Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins reported on two rezoning requests for properties located near Chatfield in Chatfield Township at the county board’s February 28 meeting. A public hearing on each request was held at the February 22 Planning Commission.
Terence Yust requested the rezoning of a portion of his property (in Section 6) from Agricultural to RA (Residential Agriculture). The purpose for the request was to make it possible to sell a buildable property to Josh Thompson for a new home. The parcel lies about two-tenths of a mile outside of Chatfield along County Road 2. The property would not allow for the building of a new home if still zoned Agriculture due to the fact that there already are three existing homes on the quarter of a quarter section.
It was noted at the public hearing that this portion of the Yust land (9.5 acres) is not being used for agricultural purposes and hasn’t been for over a half century. Neighbors were not opposed to the request for rezoning along with the plan to split off a portion of the Yust property. The City of Chatfield is not opposed to the rezoning request and has no plans to annex this property.
Chatfield Township officers attended the public hearing and were opposed to the rezoning, noting they don’t acknowledge RA zoning in the township ordinance. Commissioner Duane Bakke said the county doesn’t allow RA zoning over a half mile outside of a municipality. However, this is less than a half mile outside of city limits. He noted there is an existing house on the parcel. That house will be split off with 2.5 acres or more and the newly buildable portion will also be over 2.5 acres.
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval and the county board approved the rezone unanimously with three conditions: the split of the property must leave a minimum of 2.5 acres of land along with the existing dwelling, the rezoning is contingent upon the completed sale of the property to Josh Thompson and the receipt of a completed survey of the split, and a disclaimer is to be recorded to the deed of the property notifying the landowner of the location of the adjacent Chatfield Brush Dump.
Lee Novotny requested the rezoning of his property from Agricultural to RA (Residential Agricultural) in Chatfield Township (Section 4). This would allow him to split off a portion of his property and make it salable for the construction of a new home. In the past there was a house located in this vicinity. The property is not currently being used for any other purpose.
The city of Chatfield is not opposed to the rezoning. Chatfield Township officers opposed the rezoning of the property at the public hearing.
The property is located next to the city limits and Chatfield asked for an Orderly Annexation agreement. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the rezoning and the county board unanimously approved the rezone with two conditions: the landowner must discontinue use of the west driveway access off Highway 52 and the applicant must sign an Orderly Annexation agreement with the city of Chatfield.
Other business in brief
• Forester Jim Edgar informed the board of the DNR’s intention to purchase some land adjacent to state-owned land. The land is to be purchased from Matt Hellickson and is located in Section 25 of Arendahl Township southwest of Highway 16. It will be added to state forest land and will fall under “in-lieu-of-tax” county tax payment schedule. This land located southwest of Peterson will be open for public use. The purchase will improve access to state forest property. The purchase will be paid for with Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage legacy funding.
• The lowest of three quotes for the purchase of a 2017 Case backhoe was approved for the Highway Department. The low quote less trade-in of a 2007 backhoe was $71,105.
The 2017 fuel bid estimates for all the county shops was awarded to Hovey Oil Co., Harmony. The 2017 fuel prices were the same as in 2016.
The final payment in the amount of $1,476.75 was approved to A & H Company for the Chevron placement project.
• A letter of support was approved for Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel to delicense 10 beds. The letter addressed to the Minnesota Department of Human Services supported the request of Julie Vettleson, administrator of the nursing home, to reduce the number of skilled nursing beds from 51 to 41. This will allow for more single occupancy rooms.
Commissioner Marc Prestby explained that Medical Assistance pays a flat rate which is the rate for a double occupancy room. The rate for a single occupancy room is higher and will not be reimbursed totally by Medical Assistance. The board asked staff to determine the number of double occupancy rooms available in the county.
• Donna Rasmussen, SWCD administrator, requested consent to set up a display in the courthouse between the Recorder’s office and the Auditor/Treasurer’s office to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the SWCD. Rasmussen explained that the east and west districts came together for the SWCD in 1942. The display will focus on conservation and environmental activities and will be in the courthouse from April to May.
• Approval was given to hire Krista Johnson as a home health aide effective March 15.
• Director of Nursing Jessica Erickson presented the Public Health Expenditure Report. The Joint Board of Health with Houston and Fillmore Counties meets later this day.
• The annual maintenance invoice for firewall appliances with the Barrier Group in the amount of $6,875 was approved.
• Approval was given to pay the SHI International Corp invoice in the amount of $41,039 for renewal of Microsoft licenses.
• Approval was given for the chair and vice-chair to sit in on both Benefits and Personnel Committees to represent the board. Prestby opposed.