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Chatfield administrator briefs Olmsted County on housing, infrastructure and volunteer emergency services
Summary
Michelle Peterson, Chatfield city administrator, updated the county board on housing incentives, pursuit of a hotel, infrastructure projects, trail proposals and the town’s volunteer ambulance, fire and police staffing levels.
Michelle Peterson, Chatfield city administrator, told the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners that Chatfield’s priorities include housing development, attracting a hotel, infrastructure work and expanding outdoor recreation and trails.
Peterson said the city is evaluating infill lots, annexation and use of existing land to increase housing supply, and is considering tax abatement as a tool to attract a hotel. “Our theme this year is we’re building the city one piece at a time and we’re taking a look at every little thing and seeing how we can make things fit together,” she said.
Peterson listed planned infrastructure work for 2025 that she said would allow the city to complete an additional 8.5 blocks of work and resurface 18 alleys and sidewalks. She described Chatfield’s parks and recreation assets — noting the city currently manages about 64 acres of parkland and is evaluating the potential addition of roughly 70 more acres for trails and a campground — and mentioned volunteer-run amenities such as the Lost Creek Hiking Trail and a Chatfield ATV Trail expansion.
On public safety services, Peterson said Chatfield’s ambulance service is one of three non–Mayo Clinic ambulance services in Olmsted County; it is staffed by about 20 volunteers plus a full-time director and assistant director and averaged about 400 calls per year. She said the Chatfield Fire Department has 26 volunteers and has ordered a new truck, and the police department includes a chief, four full‑time officers and three part‑time officers.
Peterson invited county commissioners to attend a hard-hat or community events and said the Chatfield Economic Development Authority owns the Potter Auditorium (Chatfield Center for the Arts), which is leased to a nonprofit organization that recently hired a new executive director.
Commissioners asked about land ownership of hiking trails; Peterson said the Lost Creek Trail is majority private land and a proposed regional trail would use a mix of private lands and state easements.
