City Council has agreed to consider replacing a position within the Park and Recreation Department left vacant by the retirement of longtime Nature Center employee Duane Sucha.

Council members discussed the possibility of filling the position at Monday night’s work session and, while there was some disagreement, voted 6-1 – with Ward 3 council member Marian Clennon dissenting – in favor of voting to approve the replacement at the next meeting.

Park and Recreation Director Kim Underwood told council members that the department’s second most senior employee has already signed the posting for the Nature Center opening, leaving a position still available within the department.

Clennon expressed concern for filling the position because of the uncertainty of Local Government Aid that funds half of the city’s entire budget.

Steve King, Ward 2 council member, said the council shouldn’t try to predict the state’s budget cuts, though.

“I don’t think I want to be in the position of making it easy on the state of Minnesota to say we’re ready for the cuts,” King said. “The message should never be that we’re predicting their cuts. We’re expecting the LGA, as we should.”

Mayor Tom Stiehm suggested filling the position temporarily until the city knows for sure how much LGA it will receive.

“We don’t assume any particular liability if we do hire and have to lay-off in six months,” he said.

The matter will be discussed further and up for a vote of approval at the Jan. 18 meeting.