Photo by Kirsten Zoellner
The City of Fountain hosted the Relay for Life event on August 19 and will host the American Cancer Society fundraiser again in 2023.
“It was a huge success. We were well over our goal,” enthused 2022 event coordinator and city councilor Colleen Foehrenbacher. The event raised $66,000 through walker donations and a silent auction. Cities agree to host the event for two years. “We’re already thinking of the 2023 relay.”
“Good for you! Congratulations” noted Mayor Jim Schott. “Job well done.”
The 2023 event will be on July 28. The date moved back to avoid taking away from other town festivities and the Fillmore County Fair. Several activities will again be in the community center beginning with Thursday set up through the night of the event.
Foehrenbacher is unable to lead the event next year, so organizers are looking for a new event chairperson. “Already having it in Fountain once, a lot of the planning has already been done,” she added. “We need to find someone who is willing.” The chairperson doesn’t need to be a Fountain resident, but it is preferred.
Schott suggested Tammy Danielson, who is running for mayor. “She is a go-getter,” he stated.
The group also discussed who should host after Fountain, in 2024-2025, and has suggested Spring Valley. City Clerk Mary Tjepkes was asked to email the city.
The council also discussed two quotes for new downspouts and seamless gutters at the community center. Water came in both the north and south sides of the building as it rained during the Relay for Life.
The quotes are from Oeltjen Custom Seamless Gutters & Siding of Spring Valley and Curry’s Custom Cut Gutters of Chatfield. There was some discrepancies. One offered a per-side price and differing sizes of downspouts. “It’s quite a bit. I would make the other the assumption that the other is total,” said Schott. The council was unsure if both came with a product and workmanship guarantee. “I think we need to get more information. We have to do apples to apples,” he added.
“Gutters on the back would help tremendously,” said Public Works Director John Hanson. “I don’t know if it would solve the problem entirely, but it would help a lot. Some may be coming off another building.”
“It’s getting inundated with water in there,” added Councilor Ron Reisner. “It’s also so high off the ground that there’s splatter. It could be coming in anywhere.” The council tabled the item to seek more information.
The council unanimously approved a raise for John Hanson, effective upon receipt of his new Class B license. Hanson recently passed the test. The rate will change from $23.79 to $25.96 per hour. Hanson can take the next license test in a year and a half.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.