Curt Sorenson, Charter Commission chair, reported at the February 12 meeting of the Chatfield City Council that the commission has discussed at length what sort of government structure to recommend for the city. Councilor Pam Bluhm was absent.
According to Sorenson, city hall doesn’t operate exactly in the way the current Charter describes. He added this is not a bad thing. The commission, an advisory group, unanimously recommended the city council adopt an ordinance to amend the Charter, adding a city manager to the city’s organizational structure. This would provide Chatfield with a council-manager form of government. It would separate the city’s legislative and administrative functions.
With this structure the city council’s focus will be on “regulating the budget and tax levy authority, setting the goals and the direction of the city, and developing legislation and policy.”
The city manager would be in charge of day to day operations/administrative functions including authority to enforce ordinances, implement policy, and to hire or remove city staff.
Councilor Mike Urban was concerned about the amount of power given to one individual and the possible expense in the event a manager does not work out. That individual’s contract may have to be bought out. Sorenson acknowledged if a manager was not working out, there may be a contractual obligation to buy out the contract.
City Clerk Joel Young noted the responsibility difference between a city administrator and a manager is the hiring and firing of personnel. He suggested there should be a contract with either position. Councilor Paul Novotny said we are already operating as if we had a city administrator. The question is does the council want to be involved in the hiring and firing?
The council would be responsible for the appointment and the removal of a city manager.
Sorenson noted there has been a difference between the way the city actually operates and the City Charter for many years.
A resolution was adopted scheduling a public hearing to be held on March 12 to hear public comment on this proposal. After the public hearing, the council will vote on the question and the vote must be unanimous to have an ordinance drafted that would amend the City Charter to have the position of city manager developed and installed. Young suggested the process could be complete by August.
If the recommendation of the Charter Commission is turned down, the commission will reconvene.
Plans and specifications for swimming pool project
Councilor Josh Broadwater said there still are too many questions to be answered before committing a lot of money to develop plans and specifications. This is money we can’t get back. He added we should move forward with the project, but just not tonight. The pool project and timeline had been discussed at length before the council meeting at a Committee of the Whole meeting.
Councilor John McBroom maintained the voters had approved up to a $4.4 million price tag. He continued insisting the cost is just going to go up if we delay and I also don’t want to spend more on the old pool. Councilor Mike Urban said he had questions about how much of the cost could be paid for through fund raising.
Mayor Russ Smith said until the plans and specifications are drawn up, we really don’t know what the final price will be. I know we don’t get engineering fees back. Novotny maintained if we wait it will cost more, adding I am willing to find out what the cost will be.
Smith said we should take advantage of lower interest rates before they go up.
A motion to authorize Burbach Aquatics Phase II/III for development of plans and specifications was approved with a three to two vote. Urban and Broadwater voted no.
Other business in brief
• An agricultural lease agreement with Schoenfelder Farms was approved with an annual payment of $175 per acre or $7,000 for the year.
• The purchase of an air compressor at the lower bid from Fire Safety USA at a cost of $19,919.46 was approved.
Fire Chief Ryan Priebe also requested the purchase of a refurbished tanker from WIT Boyz, Inc. He explained the old tanker (1998) was due to be replaced and a new one could cost $200,000. A decision was made by the truck committee to purchase a used crew cab chassis (already a fire truck). The poly tank on the current tanker will be removed and installed on the purchased chassis. The total cost is expected to be about one quarter of a new tanker. The agreement with WIT Boyz to purchase the used chassis and have the tank installed was approved.
• The first consideration of Ordinance 429, Renaming a street was approved. This involves the renaming of Industrial Drive to Enterprise Drive.
• Approval was given to change the liquor ordinance to allow on-sale activity (hours) to be the same on all days of the week, including Sunday, as recommended by the Public Services committee.
• A Street Sweeping policy was approved. Brian Burkholder said it basically follows what we have done in the past.
• Olmsted County open book Board of Appeal and Equalization will be on April 11 from 9-10 a.m. at the Olmsted County Government Center, conference room two. This is for property owners that want to contest the valuation of their home.
• Angie Grant was appointed to Library Board of Trustees for a term ending January 31, 2021.
Leave a Reply