---

Shafer City council met September 1 for a regular meeting.  Mayor Paula Hanson attended remotely.

With no hearings, the council moved quickly to new business.  Council accepted a Shafer Days donation from J. Hempel construction for $500.  Council thanked Hempel for his support of the event over the years.

Next, council agreed to pay Shayden Mattson $18 a day to open and close the skating rink warming house during skating season.  The rink is located in Shafer Meadows Park.

Council then passed watering restrictions for the city due to the ongoing drought.  Multiple surrounding cities have passed such ordinances recently including Lindstrom, Taylors Falls and North Branch.  The watering ban prohibits all outdoor watering with sprinklers between 11 am and 5 pm,  to avoid evaporation.  Also included in the ban is odd-even  days where residences ending in odd numbers may water on odd calendar days and even numbered addressees on even calendar dates.  

The ban takes effect immediately.  Watering of new sod and seed is permitted during the ban.  Also, watering of flowers by hand is also permitted.  Pool filling and water filled toys are not permitted.  Failure to comply may result in a surcharge for each violation determined by the city council.

Council also adopted some changes to the city’s fee schedule.  The changes were agreed upon at last month’s council meeting.    Water base fee up to 10,000 gallons will now be $70.07.  Sewer base fee up to 10,000 gallons will now be $111.39.  Also in the changes the city will charge $1,000 for unauthorized use of a fire hydrant.

Council then heard from resident Travis Charais who lives on Regal Avenue.  Charais told the council he was approached by a contractor who was paving his neighbor’s house and the contractor offered him a “very good deal” on a new driveway.  Charais told council he did come into city hall to purchase a permit, but maintenance supervisor Brad Swenson said work had already been started prior to Charais coming to city hall.  

Shafer’s policy for failure to secure a permit is double the permit cost meaning Charais had to pay the city $100 instead of $50.  He was asking the council to forego the double billing.  Mayor Hanson said “Every contactor in Minnesota knows they need to get a permit before performing work, If we allow this we are setting a precedence”.  With that, Hanson made a motion to deny the permit reduction which passed 3-2 with council members Marilyn Anderson and Nick Brehm voting against.

In the public works report Director Brad Swenson told council Ole’s Crossroads bar is looking to replace a faulty water valve.  Swenson told council he went to inspect and locate the curb stop and was unable to find it.  Swenson said the valve could have been damaged over time, or possibly buried.  He received a quote from Mike Armstrong for $1,500 to dig and locate the stop.  Council agreed to allow Armstrong up to $2,500 if work will be completed after Shafer Days.

Swenson told council he has purchased new swings, chains and hardware for all city parks and will begin installing them when they arrive.

City clerk Valerie Fox told council the city is in need of at least two election judges for the November election.  Residents are encouraged to call city hall for more information. 

Council adjourned at 6:27pm.

---