Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen gave a lifesaving award and two written commendations to officers during the Faribault City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The chief placed a lifesaving medal around the neck of officer Chris Tonjum and gave officer Keith Voegel and Sgt. Mark Krenik written commendations for their roles in saving the lives of six people during a house fire in February.

The four small children and two adults were trapped inside the burning home with the stairwell fully involved, forcing them to flee out a second story window on February 4.

Tonjum was in the immediate area at the time of the call and found a nearby ladder to use in getting the people out of the home safely.

Bohlen said, "With flames increasing in the home and heavy smoke pouring out of the only avenue of escape, Officer Tonjum worked safely and diligently, getting first the four children, then the adults out through the window."

Voegel and Krenik were given written commendations for their assistance in, "preventing loss of life during this dangerous house fire incident."

The recognition came just after the swearing in of two new Faribault police officers in the Council Chambers at Faribault City Hall. The new officers are Allen Anderson and Sarah Tollefson. Anderson grew up in the Waseca area and Tollefson in the Twin Cities.

Under routine business, the council approved proposals from ISG Architects for design services for Bell Field improvements and civil engineering services at Buckham Center for the Senior Center expansion.

Also under the routine business section was a resolution calling for support of  interchange study funding from the state at I-35 and Rice County Road 9 just north of Faribault.

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