The Fountain City Council has reached a decision on future policing needs. At the Wednesday, September 6 council meeting, the council unanimously voted to contract with the City of Preston Police Department. Current Fountain Police Chief Tom Mosher is retiring from his post September 29 after 20 years of serving the city.
The city had debated throughout the summer whether or not to contract with Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department or find an alternate option after the decision to not continue with its own city department was made. City representatives had met with both Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase and Preston Police Chief Matt Schulz to discuss potential contract terms.
“I don’t know what we’re waiting for,” said Councilor Chad Wangen. “We have a proposed contract in hand from Preston. [Chief Matt] Schulz showed good initiative.” The proposed contract included Fountain paying 7.8%, roughly $24,000, of the Preston Police Department costs. The department also contracts with the city of Lanesboro. It is unclear whether or not those are the final terms of the Fountain policing contract.
Mosher was asked whether or not reality of retirement was taking effect yet. He indicated it wasn’t, but also hinted that he may be still have a role in area law enforcement in the future. “I’m not going anywhere,” he laughed. “You’ll probably still see me; maybe even in a brown uniform, but not 40 hours a week. I know they’re coming. There’s rumors already.” While Mosher noted several opportunities for him to get back into it, state retirement rules do stipulate that he can’t work for 60 days for any law enforcement.
The city was highly appreciative for Mosher’s years of service. “Don’t throw the uniform yet,” joked Councilor Jim Shott to a round of laughs from those in attendance at the meeting.
“It would never have been 20 years if it hadn’t gone the way it did. Thank you. I’ve been happy here for 20 years,” added Mosher.
Plans for the city’s police squad car are undetermined, but some options have been discussed. The vehicle has been driven by one officer, has a good maintenance record, several new features, and is fully equipped for police work. With less than 40,000 miles, it was noted that it’s in pristine shape and could be an asset to the city.
“Unless you’re coming back, I don’t think we need one,” said Wangen. The city will consider listing it on patrol sales sites. In the meantime, the council is determining where to store and vehicle and what the proper steps are for insurance coverage.
In other news, the council discussed the proposed budget for 2018. Total proposed maximum levy is $185,985. That figure is spread out with $100,041 into the general fund, $65,000 for sewer levy, $15,944 in capital improvement levy, and $5,000 in equipment replacement. Noting the August work session, City Clerk Rhonda Flattum noted most things were staying the same of the next year.
Specific items of budget interest included miscellaneous expenses, including trimming of all trees and setting money aside for dealing with emerald ash bore affected trees and a transfer to the water fund for new meters. For these reasons, the city opted to approve a 5% increase. Any additional funds will be set aside for street improvements.
The city also continues to work on zoning issues including property cleanup. A letter was mailed in July to all city property owners indicating the city ordinance and compliance of the ordinance. In the letter, residents were notified that they had until August 16 to clean up their properties. Prior to the letter, Flattum and Public Works Director John Hanson reviewed all properties and documented items out of compliance. Hanson went around again September 6 to view progress of the properties.
Flattum sought clarification from the council to determine next steps. “Some have cleaned up; some haven’t,” she said. “Where do we set the limit on who we clean up and who we don’t?”
Wangen stated that the city should go in and clean up properties still out of compliance, charging the property owners for the work. He indicated Hanson would do the cleanup work. “We go by ordinance,” he noted.
However, according to Flattum, the ordinance is not specific. “Who’s making the judgement call?” She further indicated limitations on how properties can be assessed for cleanup and the complication of renters. “There’s laws regarding advanced notice and fees to assess to tax rolls.”
“It’s in the ordinance,” said Wangen. “You have to follow through with it or quit making threats about it.” The council indicated that the city begin with unlicensed cars (collector cars must have a collector plate), brush, and garbage. A second letter to properties will go out stating residents have until October 15 to clear properties. If the specified items are not taken care of, violators will get city citation.
“If they don’t pay or get rid of it, an ordinance violation, we can give a second citation with fee,” said Mosher. “If it goes to court, it’s usually $130 or more.” The additional cost to cleanup properties that could be assessed to tax rolls was not defined.
The city did also discuss the option of spring and/or fall city-wide cleanups. No formal action was taken on setting citywide cleanup.
Progress on Fountain’s official Veterans Memorial is being made. Volunteers Phil Eickhoff, of Eickhoff Construction, and resident Larry Hunt have continued working on the project and Eickhoff presented a drawn proposal to the council for consideration.
Eickhoff indicted he’d taken it upon himself to unofficially survey the area with a transit and get something of a design on paper for county and Minnesota Department of Transportation (DoT) review. He noted that he’d had conversations with DoT representative Tom Streiff, who indicated a culvert may be needed with the project. “It serves no purpose,” said Eickhoff. “The high point is the light pole. It drains towards Herman’s, then off to north. There’s nothing coming into the grassy area.”
A discussion was also had with Fillmore County Engineer Ron Gregg, who had gotten a call from Streiff regarding a permit for the county right of way. The drawn proposal allowed Eickhoff to explain the plans. “It sounds like this is kind of a go,” he said. Eickhoff also explained what he felt was the county’s role in the project. The city can do both the dirt work and site prep and the majority of construction. According to Eickhoff, the county would provide the gravel, including two loads of rock and one load of road rock, and would possibly blacktop the parking area, which runs adjacent to County Road 8, in the future.
One issue the state DoT is concerned with is handicap access. Plans will include a sidewalk flare that comes to gravel parking area. A sidewalk of six feet wide by 30 feet in length will go from the parking area to the memorial centerpiece. A 1:20 rise is typically what’s proposed for handicap access and Eickhoff indicated this will have a one-and-a-half inch rise.
The concept includes a circular memorial area with a four foot by 32 inch wall of stone. Concrete footings would be brought out to include a planting area for flowers or shrubs. Benches would flank the wall. A powder-coated, aluminum cutout of a soldier kneeling by cross is estimated at $100 and would be purchased through Chatfield Veterans. Two flags will anchor the corners of the wall and a 40-inch gold-colored plaque with emblems of each branch of service will be mounted to a 38 by 20 inch piece of white marble. The marble piece is owned and donated by Eickhoff.
Costs are anticipated at $8,800 for the total project, but some item costs are undetermined. Dirt work, seeding, gravel, and site work are expected to run $2,500; benches $1,000; gravel and site work – $1,500. Benches are approximately $200-300 and the flags are $800 with a 22-foot pole. However, Eickhoff thinks perhaps 10-foot poles will suffice, reducing the cost to approximately $600.
Lighting, by way of a spotlight on an existing street light, could be $200. “We have power. We just need to put the spotlight in,” said Phil. “Although it’s probably not that simple.” MiEnergy will have engineers meet with planners to discuss options. If unmetered, the light could be added into cost of pole.
The biggest current hitch in the plan is the memorial wall stone. It was estimated that the stone would run around $4,000, but Eickhoff noted he’d received a figure that was twice that. “We’ll have to look at other options for that; look for more economical product to face it with. We have to find something that is more feasible; perhaps discounted or discontinued stone,” he added.
There is still the possibility that water access will be added to the site, via a locked hydrant, but there are currently no cost estimates for that item. It’s possible planners could include a poly bulk tank for watering plants instead.
The permit for the plan could be back within the week and the project could be done yet this fall. “It’s not a big project. A week would do it,” said Eickhoff.
“I think we should do it; absolutely,” responded Councilor Schott.
“Once we get it set up and done, we will be proud of it,” added Hunt. Donations for the project are still needed and encouraged.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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