Fielding council opts to repair mower for season, confirms event dates and will seek legal counsel

The Fielding Town Council decided to repair the existing town mower to cover the coming season and seek bids for a potential replacement later, confirmed spring and summer event dates including the town egg hunt and cleanup, discussed online payments for rentals and events, and agreed to seek recommendations for legal counsel.

S5 presented an estimate and trade-in considerations for a new lawn mower and noted the high cost of commercial units; council members debated whether to repair the current mower (an estimated $2,000 in repairs was discussed) or to purchase a new commercial machine that members estimated could cost $11,000–$12,000. The group generally favored repairing the mower to get through the current season and budgeting for a replacement later. "I think we fix it and then we can get through this season," one member said.

On community events, council members confirmed the egg hunt (scheduled for the Saturday before Easter at 10 a.m.), discussed the town cleanup (late April), and the dog clinic (previously held in May; members discussed May 9 or May 10 as possible dates). Members also discussed payment logistics for hall rentals and events. The council already has Square for card payments but talked about temporary Venmo use in locations without reliable Wi‑Fi; S2 offered to set up an account and suggested adding a QR link to the town website.

Members also reported difficulty retaining a town lawyer and agreed to contact neighboring communities and the League of Cities and Towns to identify attorneys available for retainer or shared services.

What happens next: Staff will solicit additional mower bids and repair estimates, finalize event dates and volunteer assignments, implement payment options for rentals/events (Square/QR links, with S2 to set up accounts as needed), and seek recommendations for legal counsel to place on retainer.