The Wednesday, May 6 Fountain Council meeting was anything but normal with the council gathering in the spacious community center after original plans to have the council meet via telephone were changed. With the world at a relative standstill though, discussion during the six-minute meeting was limited.
“If he [Governor Walz] doesn’t lift the stay at home we will be doing the next meeting by phone with me calling you individually,” said Mayor Jim Schott. “We have to abide by it.”
The biggest item of discussion was the goodbye to City Clerk Rhonda Flattum, who’s served the city for eight years. Flattum was not in attendance at the meeting, having had her last in-office day May 6. Remaining personal time will be used for May 7-8. The council expressed thanks to Flattum for her service.
“The City of Fountain certainly appreciated what she did,” added Schott. “We appreciate everything she did.”
New City Clerk Mary Tjepkes has been training with Flattum and officially takes the reins May 11. She was not in attendance at the council meeting due to a family issue.
Two items of new business were approved, both of them zoning issues. The first was approval of a recommendation by the Zoning Committee for a change of 4.67 acres from residential to industrial for the purpose of a storage building. Schott indicated there were no attendees or comments at the public hearing.
A cement partition, behind the home of Rhonda Wangen, was also approved. The slab will be 13’x21’ and is aimed at controlling water running into the property’s garage.
A note regarding the Cans for Kids collection was brought forth by Councilor Terry Hanson. There was some concern over the amount of non-aluminum can materials in the collection. Hanson and Councilor Ron Reisner stated that Public Works Director John Hanson spent four hours gathering and loading the cans and taking them to the scrapyard, with another hour spent there. The collection garnered $38 for the project.
“People put other things in. It’s supposed to be just cans,” said Schott. “But, it’s a cause for the kids.”
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall, pending any extension of the governor’s Shelter in Place order.
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