4/18/2007 10:39:00 AM City council approves
playground for City Park
By Iris Clark Neumann
Following a presentation by Shannon Glenzinski of Park Partners, the Chatfield Council approved its plan to construct an 80,000 square feet playground in City Park.
During the April 9 city council meeting supporters for the playground plan filled 10 audience chairs. Glenzinski recapped the planning the group has done thus far, including a design day at Chatfield Elementary School.
She acknowledged the importance of complementing history of the community with the playground's design. Noting that Groen Park had been labeled a "family park," she mentioned it is downhill and would not be as convenient of a destination for local mothers with children on foot, should the playground be put there.
Two other issues, a conditional use permit (CUP) for 615 S. Main and a swimming pool ordinance, were brought forward from the Planning and Zoning Commission, which had met on Monday the prior week. The CUP passed and the pool ordinance, affecting pools with a capacity of 200 gallons or greater, completed a first reading.
Destination playground
Noting its building dates, Wednesday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 21, were fast approaching, Glenzinski told the council approval for building in City Park was needed.
She explained the Park Partners didn't plan to create a "big ugly thing." The playground would have two areas, one a tot lot contained by wooden slats (or pickets), which are also fundraisers for the group. These can be purchased for $25 each and engraved with a child's name.
An attached larger area would have a highest point at 16 feet and decks as high as 6.5 feet. Depending on how the existing equipment is plotted on a map, a difference of interpretation has led to statements by groups that both the existing equipment and the proposed equipment consumed more space.
Glenzinski said its design was "generally open," in contrast to claims otherwise.
It will be a "one of a kind" playground with a value of $300,000 once completed, for a cost of $100,000, plus the donated talents of community supporters. Funding is being collected, as well as in-kind donations, which count toward the total. Already equipment and time are being offered.
"Now we are into heavy fund raising, there's no turning back," expressed Glenzinski.
So far Park Partners has spent $3,000 getting this project going. The planning, or design day, that incorporated the ideas of elementary children cost the group $2,000. This was funded by a donation from the Chatfield Firefighters. In addition to a $10,000 Chosen Valley Community Foundation donation, the P.T.S.A is giving $250, private individuals have donated $600, and picket sales have totaled $675, so far.
Asked what would happen if the build day came and they were $50,000 short, Glenzinski said they would wait until spring - but if they were only $10,000 short, they'd find a way to make it happen.
Mayor Curt Sorenson prodded the council saying a decision needed to be made, "Do they have permission to build it or not?"
He apologized that Paul Novotny was not present to be part of the discussion. Councilor Brenda Johnson made a motion and Councilor Ginny Engle added a second for approval for the project.
Russ Smith noted that "all people were not on board with the scale," but added it's a great idea to get new stuff. Johnson said she liked the footprint and mentioned the concern that was raised of not being able to see through it. All councilors present voted for the playground being built in City Park.
Retreat house
A hearing for a CUP had brought neighbors to testify at the April 2 Planning and Zoning Commission. Concern was raised that as a home with historical significance, it should remain as a single-family home.
Two Stewartville women, Tammy Price-Troska and Deborah Krusemark, proposed using the large, two-story home on 615 South Main Street as a retreat for activities like scrap booking and quilting. They expressed that Chatfield was a warm community and felt it was a good place for their business venture.
The home is located in an area designated RD-BC for a Redevelopment Business District, but is currently zoned R-1 residential. The home has four bedrooms and as a bed-and-breakfast-type establishment would have a maximum of eight guests. Guests could rent the home for a maximum stay of two weeks. An existing concrete pad at the rear of the property would allow off-street parking of four vehicles.
The CUP would be reviewed annually, but if the property were resold the CUP provision would go with the house. Council members passed the proposal.
Swimming pools
Planning and Zoning has been talking about a pool ordinance for the past 10 months. The council did not accept an earlier version in December 2006. It was pointed out that within a 50-mile radius, 90 percent of communities had some type of pool ordinance created for safety concerns.
Pools containing less than 200 gallons of water, or those set up temporarily for less than 48 hours, would not be restricted by this ordinance. It defines between permanent and portable pools and specifies that they can only be located on side or rear yards and on a lot occupied by the owner of the pool.
A portable pool not enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high and with gates would need to have a safety cover when not in use. The drainage of water from a pool was also addressed. Water may not be drained onto another person's property without his or her consent; it can be directed into "an adjacent public right of way served by storm sewers."
P&Z had voted against including the very specific wordage used in an "Appendix G."
Johnson, who serves on that commission, told the council her group had tried to make the ordinance usable. She noted a need for the regulations because "larger pools are becoming more common."
Councilor Ken Jacobson, who also serves on the commission, said it would take a lawyer and an insurance person to interpret Appendix G.
The first reading consideration passed with Smith opposed.
Other business
• Clerk Joel Young asked for permission to advertise for filling the vacant position of wastewater superintendent, also considering the possibility that it might be filled by a firm offering such services.
• Consent agenda items included approval of a Fillmore County ambulance subsidy agreement and participation in the Fillmore County intra-county emergency management agreement. Sue Kester will be attending a governor's safety awards luncheon where she will accept an award for the Chatfield Ambulance Service, called the Meritorious Achievement Award in Occupational Safety.
• Police Chief Jeff McCormick asked for approval to request an extension of the Safe and Sober grant, which was done in partnership with Fillmore County last year. Expressing it was important to continue educating people, council passed the request. The current grant ends April 30, 2007.
• The Park and Recreation Committee proposed hourly wage increases of 25 cents for guards and water safety persons working at the swimming pool over the summer. Hourly rates are: guards, $7; water safety, $8; and head guard, $9.
Engle and Johnson mentioned their attendance at a recent event where they met with legislators. Engle said, "Our legislators are working hard."
Tony Lammers, superintendent of city services, added that Arbor Day was coming, April 27. Denoted as a Tree City USA with the Arbor Day Foundation, the city is required to make an Arbor Day proclamation.
