During the September 9 Chatfield City Council meeting, Steven Schlichter was hired to operate the Wastewater Treatment Plant effective September 23. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent.
Schlichter was one of four applicants that had been interviewed for the position. The council also approved an extension of the services of Steve Bushman, WHKS Engineering, through October 18 to assure a smooth transition. This will allow Schlichter to learn some from Bushman as to how the plant is operating.
Brian Burkholder detailed areas that were damaged by June 26 storms in both Olmsted and Fillmore Counties. He requested authorization to pay 25% of the cost of repairs necessitated by the June flooding event. The cost of repairs in Olmsted County is $112,928 and in Fillmore County the cost of repairs is $14,249.48. The state will pay 75% of the total cost (both counties $127,177.48). Approval was given for the city to pay 25% of all the repair costs ($31,794.37).
Approval was given to install a street light at the intersection of Vindmoll St. and Enterprise Dr. at a cost of about $3,500.
Chris Giesen, EDA director, said the city had agreed to have basic private utilities (gas, electric, and telecom) installed at the city’s cost on the Enterprise Dr. lots. With the sale of the first lot, services will need to be installed. A quote from Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation in the amount of $24,704 was approved to install services for nine lots. Some of the funds from the sale of the first lot will be expended to pay for the utility installations.
A resolution was adopted calling for a public hearing to consider a TIF district (tax increment financing) for more affordable type housing on 10 acres of land along Division St. NW and Mill Creek Rd. NW. Mike and Julie Solga, who have purchased the property, will call it the “Gjere Addition Project.” Assistance is needed for Division St. improvements. The EDA will have a joint meeting with the city council on October 28 when the public hearing is held.
Other business in brief
•Dan Pecarina, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, updated the city council as to HBC’s plans to expand their services in the city. They are headquartered in Winona. HBC intends to have an office in Chatfield. Fiber optic network will be installed throughout the city. The enhanced services will be available to residences and businesses. HBC plans to have installation completed in about a third of the city by October and to all of the city by this time next year.
•Planning and zoning coordinator Kristi Trisko reported on some P & Z discussions and a public hearing to allow single family attached (duplex) dwellings in the R-1 zone on large lots. There was a public hearing in August with no comments on the proposed change. The city attorney was directed to draft the ordinance changes.
A request from Derek and Elizabeth Fuglestad to combine their two parcels along Amco Dr. into one parcel was approved.
•A recommendation of the Public Services committee to increase the speed limit on Burr Oak Ave., James St., and Margaret St. to 25 mph was tabled. Councilor John McBroom reported he had heard from several people on the proposed speed limit increase. Mayor Russ Smith added that he too had had several conversations on the subject. There will be more discussion on the subject before a decision is made.
•A payment of sales taxes to Ricchio, Inc. in the amount of $45,306.35 was approved as recommended by staff.
•Preliminary approval was given for the construction of a salt storage shed.
•City Clerk Joel Young gave a brief update on the 2020 budget. The preliminary tax levy will be adopted at the September 23 meeting. The proposed budget now shows a tax levy increase of 8.1%. Actual property tax increases will be affected by the additional tax capacity that will be added to the roles in 2020.
•Chris Barber, WSB, will serve as the city engineer for Chatfield.
•The city has been asked by the school district to assist with the school district’s election, Tuesday, November 5. The city will manage absentee and early voting.