Sarah Ebeling | Managing Editor

The Hartford City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, Feb. 18. 

City Administrator Teresa Sidel spoke about FEMA grants that are available and are a 85/15 percent grant. She noted that the council had talked about applying for the grant to purchase some generators and they were moving forward with that application, but there had been discussion on getting a concession stand/rest room at the sports complex. Sidel noted that if they were to construct a building that met the requirements of a storm shelter, they could then apply for another FEMA grant to help pay for that as well. She noted that although she wasn’t sure of the requirements, the city had allotted $100,000 towards a building and if they were to construct one totaling up to $500,000 and get the grant, they would still be within their original cost. 

The biggest topic of discussion though was the sponsorship request by the Hartford Area Sports and Rec (HASR). Vice-president BJ Olson spoke to the council in regards to the request. He explained to the council that HASR would like to spend some of the $226,000 in their fund to help them raise monies for the completion of the sports complex. 

Olson said they had a meeting recently with the complex committee and the Hartford softball committee and they got together with Great Plains Sponsorship (GPS). Olson noted that GPS went over their overall plan and what they felt it would take to get HASR to where they need to be financially to complete their complex. 

He noted that GPS would be able to reach out to some big players in the community who might have an interest in sponsoring things at the complex and helping HASR finish the complex versus HASR trying to finish it $100,000 at a time. 

“So, what I am asking for is the ability to spend up to $40,000 of the appropriated $226,000 to secure Great Plains Sponsorship as a company that we can use to help raise funds to complete our complex,” asked Olson. 

He explained there is no long-term contract with them and they are able to get out of it at anytime. 

Olson explained that GPS went through their list of contacts and their attack strategy and as a committee it was something they voted on and approved. 

He explained that the up to $40,000 would be the retainer and would be paid out quarterly. 

Olson discussed the company’s fee structure and noted that they could pay a larger retainer and pay out a smaller commission on sales, or they could pay a lower retainer and pay out a larger commission. 

Council member Scott Nelson questioned if GPS talked about weekly, monthly or quarterly reports that would be given to HASR so that they know they are getting their money’s worth. 

Olson explained that he was “voluntold” that he would be directly involved with it. 

He noted that his expectations were that GPS would have someone out selling and he would expect a monthly report to understand what they are getting for their money. 

Ryan Querry, formerly of Hartford, is the president of GPS and has helped on different Sanford projects and has had luck in Brandon for the ice complex. Olson said that Querry and GPS have had much success on these projects. 

Mayor Jeremy Menning asked for a motion to approve the request but the motion failed due to the lack of a second. 

More discussion on the request continued with councilman Arden Jones saying he would like to see a contract from GPS. 

Olson said that he had all of that for the council last week but no one on the council was able to attend their meeting. He noted he wants to strike while the iron is hot. 

“I am the biggest, impatient person that you are ever going to meet. We had it all ready there. No one from the council was able to attend but I hate to keep putting things off and off and off,” said Olson. 

He continued, “Especially right now with all the momentum we have going around softball, with all the momentum we have with tournaments and organizations coming out and wanting to play and bring their softball clubs to Hartford.” 

“For us not to have the facilities for these organizations is kind of ridiculous,” said Olson. 

Council member Travis Kuehl told Olson that he appreciates his passion but that he has several concerns. 

Kuehl asked if there was so much momentum, how many people attended last Sunday’s meeting and the meeting previously. 

Olson answered, saying 15-20 people. 

He continued, noting the only reason he is staying on is because of the progress that is being made. 

“If there is no progress going, I am not going to sit here and waste my time nor am I going to waste any of your guys’ time with this. I think that enough time has gone by with this piece of land that we have north of town that the time is now. My daughter is only going to play for four more years. After that I don’t care,” said Olson. 

Olson said he knows the land will not be played on this year, and probably not next year, but if they don’t do something, it is just going to be chunk of land that never gets used. 

“Again, the momentum is now,” exclaimed Olson. 

Kuehl interjected, “Respectfully, with that being said, in my opinion, and to try to maybe speak for my constituents, that sounds very self serving.” 

“In what way,” Nelson asked. 

“My daughter. These years. My. Me, me me,” said Kuehl. 

Council member Brittany Glanzer asked if there are any other vendors out there that do this. She noted that is her concern because she would like to be able to compare them before putting $40,000 into one. 

Kuehl said, checking his computer, that there were not 15-20 people at the last meeting and that if he was a constituent, a taxpayer, it looks pretty narrow. 

Olson agreed, saying that is why he is trying to alleviate as many tax dollars as possible. He continued, noting that in regards to the “me, me, me” comment, he is of the belief that if he doesn’t do it, or if he doesn’t care about it, nobody else will. 

“I am not going to put this on you guys just because if I did, it wouldn’t get done. It hasn’t been done. Right? So, if I’m not stepping forward and I’m not putting myself out there, it’s just going to sit here and continue to be a chunk of land that is getting half utilized for what it’s original purpose is. So, whether it’s me, whether it’s Dan, whether it’s the 500 other people I can get in here and say the exact same thing, it’s not as much a me issue as it is a community issue,” said Olson. 

Menning said that 15 or 16 days ago he didn’t know anything about this and then GPS came to town and then it was the council meeting. 

“I know that whenever something is pertinent as this and expensive as this and could have this much impact, rushing into it is usually not the best idea and usually doesn’t feel the best on our end,” said Menning. 

He noted the other concern he has is the timing of it. 

Menning said that if this is a good idea today, it will still be a good idea in whatever the next time frame is. 

“I think it’s important. And I agree with you. Knocking things out $100,000 at a time is going to be hard,” said Menning. 

Olson noted that he understands the concerns and he can get the contracts but if the council and the city is not willing to support this, he is going to resign. 

“I am not going to put anymore effort then what you guys are willing to put into it,” said Olson. 

He noted that the involvement from the city is not there and although there was a special meeting the night of the HARS meeting, he was disappointed that no one from the city was there so that the city could have all their questions answered. 

“This is the type of dragging feet bureaucracy that has caused this piece of land to not be used for the last 10 years for its intended purpose. So, I get exactly where your coming and if you can’t approve it, you can’t approve it, but this is where I am coming from and at the next complex committee (meeting) I would 100 percent appreciate somebody from the city being there,” said Olson. 

Menning told Olson that the city not being able to be at their meeting was not in bad will and that because of a special meeting, no one was able to be there. 

Kuehl said that at the initial meeting he thinks some promises were made and some people were lied to. He noted that conversations had happened between he and Jesse Fonkert, Hartford Chamber and Economic Development Director, and Fonkert and another individual and those conversations never happened with Kuehl. 

“I frankly don’t trust the guy,” said Kuehl. 

Jones said he understands where Olson is coming from and hears him when he says he doesn’t want to see the city drag their feet. 

“But, ultimately, we got to answer to…. We throw $40,000 out there and it blows up we are going to have people asking us what the heck we were doing,” said Jones. 

“But there is $226,000 available for us to figure out how to get that place completed, correct,” asked Olson telling the council that they want to allocate money to get it finished. 

He continued, saying that they have been asked to come to the city with a plan and now they have done that. 

“I get it and the devils in the details,” said Menning. “That doesn’t mean this is a forever no, that’s for sure not the case. Because I think the feeling of most of the council is we need to do something on this order.”

Jones asked the council if it was too big of a request to see a competing vendor and a contract at the next meeting and then they could make a decision either way. 

“I’d be happy with that,” said Olson.