6/6/2007 8:26:00 AM Chatfield Council takes
road trip to the park
Mayor Curt Sorenson and councilors Ken Jacobson, Russ Smith and Brenda Johnson listen to Shannon Glenzinski while she stands inside the taped off tot lot site. Next to her is Sue Greiner of Park Partners.
By Iris Clark Neumann
After convening their May 29 meeting, Chatfield Council members left their chambers for a walking road trip through downtown. The destination was City Park where they viewed the staked off areas for a proposed new playground.
By going in person and taking a firsthand view, councilors could see for themselves the size requirements for the play areas and the condition of the existing park. Mayor Curt Sorenson had cautioned the councilors the outdoor meeting was not a public hearing. Although he welcomed them to ask Park Partners questions while in the park, he requested no discussion once they reconvened in council chambers.
According to Shannon Glenzinski of Park Partners, who gave a presentation, the proposed play areas had been shifted closer to Main Street (apparently to encompass less of the park,) but she noted this did not seem like a safe solution to her. The original plan had the playground beginning 40 feet from the street.
The parameter for the tot lot was outlined with bright pink vinyl ribbon, it was positioned under the trees between the 6-to-12-year-old play area and the existing visitor center, ending more than 40 feet away from Tuper's Goose.
Instead of rock underfoot, the new playground will have an engineered wood fiber material for ground cover. The existing play equipment would be removed, along with the existing pea rock, which would result in some areas being returned to grass.
Councilor Paul Novotny questioned why the tot lot might not be positioned instead along Fourth Street, where play equipment currently exists. One of the several mature silver maples in the play area site is slated for removal after a branch broke in a recent storm.
Park Partners recently sent a check for $20,000 to Leathers and Associates to pay for having a detailed site plan drawn up. Asked about the state of current fund raising, Glenzinski responded they needed to raise 75 percent of their budget by August to keep their planned building dates in October.
Receiving recognition
A round of kudos was shared before and after the road trip. Former councilor Les Knutson received a plaque for his four years of service. Terry Haagenson was presented a wolf portrait in recognition of his 30 years serving the city. Currently interviews are being held to find his replacement as wastewater treatment plant manager.
Each councilor and Police Chief Jeff McCormick received a plaque from Sorenson with the Athenian Oath inscribed on it. The oath included a charge "to leave this place better than before," according to Sorenson.
Liquor noncompliance
McCormick's report outlined the results of recent alcohol compliance checks for local establishments with liquor licenses. Four of 10 places were found to be out of compliance when checked for sales to under-age customers.
Because the compliance checks were funded from the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, the city is required to take punitive action against those establishments that didn't comply. These were Borgy's Off Sale, Sports Saloon (offsale and onsale) and Kwik Trip.
Council discussion included consideration of a suspension of liquor licenses for three days, as was the case in another recent suspension situation. Council had earlier passed a resolution for a grid outlining their response to liquor license infractions with increasing severity after each additional violation. However, they discovered that because the guidelines weren't within an ordinance, they weren't enforceable.
Sorenson told councilors, "We need to look at the seriousness of this - it is worse than a dance review gone amuck."
The establishments which passed the check - by refusing to sell to persons without valid proof of age - included Countyline Wine and Liquor, Coyote Club, V's on the Green, Blues, VFW, and Old Tyme Café. The Crystal Ballroom was not checked, since it did not have an event during the time the others were checked.
Residents were warned to keep their cars, houses and garages locked with a recent rash of local burglaries. If you see something suspicious call the police as that is what they are there for, "to be bothered."
The fire department is selling a flat-bottomed boat, which it has owned for about 20 years. It doesn't feel comfortable using it, and would prefer using an inflatable boat should the need arise to rescue someone. It is being sold with a trailer and oars, but it has no motor.
In other business
• Consent agenda items included approval for sale of the 2000 squad car to Western Technical College of Wisconsin for $5,500. Approval was also granted for the Lion's Club to use Mill Creek Park for a circus on July 7.
• Due to the deteriorated condition of conference room chairs, a decision was made to purchase 16 chairs for a total of $3,696 from funds budgeted for this purpose.
• The purchase price for a used sewer line jetter machine went $5,000 beyond a budgeted amount, but was viewed as a good value. The jetter is a 1989 model once used by the city of Eagan, but was refurbished. New it would cost $160,000, but the price was $19,900. Its usefulness was proved during the try-out weekend it was in town and a sewer line plugged. This used machine has three times the capacity of the machine they'd budgeted for, so was seen as a good buy, with the excess funds coming from the reserve fund.
• Sorenson reported on a meeting of a group of folks, including himself, with vested interest in Highway 52 from Fountain to Marion. They shared concerns for needed road improvements and agreed the timing planned for upcoming overlays was too late for the current state of these roads.
Reportedly an overlay is slated for 2009 from Fountain to Chatfield and for 2011 from Chatfield to Marion. Those in the meeting agreed this was too little, too late. Councilor Jacobson noted the current deterioration in Highway 52 from Chatfield to Marion. The group has already gotten the attention of area legislators, who have "jumped on board."
• Sorenson noted a particularly poignant Memorial Day observance the day before, on May 28.
• He asked the councilors if they would mind more "road trips" during future council meetings. Rain had held off so they could get back under a roof to continue their meeting.
