The Chatfield City Council met for the first time in 2025 on January 13. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent.
Re-elected councilors Pam Bluhm, Josh Broadwater and David Frank repeated the oath of office, as did Mayor John McBroom.
Councilor Frank was elected to serve as vice mayor.
McBroom said he was honored to again serve as the city’s mayor and was looking forward to the next two years. He gave a short, glowing report on the city of Chatfield.
Appointments were approved to the various committees, boards and commissions; council and committee meeting times were also approved. The official newspaper will be the Chatfield News. Fred Suhler, Jr. will continue to serve as Chatfield’s city attorney, as he has since 1999. Lee Novotny will serve as the city’s prosecuting attorney.
The 2025 Financial Policies and accounting procedures and internal controls were available for review and approved as submitted.
Other Business in Brief
- Ryan Priebe, water superintendent, explained the tank mixer installed in the 300,000-gallon water pedestal storage tower quit working and is not warranted. He recommended replacing it with a Grid Bee submersible electric mixer which will match the two other mixers. The council approved the purchase of the tank mixer and SCADA control box from KLM Engineering Inc. at a cost of $16,013 as recommended.
- Maddie Clemens will be the swimming pool manager for 2025.
- Fillmore County receives funds for voting operations, technology, and election resources (VOTER) from the state. A resolution was adopted stating that Chatfield agrees to allow Fillmore County to retain VOTER funds received as long as the county continues to provide election related services for the city of Chatfield.
- A contract was approved with First Network Systems/Damon Lueck as CCTV programming coordinator during the 2025 calendar year.
- An agreement with Ability Building Community for cleaning services of municipal buildings was approved for the 2025 calendar year.
- An agreement for completion of the 2024 Financial Audit with Smith Schafer & Associates, LTD was approved. The fee for the audit will not exceed $33,000, including expenses.
- The resignation of Chris Giesen from the Heritage Preservation Committee and the Charter Commission was accepted, effective February 1.
- A 2025 maintenance agreement with Olmsted County for the maintenance of a portion of CSAH 10 within the Chatfield city limits was approved.
- A resolution was adopted approving annual liquor licenses and renewals.
- A letter of support was approved supporting the application of Beth Carlson to the position of president of the Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MCFOA).
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