Some of the top stories in the City of Clearwater in 2017 focused on parks and trails.

 

 With the help of the Clearwater Park Commission and Administrator Kevin Kress, some of the city's parks saw long needed upgrades and additions.

 

 In May, the tennis courts in Lions Park got a major facelift. The cracking surface was covered with a product called Versacourt, a polypropylene plastic material that comes in interlocking squares.    

 

The previous August, the Clearwater City Council approved the expenditure of almost $40,000 for the product. It was installed during the summer and has already been used by lots of tennis players.

 

In July, the Clearwater maintenance crew, along with staff from Wright County Parks Dept., spent one day installing archery targets in what was formerly known as the Clearwater Wayside on Co. Rd. 75.

 

The six-plus · acre park, now known as Clearwater Archery Park, has 15 targets spaced throughout the upper portion of the park for public use.

 

Work on Spring Street Park began in September to prepare the neighborhood park for new playground equipment. Excavation work was done to expand the flat surface and build a retaining wall. Installation of the new equipment began in October and is done. More groundwork is scheduled for the spring.

 

In August, bicycle lanes were marked on Ash and Main Streets as part of the city's long-range plan to connect walking and biking trails within the city and extend them to other trails in every direction out of the city.

 

Over the summer, the city's maintenance crew did some major upgrades to the Lions Pavilion to increase rentals.

 

They re-did the floors, removed the garage doors and put in two double doors, replaced an old door, changed the ceiling lights and put a bank of windows on the side facing the pump house to let in natural light. What used to be a cold, dark area looks more like a 30' x 40' living room and can be used for meetings and gatherings.

 

There were also improvements to the ballfields at Sportsman's Park and the city signed a five-year agreement with Clear Lake.

 

Area Youth Baseball Association (CLAYBA) to use the fields. There are more plans for Clearwater park upgrades coming in 2018.

 

Park and trails weren't the only stories in the city in 2017.

 

In April, the city council voted to pay off two old loans. The 2002 and 2003 Public Facilties Authority (PFA) Clean Drinking Water Revolving Loans were carrying balances of $231 000 and $69,000 respectively. The end date on both loans was Aug. 20, 2022.

 

In October, the city council agreed to move forward with the first stages of a $1.3 million project to install a new 12" diameter water main from Tower #2 near the maintenance building, under the Interstate to connect with points south of 1-94.

 

The new water main will help future expansion and provide a back-up water supply in the event of an interruption of the existing supply. Last meeting, the council approved a two-percent increase in water and sewer rates in anticipation of upcoming expenditures. Those rates will be reviewed in January.

 

There were also some administrative and ordinance changes. The council approved a change to the fence ordinance after Jason and Janelle Wendland approached the council about allowing a pallet fence they had begun building on their property on Ash Street. Now, certain fences using pallets are allowed if they follow specific criteria.

 

In June, the city passed an ordinance that sets fees for fire department services. It is an attempt to recoup costs for services provided to outside jurisdictions and on state roads. Clearwater city and township residents and businesses are not subject to the fees for regular calls.

 

In November, the council agreed to let Administrator Kress look for a new city attorney after a debate over the retainer agreement they signed in may didn't work out.

 

In September, the council adopted a preliminary 2018 levy of $1,051,850, but revised the levy in December to $1,029,050, a 2.92% increase, by eliminating the budget for the EDA Growth Incentive Program.

 

The Clearwater Cast of Characters performed Here Come the Brides at the Clearwater Dinner Theatre at Eagle Trace Event Center for three weekends in March and April. The play, a comedy by William D. Fisher, was directed by Suesan Betzler - her first time in that role after performing on stage in a number of past plays. The opening night crowd drew 117, a record for any opening night in the dinner theatre's lO-year history.

 

Work continues on the removal of the old Hwy. 24 bridge over the Mississippi River. It is expected to be completed this year. MnDOT also plans to resurface and do intersection improvements on Hwy. 24 between Hwy. 10 and 1-94.