years of service on New London Fire Department,” the man told the council. “I guess he’s currently the interim chief. It could be said that I know him pretty well, you know? According to his father-in-law Johnny Paters and the rest of the guys on the fire department, he’s known as kind of a jokester. I don’t know that.”

The man said Muskevitsch’s dedication to New London Fire Department shows. He makes over 90 percent of the fire calls and passes his annual fitness test and physical “with flying colors.”

“I guess my only thought would be this: anyone with 42 years of service in any business, especially service on the fire department, may have some other kinds of problems,” the man said. “My suggestion to the city council is maybe we OK one of those mental exams for him.”

The anonymous man was Muskevitsch, to the surprise of no one.

“I had that Dick Muskevitsch in class just a few years ago at the high school here in New London, and believe me, he is a jokester,” Mayor Gary Henke, a former New London teacher, said with a chuckle.

Items approved
The city council unanimously approved the following items:
• Amendment No. 8 to the AECOM GIS Mapping Contract in the amount of $9,100, which covers finishing mapping sewer information around the city.

• An $80,311 ambulance subsidy contract with Gold Cross Ambulance ($11 per capita annually).

• The placement of an advisory referendum question on the April 5 ballot concerning whether residents support asking lawmakers to amend the constitution to eliminate unlimited political campaign spending.

• The final payment of $39,000 to Granite Valley Forest Products, as part of a $300,000 Development Assistance Agreement the city started with the lumber company in 2011.

• A resolution declaring May 14 International Migratory Bird Day in New London.