Tom Cruikshank, planning manager for St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission (Metro Bus), attended the Clear Lake City Council meeting Monday night to discuss the possibility of a Northstar Link park and ride bus stop in the city.

 

St. Cloud Metro Bus is the operator of the Northstar Link commuter bus from St. Cloud to the Northstar Commuter Rail Line station in Big Lake. The route currently includes three stops in St. Cloud and one in Becker. 

 

Council Member Dale Powers explained the council had vetoed the possibility of a Northstar train station in Clear Lake in the past because the city didn’t have the tax base to support it. However, the city has grown since then and is looking for further expansion opportunities.

 

Cruikshank told the council the federal railroad administration has mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) be installed on all trains by 2018. PTC overrides operator error and automatically slows or stops a train before certain types of accidents can occur.

 

With PTC, trains slow down more quickly, which means the Northstar Link commuter bus schedule will need to be adjusted accordingly. Trains are required by federal law to stay on time, so if the commuter bus is late they can’t wait. Adding another stop along the route would require the schedule to be extended.

 

“I’m all in favor of building ridership,” said Cruikshank. “I’d like to find a couple potential locations, test them and report back to you.”

 

Powers will work with Cruikshank to identify possible bus stop locations in the city to begin the process.

 

Roger Haller approached the council to tell them he’d read a feature in the Citizen-Tribune regarding the new park in Hunter Lake Bluffs development, and called the newspaper to find out where the information had come from. He was informed it had come from the Clear Lake City Council.

 

“The article said the developer had gone bankrupt before the development had been completed,” he said. “Where did you get that information from?”

 

Haller’s company was the developer on the project.

 

He said he had found the same reference to his company five times in the last seven years after looking through old minutes from their meetings. 

 

“You’ve been slandering us,” said Haller. “You knew the bank had taken over responsibility. You fought us every step of the way.”

 

He said they had bought their way out of the project when they realized there wasn’t going to be any cooperation from the council.

 

“I think this council was fairly clear we were not going to be in partnership with you,” said Powers. “You, as the developer, were taking the risk.”

 

After additional heated exchanges Haller left the meeting.

 

Clerk Kari Mechtel informed the council Haller had indicated earlier he planned to physically look through the city’s files. She was told he didn’t have the right to do so and would have to file a freedom of information act form if he wanted direct access. 

 

Mayor Tim Goenner informed the council the railroad was planning to erect a barrier between 1st Ave. and Hwy. 24 as part of the quiet zone he’s been working on getting implemented.

 

The council approved $1,850 for a storm sewer pipe apron and $7,500 for driveway and parking in front of the new maintenance addition. 

 

The council approved the fire department’s request for three cold water rescue suits at $750 each.

 

There was no sheriff’s report available at the time of the meeting.

 

The next council meeting will be Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.