At the February 24 Chatfield City Council meeting, City Clerk Joel Young initiated a discussion about a future upgrade to the city’s website.
The city currently uses GovOffice to host its website. The current contract ends late in April. It could be renewed for only one year if appropriate. Young explained he was not looking for approval of a new website host at this time. He will come back with a proposal to make upgrades, using a different website host. A motion was approved, putting the council on record that they were supportive of the process to upgrade the website, recognizing that it will not be initiated right away.
Well maintenance
Brian Burkholder reviewed two bids to pull the pump and repair the motor on Well #3. He recommended the bid submitted by Berguson-Caswell. They installed the pump originally in 1977. Burkholder said the wells need to be serviced every eight to nine years. This well was scheduled for maintenance in 2019. The most the maintenance work could cost is $33,205. However, it will likely cost significantly less. The bid from Berguson-Caswell was approved.
Other business in brief
•A lease agreement was approved between the city and Schoenfelder Farms. The lease allows Schoenfelder Farms to use city property for agricultural purposes. The annual payment of $7,000 ($175 per acre) is due April 1.
•The Committee of the Whole met prior to the city council meeting. The duties and responsibilities of the Heritage Preservation Commission were discussed, along with its goals for 2020.
•Young reported that Larkin Hoffman Attorneys met with the EDA. Approval was given to hire the firm at a cost of $6,000 to represent them during this legislative session to lobby legislators for funding to further improve the Chatfield Center for the Arts.
•A resolution was adopted, which provides that the city clerk will serve as the interim zoning administrator until a permanent zoning administrator is identified. A contract amendment to the Bolton & Menk, Inc. Planning Agreement was approved. Bolton & Menk agree to assign a certified planner from its staff to be on call and complete requested services when initiated and authorized by the city clerk. This is expected to be a short term situation.
•Myrthis Griffith was appointed to the Heritage Preservation Commission for a term ending January 2023.
•Luke Isensee was appointed to the EDA for a term ending January 2023.
•Rich Bakken was appointed to Planning and Zoning for a term ending January 2022.
•The Olmsted County Board of review will be at the county assessor’s office on April 15 from 9-10 a.m.