NEW ULM — A separation agreement between the City of New Ulm and Economic Development Director/Assistant City Manager Audra Shaneman will come before the New Ulm City Council Tuesday.

The staff has recommended the position of Economic Development Director/Assistant City Manager be eliminated from the City budget, effective December 31, 2021. As a result, Audra Shaneman has requested a severance package.

The City Manager, City Attorney, and Human Resources Director met with the Personnel Committee to review and discuss the proposal and it was recommended to move forward with a severance package.

The terms of this Agreement provide for this being a termination of employment mutually agreed upon between Shaneman and the City. The Severance Agreement and Release of Claims have been reviewed by Shaneman and then an official agreement will be provided to her on September 8, 2021 and she will have 21 days to consider signing it. After it has been signed by Shaneman and the City, she will have 7 days to rescind claims under federal law and 15 days to rescind under state law. The effective last day of employment with the City would be September 8, 2021.

If approved, the agreement would provide 656 hours worth of regular pay or $28,004 and 25% payment of accrued sick pay and 100% vacation pay to her health care saving account.

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The city is expecting to award the German Park Amphitheater Shade Structure project to Ebert Construction for $291,754.23. The state is expected to reimburse New Ulm up to $300,000 for the project.

The council will hear multiple Planning Commission recommendations. The council will review a sign variance for Martin Luther College’s (MLC) new fieldhouse. MLC is seeking up to 1,545.5 square feet of exterior signage. Only 30 square feet are allowed in the district without a variance.

Planning Commission was unwilling to recommend a variance for the full 1,545.5 square feet but recommended 820 square feet of sign area on the property. This recommendation was passed with three commissioners in favor of the motion and two commissioners dissenting.

A CUP for a fence around the new Minnesota National Guard vehicle maintenance shop. The fence would be similar to the one around the current shop on 1523 S. Washington Street.

Variance application for a 10 x 14-foot accessory structure six feet from the side property line will be reviewed. The application is from Tim Cordes. The shed would be used for UTV storage and would be placed on an existing concrete driveway north of an existing attached garage.