At the November 14 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, a bid from Griffin Construction for drainage ditch improvements at County Road 10 and Burr Oaks St. was approved. Councilor Ken Jacobson was absent.
Mark Welch, G-Cubed Inc. engineer, explained that project specifications were sent out to eight contractors. Three bids were received, one was rescinded. Griffin Construction was the lowest bid at a total of $88,999 for all three phases of the project. This is $9,000 higher than earlier estimates. Damage was increased by September heavy rains.
Councilor Paul Novotny said he preferred that bids be discussed in committee before making a decision, especially with the higher cost. Councilor Mike Urban commented that he was comfortable with the numbers, adding the project has been discussed for a long time. A motion to approve all three phases as presented was approved. Novotny voted no.
Brian Burkholder, Public Works, reported that President Obama, on November 9, declared nine southern Minnesota counties, including Fillmore County, a disaster area due to flooding caused by the heavy rainfall of September 21 through 24. Damage in the Fillmore County portion of Chatfield has been estimated to total $156,000. Most of that damage was to Mill Creek Park. There was contamination to the wood chips in the playground area, damage to the ball field, hockey rink, and walking bridge. Now, with the federal disaster declaration, FEMA funding will cover damages 100%.
Approval was given for KLM Engineering to inspect the water tower on Hillside Drive at a cost of $2,500. The water tower has not been inspected since 2008. It will be drained, inspected, and any sand/contaminants will be removed.
Burkholder said the water meter project installations are scheduled to begin on November 28. Letters will be sent out two weeks in advance with the schedules. All meters are to be installed by January 17.
Chatfield will again receive a certificate and letter from the Minnesota Department of Health, the 2015 Water Fluoridation Quality Award. Burkholder said the numbers were perfect. The award is given when fluoride levels are maintained in optimal ranges for 12 consecutive months.
Local election results
City Clerk Joel Young reported that over 90% of registered voters voted in Chatfield. Russ Smith ran unopposed and was reelected mayor with 1210 votes. Joshua Broadwater received 1136 votes for councilor. The number of write-in names were high for open councilor positions due to the fact that only Broadwater filed for a total of three open council seats. The two highest number of write-in votes went to Pam Bluhm (178) and John McBroom (69). Fourteen hundred and sixty-two total votes were cast. One hundred and eighty seven people registered to vote on election day.
Other business in brief
• There were no comments from the public during a public hearing for delinquent utility accounts for water, sewer, and garbage services. A resolution was adopted to certify the collection of the delinquent accounts, causing the county auditor to collect through property taxes payable in 2017. Administration costs are added in.
• Fire Chief Ryan Priebe explained that volunteer firemen now receive a $5 stipend for meetings, trainings, and calls. Approval was given to raise the stipend to $10 per meeting and training and to provide $10 per hour while on a call. Priebe requested that the payments be made once a month. Councilor Robert Pederson said it is definitely time for an increase. Priebe maintained the increases will bring the department more in line with other volunteer fire departments and will help with recruitment.
• An updated personnel policy including sexual harassment prevention and technology policies was approved. The policy was last updated in 2003. The updated policy will go into effect on January 1, 2017.
• The first consideration of the 2017 Fee Ordinance #421 was approved. Water and sewer rates will remain unchanged.
• Young reported that Public Works employees will no longer be union employees.
• Deputy Clerk Beth Carlson was congratulated on being elected to serve as mayor of Lewiston.