The Clearwater City Council voted, 4-0 Monday 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 is Aug. 20, 2022.

 

Administrator Kevin Kress presented the council with a financial update on the city’s water fund, which currently has a balance of $1,046,959. He said the city’s long-term plan includes about $480,000 in projects over the next five years.

 

“There appears to be adequate cash balance remaining to allow for these purchases,” he told the council.

 

Paying off approximately $300,000 would still leave the fund with over $700,000 and eliminate annual debt service payments on the two loans.

 

The city still has three remaining balances it is paying debt service on each year; a 1997 PFA Clean Water Revolving Loan with a balance $246,032 which expires in 2019; the 2008 sewer expansion bond ($4,930,000) which expires in 2027, and the 2015 bond for the North Area Street Improvement Project, with a balance of $745,000 which expires in 2035.

 

The council tabled a rezoning request by Tom Allen until the May meeting.

 

Allen was looking to have his property at 435 Bluff Street rezoned from R-6 high density residential to R-1 residential to allow him to build a single family home on the site.

 

He said last September, he had a building permit to construct a 30x44 shed/garage on the same lots  the apartment building.

 

But when the lot with the apartment building was sold and a portion split off, his  permit was pulled and he wasn’t allowed to complete the shed.

 

He was told his options were to request a conditional use permit for the shed, or rezone the split-off parcel to R-1 so he could build a home.

 

Members of the council told Allen he had the opportunity to do either, but once it was rezoned, it would limit what could be done on the parcel. And if he wanted it to be changed back to R-6, he would have to though the process and cost again.

 

Rather than decide Monday, the council agreed to look into what options Allen would have in a R-1 zone, then bring it back in May.

 

After a 10-minute discussion, the council, by consensus agreed to have Kress invite Lynden Twp. to participate in Spring Cleanup day.

 

Last month, the council decided to hold the event just for the city because of the cost. Monday, they agreed as long as the township supplies its own personnel and covers the cost of a trash truck, he event should move forward as in prior years.

 

The city is looking at  modifying rates for future cleanup events to cover actual costs.

 

 In other action the council:

 

• Accepted a donation of $600 from Clearwater American Legion Post 323 to be used by the Clearwater Fire Dept. for new equipment;

 

• Awarded the contract for pavement marking on various city streets to AAA Striping at $11,667.54;

 

• Passed a resolution adopting liens for unpaid charges, such as water and sewer bills, totalling $11,115.23.