Approval was given for the purchase of playground equipment for Lonestone Park at the Chatfield City Council’s November 8 meeting. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent.
Brian Burkholder explained that the city has applied twice for a Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Grant. This grant program provides matching grants to local units of government for 50% of the cost for redevelopment of local parks. The city has been working on acquiring the $25,000 grant since January 2020.
Now that the city received the grant, the play system will be purchased from Finnegan Playground Adventures out of Burnsville for the total purchase price of $55,284 as recommended by the Park and Recreation Committee. This includes installation and ADA ramp with border timbers.
Councilor Mike Urban gave committee reports for Personnel/Budget and Public Works. The city and Chatfield Public Schools have been discussing the possibility of creating a shared full-time position (seasonally or year round) for grounds and facility maintenance. Several issues are still being worked out at the committee level.
Possible uses of the city’s allocation of American Recovery Plan funds are being discussed. Some of the funds could possibly be used for water or wastewater projects.
Mayor Russ Smith reported on the strategic planning retreat held last Friday afternoon and Saturday. Twenty to 25 people attended including representatives from the council, EDA, school, and library. HueLife leads the strategic planning workshops. Smith said the planning workshop can help us figure out what has to be done now in order to get to where we want to be in the future.
Smith again reminded residents, with winter and snow coming, they will need to get vehicles off the street during a snow event. If vehicles are plowed around, they will be ticketed.
City Clerk Joel Young said there is one opening on the Olmsted County Planning Advisory Commission which advises the Olmsted County Board. Any of the councilors that live on the Olmsted County side of the city or other residents on that side could apply.
An amendment to a contract between the state of Minnesota DNR and the city of Chatfield was approved. The total contract obligation of the state is now $37,000. The original trail contract was for $30,000.
The 2022 Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) contract was approved.
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