Council approves letter of intent to provide seed funding to Fishing With Friends for pontoon overhaul

The City of Chaska council voted to authorize a letter of intent that would provide seed funding to Fishing With Friends so the volunteer nonprofit can overhaul an aging pontoon used for community fishing programs.

City staff recounted the group’s history: a $40,000 loan was provided in 2010 to buy the original pontoon, which Fishing With Friends repaid by 2014, and the volunteer organization — which offers family fishing clinics, veterans outings and youth programs based at Howard’s Point Marina — is now seeking roughly $40,000 to refurbish the existing boat rather than buy a new one.

Staff recommended the city provide seed funding under terms similar to the prior arrangement, in which the organization would carry out the repairs in phases (motor work before the season and additional work in the off‑season) and repay the city over a five‑year period. Parks and Recreation uses Fishing With Friends for some of its programming, staff said.

Several volunteer captains from Fishing With Friends described the group’s work: multi‑boat veterans outings, a family fishing event scheduled for June 1 at Fireman’s Park and ongoing youth clinics that provide rods and instruction. The volunteers said the program is funded primarily through local donations and community service organizations and that operational costs on Lake Minnetonka have risen.

A motion to approve the letter of intent was moved by Council member Hatfield and seconded by Council member Benesch. The mayor called for the vote; council members voted in favor and the motion carried.

No dollar amount was explicitly recorded in the meeting motion language; staff materials attached to the agenda described a $40,000 estimated overhaul cost and a five‑year repayment schedule in concept.