Curt Sorenson, Charter Commission chair, updated the Chatfield City Council on the commission’s progress to date at the city council’s October 10 meeting. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent.
Sorenson said that the commission has met four times. They started at the top of the charter and are working their way down. City Cerk Joel Young pointed out to the commission some language issues that needed to be changed. Sorenson noted six noncontroversial, insignificant items that the commission recommended be changed by ordinance rather than by referendum.
The commission also has recommended the removal of current charter language that controls the pay of the city council and the mayor. State statute does not allow for language in the charter to control the pay of the council and mayor, and for that reason this change is recommended.
At the September 26 city council meeting, the first reading of ordinance 420 was approved, which had been recommended by city staff. The ordinance will reset the pay of the mayor and city council effective January 1. Their pay had not been raised for decades. The proposal set the mayor pay at $4,700 per year plus $35 per special meeting and the councilor pay at $3,000 per year plus $25 per special meeting. This day the second consideration of Ordinance 420 was approved as was its publication.
Sorenson listed the four relatively insignificant changes, which include the removal of some outdated language, removal of language that isn’t consistent with state statute, an increased internal fund transfer limit from $2,000 to $10,000, and an increase in latitude for the board of review. The commission recommends retaining the current language of the referendum clause and retaining language related to local improvements.
Sorenson said the commission continues to discuss the organizational structure of city government. The establishment of a city administrator or city manager position is being considered. This is still in the discussion phase and unresolved at this time. He said the city government now is operating as though it has a city administrator. He suggested the charter should read the same way we operate. Sorenson commented that he personally thinks the city is currently being managed very well, but felt changes in the charter language are needed in the event someone new comes in.
Sorenson requested the council review the recommendations and ask questions. He said the first six recommendations are ready to go and can be dealt with through the ordinance process. Sorenson expects he will come back to the council next year when the commission is ready to make a recommendation on the organizational structure of the city government. The structure being discussed will have one person at the top, which is the reality of today, but is not in the city charter. Sorenson asked how much authority do you want to give to that person? He added that the commission is an advisory group; we don’t make policy.
Rolling Hills Transit
Chris Giesen, EDA, introduced Erlene Welshons, Semcac transportation director, and Mike Rizzo. They are planning to conduct a survey to determine the degree of interest and exact transportation needs in Chatfield. There is the possibility that citizens could have access to a Rolling Hills Transit bus, probably one day per week. The bus would primarily be funded through state grant funding, plus low and discounted fare rates for clients.
Clients would need to call 24 hours ahead to schedule an appointment for the curb to curb service. These buses do not run on a regular route. Rolling Hills bus service is currently available in Fillmore County in Rushford/Peterson and Spring Valley/Wykoff/Ostrander. In Olmsted County, the service is available in Stewartville, Eyota, Dover, and Byron. There are 10 active buses covering five counties.
The service can be used for medical appointments, work, daycare, preschool, local business needs, senior dining, and special requests. Rizzo said the buses operate on a first come, first serve basis. Welshons noted that about 54% of the riders are preschool children and most of the balance are seniors. This service is in addition to the volunteer driver program which serves six counties and is for medical services only.
A trial service in Chatfield would not require a financial contribution from the city. The service is for all ages and would require a fare of $1.50 for in-town trips and $5 to $6 for out-of-town trips.
Giesen said this service can augment Help Our Neighbors services. Welshons noted all buses are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant. The council voted to move forward with bringing this service to Chatfield as recommended by the EDA.
Other business in brief
• Brian Burkholder, Public Works, reported that the water meter project is moving along. He offered two quotes for installation of the four collectors at siren poles on Burr Oak Ave. and Fifth St., on the water tower on Hillside Dr., and on a new pole being installed near the reservoir on Old Territorial Rd. The lower quote of $8,105 from Vertical Limit was approved. Installation of the 65-foot pole at the fourth site by People’s Energy Cooperative at a cost of $5,000 was approved. They will also hook up the other three collection devices. Huntington Electric was approved to run power to the collectors at all four sites for a total cost of $3,070.
The lower quote from Southeast Mechanical was accepted to install 33 large meters at a cost of $4,225 plus $75 per hour for 16 cut-ins.
• Burkholder said he met in City Park with Carmen Narveson and Tim Gossman to discuss their proposal to decorate the band shell during December. He said they would start out small and add to it each year. The plan is to raise about $1,000 to light the tree and arch. The tree alone could be lighted for about $500.
• Sue Kester, safety coordinator, said the League of Minnesota Cities safety consultant attended the last couple of safety committee meetings. There is a League program called Regional Safety Groups, a group of cities which comes together a minimum of six times per year for safety trainings. The cost of a trainer for the group is shared by the cities. The more cities that are involved in the group, the less the cost to each individual city. The League pays half the cost for cities that have their loss control insurance through them. Approval was given to begin with the Regional Safety Groups in the beginning of 2017.