At the January 9 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, the first order of business was the oath of office for the reelected mayor and the three new councilors. Mayor Russ Smith recited his oath of office. Newly elected councilors Joshua Broadwater, Pam Bluhm, and John Mc-Broom repeated their oath together.
Councilor Paul Novotny was elected vice-mayor. Smith presented a plaque with the Athenian Oath to each of the incoming councilors. His comments included a statement that the city of Chatfield is financially in good shape.
Planning and Zoning
Kristi Clarke reported on several issues. Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) are final for Olmsted County and preliminary for Fillmore County. With the final FIRM maps for Olmsted County it is required that a new Floodplain Management Ordinance be adopted. The city has six months to adopt the maps and approve the Minnesota DNR text. The text outlines regulations and rules of DNR and FEMA for floodways and flood areas. The floodway can not be developed unless a property owner proves there is an error. The revised ordinance must be in place by April 19 so residents of Chatfield can have continued access to FEMA’s flood insurance program.
A public hearing was held on January 3 on the ordinance revision. There was no comment. Clarke noted that two property owners had called and she walked them through their issues. The planning commission voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to the city council for its consideration. City Attorney Fred Suhler will have to put it into ordinance format to be approved.
Clarke noted that each fall a review is conducted to determine if all conditions placed on existing CUPs issued in Chatfield are being adhered to. She said there were no issues with the CUPs.
Eleven other southeastern communities were researched to help determine if the city of Chatfield was overly restrictive on the percent of lot coverage allowed for a buildable area. Currently, 30% of a lot can be covered with a building in the R-1 residential zoning district. The research of other communities showed they were less restrictive. The most restrictive found allowed 40% lot coverage. Forty percent lot coverage will still provide adequate space for required setbacks. There were no comments from the public at a January 3 public hearing. The planning commission voted unanimously for a change to the R-1 standards to allow for a maximum of 40% lot coverage.
The state changed the minimum size of an accessory building needing a building permit from 120 square feet to 200 square feet. Clarke noted that without the permit process, some accessory buildings and fences residents build may not adhere to required setbacks. Requiring a simple site plan and having someone go to the property to check setbacks will prevent mistakes and get it right the first time. There were no comments or concerns raised at a January 3 public hearing. The commission voted unanimously to recommend that accessory buildings be included in the zoning certificate process to get additional oversight to make sure setbacks were followed.
A motion to have Suhler draft the recommendations into an ordinance was approved.
Other business in brief
• Brian Burkholder updated the council on the slowed progress of meter installations. He said a third letter has been sent out to residents that have failed to call in and set up an appointment to have their new meter installed. Ten to 15% of households have failed to set up an appointment. There is no cost to the home owner. Notices have been put on the city’s website, Facebook, and in utility billings. The installation takes about 20 minutes. Councilor Paul Novotny suggested dedicating staff time to go with installers door to door to get it done. Burkholder admitted it has been frustrating and asked residents to please call.
• The Charter Commission has been working on updating the city’s charter since last March. City Clerk Joel Young said the commission has requested that the League of Minnesota Cities attorney be hired to do a legal and content review of the charter and make suggestions. This would cost $75 per hour with a maximum of $750. Broadwater wanted time to look at it and said he would feel better in making a decision if they had a joint meeting with the Charter Commission. The issue was tabled until after there can be a joint meeting.
• The Chatfield Firefighters Activities Assoc. donated $5,500 to the fire department to be used to purchase a capnographer. The equipment is used to detect toxic gases in the blood stream. The purchase was approved.
• There was a discussion lead by Suhler on prosecutions for minor crimes. He said there was no urgency. The city attorney doesn’t do prosecutions. Lee Novotny is a special prosecutor on the Fillmore County side of the line. Suhler recommended referring this to the Public Services Committee. Mayor Smith asked if all minor crimes on each side of the county line can be prosecuted by one prosecutor. Suhler said Chief Shane Fox is right that it should all go to one office. No action was taken.
• Chill Fest will be on January 28. The Health/Resource Fair sponsored by Help Our Neighbors and Olmsted Medical Center will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on that day.
The Fillmore County Open Book Board of Appeal at the county assessor’s office runs from April 24-27.
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