Improvements for Mill Creek Park Baseball Field

Proposals for batting cage installation, fence replacement, and business banners were considered at the April 8 meeting of the Chatfield City Council.

Public works director Brian Burkholder said the Park and Recreation committee had approved a plan for the installation of a batting cage at the south baseball field outside the fence on the first baseline. 

The batting cage will include a maintenance free cage (72 feet by 15 feet) with a concrete pad and turf. The total cost of $22,547 will be offset by donations totaling $12,000: from a Peoples Co-op grant of $2,500, Chatfield Booster Club ($3,500), Chatfield Youth Football ($3,500), Chatfield Fire Department ($2,500), gravel for concrete to be donated by Griffin, and some time for concrete work donated by Nick Vold from Komitt.

After donations, the remaining cost will be divided between the city ($3,515), and the school district and the Chatfield Youth Baseball Association who will share the balance ($7,031). The proposal for the installation of a batting cage at Mill Creek Park was approved as presented.

Burkholder said the replacement of the fencing for the backstop and third base ballfield fence at the Mill Creek north field is long overdue. A bid from Horsman Fence was approved in the total amount of $6,080 to remove the old fencing and replace the two areas with new fence.

The council voted to allow banners to be placed on both ballfield fences at Mill Creek Park as detailed by Dan Funk, park and recreation and building maintenance. The banners will be a way to promote area businesses. The banners are expected to be 3 feet by 8 feet made out of mesh material with grommets for hanging. They could be displayed from May 1 through around October 1. The banner will be returned at the end of the season. The cost for the display will be $100 per year. Display space will be on a first come, first served basis.

Approval was granted to allow individuals to rent a 20-foot by 30-foot community garden space for $30 per year. A proposal detailed by Funk said the gardens will be tilled in the spring and compost will be added as needed. Everything will be removed in the fall. Only annual plants will be allowed. The area is along Enterprise Dr. SE.

Other Business in Brief

• Burkholder recognized water superintendent Ryan Priebe for the achievement of earning his water certification license. 
• Chris Giesen summarized Economic Development Authority activity during 2023. Some highlights include completion of the Phase II Chatfield Center for the Arts renovation project, securing special state legislation authorizing the use of tax increment financing (TIF) for a hotel project along Mill Creek Rd., assisting with approval of TIF for a 14-unit apartment facility, and receiving a special state appropriation of $350,000 to assist the regional organization Southeast Minnesota Together research for the creation of a transit management organization. There currently are nine active loans in the loan portfolio. Four new homes were constructed in 2023.
• City Administrator Michele Peterson reported that a draft of a golf cart and UTV ordinance is ready to be discussed at Public Services committee.
• Consulting contracts for Chatfield Cable Television were approved: Andy O’Connor for baseball, Elizabeth Allen for softball, Katie Helwig for programming, and Andy O’Connor as CCTV Liaison.
• A donation in the amount of $1,288 from Pat Carver was accepted to be used for the installation of a bench at Mill Creek Park.
• The citywide garage sale is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. The city-wide cleanup begins on Monday, May 6. Large items that require stickers will begin to be picked up Thursday, May 9. Call (507) 259-7124 to schedule an appointment for large item pick-ups.
• The city council will meet next on April 22.