At the June 8 meeting of the Chatfield City Council there was a long discussion over the council’s April 27 decision to display the Minnesota State Flag as modified in 1983 on city property.
Todd French initiated the discussion. He noted he has been an area resident for 72 years. He and his wife proposed the city fly both versions of the state flag. They offered to pay for the flag and pole if cost is an issue.
It should be noted that state law allows for cities to decide which version of the flag they want to display on city property. A number of cities/counties have adopted resolutions to fly the historical 1983 state flag on municipal grounds. Many have expressed dissatisfaction with the redesign process.
After the city council’s April decision, many uncivil comments, to put it mildly, disparaging council members were made on Facebook.
Councilor Paul Novotny said if enough people in town want to fly the new flag, he would not be against it. “Flying the state flag should not be a political issue; we should try to work together on something this simple.”
Councilor Mike Urban acknowledged that some people supported flying the 1983 flag and some didn’t. He maintained the decision on the flag should have been before voters statewide. Urban said he wasn’t against flying two flags if that is what people wanted.
Councilor Josh Broadwater shared their views; he insisted there should have been a different process that involved more than 13 people to choose a flag.
Councilor Pam Bluhm said she likes the old flag.
Councilor Dave Frank explained he simply never liked the new flag. He said he has been very offended by uncivil phone calls he has received in the middle of the night and the comments online.
French said it is not a political issue but a social issue; elected people worked on the creation of a new flag for two years. Mrs. French expressed her frustration over the council’s decision as they made it without any input from citizens. French noted Minnesota means the land of sky blue water. French said the University of Minnesota characterized what white people did to indigenous peoples in the 1860s as genocide.
Broadwater said he wants to have a conversation, not an argument. “It is okay to disagree; I didn’t think it would be this big of issue.”
Novotny suggested the Park & Recreation Committee should continue the discussion. A motion to table any decision was approved until after it was discussed in committee.
Other Business in Brief
•A new power cot replacement for the ambulance service was approved. The purchase from Stryker after $4,000 trade-in credit and three years of ProCare coverage will be paid for interest free over three years with an annual payment of $11,054.
•An amendment to the TMO (Southeast Minnesota Transportation Management Organization) contract for professional services entered into by the city and Southeast Service Cooperative was approved. The completion date of the contract is June 30, 2027, which aligns with legislative funding.
•An amendment to the bridge agreement to extend the timeline from June 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026, was approved. This agreement is with the state of Minnesota, through the Commissioner of Department of Natural Resources, to provide funding to the city in the amount of $74,900 for the acquisition of a “like-new” surplus recreational bridge.
•Ambulance donations were accepted in the amount of $5,930.
•Donations in the amount of $600 were accepted for the fire department.
•A library donation in the amount of $105 was accepted from Stitch Witches to be used for capital purchases. A SE Library grant in the amount of $500 was accepted to be used for operational purposes.
•A temporary liquor license was approved for the Chatfield Fire Department Activities Association for an August 7-9 event.
•An alley closure west of Olmsted Medical Center parking lot, between Second and Third Streets, for June 25 was approved contingent on approval of property owner that could be affected.
•The city’s population is now estimated to be 3,020.
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