At the February 23 Chatfield City Council meeting, the issue of sidewalks required by the Hilltop Estates development agreement was again addressed.
At an August 24 council meeting, the construction of a 10-foot bituminous walking path was suggested as a better solution than sidewalks which were required in the development agreement. Three councilors favored the walking trail and an amendment of the agreement in the Hilltop Estates subdivision. The design of a trail and the amendment to the agreement was to be brought back for approval. The developer poured a driveway without a sidewalk due to this action.
In September 25 the possible amendment of the sidewalk requirement was again discussed. The Planning & Zoning Commission maintained sidewalks are required on the north side of Wisdom Ct. SE. Councilor Mike Urban expressed his opposition to the amendment; Councilor Dave Frank was also not in favor of removing the sidewalk requirement. On that day a motion was approved with a three to two vote approving the original agreement requiring sidewalks and to deny the amendment. Councilors Paul Novotny and Josh Broadwater voted against.
A home was built on Wisdom Ct. SE without the construction of a sidewalk on the property. City Administrator Michelle Peterson said she had contacted the owner of the new home and the developer; a sidewalk can be installed at the same time on the lot with the new home and another lot that has been sold.
Novotny said, “It is totally on us to take care of this, as we did one thing and then decided to do something else. We need to do right by the homeowner. This is the price of our decision, changing our minds.” The first motion to pay for removal and replacement of the driveway and a sidewalk outside of the driveway costing an estimated $14,000 to $19,500 failed.
Broadwater said he agreed with Novotny that “we are at fault, for pushing the walking trail.” He said he had voted against this motion because he wanted to be consistent with his votes in August 2024 and September 2025.
A second motion was approved to pay for the work to make the property consistent with the development agreement. Councilors Frank and Urban voted no.
Other Business in Brief
- The final payment to Rochester Sand & Gravel for the 2025 Mill & Overlay Project in the amount of $89,391 was approved. The total value of the work was $1,689,029. There was an additional payment included in the final payment total for the reconstruction of 13 structures, costing $400 per structure.
- The purchases of a new 2027 Freightliner 114SD plus chassis from Dave Severson at a cost of $115,620 and of plow equipment from Universal Truck & Equipment at a cost of $156,217 were approved (total cost $271,837). Brian Burkholder also received permission to sell the 2011 International plow truck.
- A letter of support expressing support for the proposed Veterans memorial to be located on school district grounds was approved. Urban expressed his reservations over the proposed location for the memorial and voted against the letter of support. He said he was 100% behind the veterans memorial but felt it should be at a different location.
- A letter of support for the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail proposal being submitted to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources was approved.
- A purchase agreement for an Enterprise Dr. Lot was approved. The offer was $72,100; there was one contingency that the lot can be rezoned. Frank abstained and Novotny voted no.
- Peterson reported on the Committee of the Whole. The next step on Heritage Preservation was discussed. Planning & Zoning is looking at underutilized land at Shady Oak; it is to be determined if there could be three or four lots there. Five new homes were built in Chatfield in 2025. The VFW memorial is to be fully funded by VFW.
- The 2026 Fillmore County Ambulance Subsidy agreement was approved.
- An ambulance donation in the amount of $750 was accepted.
- Library donations totaling $1,550 were accepted.
- A donation from the Chatfield Firefighters Activity Association in the amount of $60,000 was accepted.
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