In February, Fountain’s City Council received notice from Sara Sturgis, Executive Director at Fillmore County Historical Society, that the society was requesting the Historical Center also be designated as the Fountain Visitor’s Center. The center, which is housed in the former Fountain Elementary School, is operated by the society. While the center is within the city, it’s listed as the historical center for Fillmore County and there was initial concern over favoring one city within the county over another. After checking with the county, via a discussion with Fillmore County Commissioner Duane Bakke, Sturgis stated at the April 7 council meeting that there is no objection to the plans at the county level.
There are plans going forward to promote both the city and the center. Signage has recently been posted and new signage noting the visitor’s center will be added. “The wayside rest sign is on the same post. I think there’s the impression that we are the place where people can stop, and that’s fine,” stated Sturgis. She and Councilor Colleen Foehrenbacher serve as city representatives in the Root River Trail Towns organization and will include new visitor’s center information into ongoing Trail Town promotions.
“It would create a digital kiosk for it,” added Sturgis. “We could be the portal and then [city] events could be on both websites. Maybe it’s one of the things we can work out – where that information lives. It’s getting the public information about what’s available.”
Chris Hahn, Economic Development Coordinator for Fillmore County, was also present with updates related to Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Safety (CARES) Act funding. According to Hahn, four Fountain businesses received grants, one in the first round of funding for $10,000 and three in the second round for $9,000 each. Another round of potential funding is expected for both cities and counties with Fountain slated to get $50,000.
Hahn noted that there are things the funds cannot be used for, but that all guidelines are still coming. The first half of funding will be this year and the second half next year. All funding must be used by 2024. Councilor Ron Reisner questioned whether or not Fountain could use the funds for much-needed street upgrades. However, at this time, there’s no clarification on that, but Hahn will alert the city when he knows more.
Rick Whitney, of PeopleService, was also present at the meeting with what he called an “unsolicited offer” for operation and oversight of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. PeopleService worked with the city from 2017 until 2019, when the council opted to switch to a three-year contract with MMS Environmental. The council took no action on the offer, but Mayor Jim Schott noted, “We’ve got another avenue here.”
Photo by Kirsten Zoellner
The council did approve several agenda items including a change to zoning regarding “shouses,” modified commercial-type sheds serving as residences. The Zoning Board opted to keep industrial residential and residential guidelines the same with the exception of requiring that residential dwellings have horizontal siding, despite material, while industrial is allowed vertical or other siding. “We had to get some kind of law in there because more are being built,” clarified Reisner. The change was approved unanimously.
Six members of the public were also on hand at the meeting to hear updates regarding the application of speed bumps and other ongoing measures to control ongoing problems to the Cedar Street area. Residents Dan and Kathy Byers, Jackie Hrstka, Ron Huey, Eric Luoma, and Sandy Seha-Luoma were present.
The road is largely being used as a cut-through from County Road 8 to Highway 52 and it’s created unsafe conditions and problems for both businesses and residences. Speed bumps have been delivered and Public Works will begin drilling the holes into the roadway to have them mounted. They will be spaced out at strategic locations on the length of the street.
Dan Byers questioned whether or not the digital speed sign that is also being used is recording data such as amount of traffic and time. The city will check into the data recording.
Byers noted other concerns for the area as well, questioning whether or not there was a noise ordinance or specific regulations for parking. The city has no ordinance for either. “That opens the door for anyone,” said Byers. “I find that hard to believe.”
“We can’t do anything about that,” noted Schott. “It’s a public street.”
Byers went on to note that he feels commercial parking on the street and noise are becoming an issue. The Byers concerns were echoed by Hrstka and Huey. “Every weekend we’re parked in. We’ve lost our privacy and lost our quiet. I want their business to do well. I don’t want it to go away. We’re just asking to quiet it down.
“That’s all we’re asking; we’re fair people, but it’s crossed the line,” added Dan Byers.
Business owners Luoma and Seha-Luoma issued an apology regarding a recent incident with a food truck generator, but maintained they have made efforts to keep noise from bands and activity minimal and that the levels haven’t increased in three years. They also noted that in 2020, they paid the city for right-of-way and paved an area for several parking spots. Since the pandemic began, the spots have been used for outside seating instead of parking.
“It was a temporary countermeasure during a worldwide pandemic,” said Luoma. “We bring people into Fountain. Three more breweries that have come into Fillmore County since we started, modeled on us. We would be out of business if not for two things; good weather and outdoor seating. We’re hoping that we can use that parking lot for parking instead of people.”
As discussion continued, tempers flared and accusations were flung, and rebuttals stated, leading the council to step in on at least three occasions. Largely, Councilor Foehrenbacher mitigated discussion, suggesting options for parking. “I think we’re finding some middle ground here,” she said. “There’s no noise ordinance, so there’s nothing we can do as a council. It’s something that happened and during reasonable hours. You can’t control the noise in someone else’s yard.”
Luoma did add that a 60amp outlet is being installed so food trucks don’t need to operate via generators, cutting some of the noise during business. Music will be moved indoors as pandemic restrictions lift.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, May 5, at 7 p.m., at the community center. It is open to the public.
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