Paul Zager, MnDOT project manager, presented current plans for the 2027 US 52 project (Chatfield through Fountain) at the Chatfield City Council’s April 14 meeting.
Last year open houses were held in Chatfield and Fountain to get input from the public. Zager said MnDOT will be back again next year with more detailed plans. The first year of the project will involve bridge improvements/replacements (box culverts) and major construction. This will require some closure of sections of the highway for a time. There will be official detour routes for these partial closures. The second year will be the mill and overlay of the highway, one lane at a time.
Safety improvements will include added right turn lanes, by pass improvements, better sight distances, and a realignment in Fountain to west CSAH 8.
Zager noted the state will be paying for the entire project, unless it is necessary to relocate a city owned utility. MnDOT will ask both Fountain and Chatfield to consider waiving municipal consent. MnDOT plans to work five days a week during the project unless weekend work days are necessary, if the project is behind schedule.
Zager explained this review was an early look; plans will be much more detailed next year.
Councilor Mike Urban asked if there was more of an improvement planned for Nelson Hill other than planned tree removal to improve site distance. Zager answered, “We can’t at this time.” Councilor Josh Broadwater asked about the Lone Stone Court connection by the golf course. Safe Routes to School show it is a problem area; a marked pedestrian crossing would be a huge asset; it is tough for kids to cross there. Zager suggested the traffic speed would interfere with a crossing at that point. Zager said he will raise the issue with traffic.
Other Business in Brief
- A public hearing was held to review the Chatfield Body Camera policy. Police Chief Shane Fox noted the hearing was required by state statute. Right now the use of the body cameras is discretionary. They will be mostly on. Everything will go into the new system which uploads to the cloud. Statute determines the need for redactions. Officers will be assigned a body cam. There was no comment from the public.
The Chatfield police body camera policy was approved as recommended.
- A proposal from Widseth to provide professional engineering services for the proposed 2026 mill and overlay project was approved.
- Approval was granted to purchase one GoPro camera at a cost not to exceed $650.
- Approval was granted to bring back Braydon Fretland and Drew O’Connor to back fill the two summer help positions as recommended by Brian Burkholder.
- The pool staff list recommended for hire for the 2025 season was approved.
- The resignation of Mike Speck from the library board was accepted after five years of service.
- A donation in the amount of $1,000 from the Chatfield Youth Sports Association was accepted to be used for the Mill Creek Park batting cage installation project.
- A donation in the amount of $200 was accepted for the fire department.
- A request from the Chatfield Alliance to use 4th St., May through October 2025, for the Growers Market and Makers Market was approved.
- Mayor John McBroom proclaimed Friday, April 25 as Arbor Day.
- Urban noted city wide Trash and Treasure Days are coming up. The citywide rummage sale is scheduled for May 3 and spring residential cleanup is scheduled for May 5.
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