The Clear Lake City Council held two public hearings prior to their regular council meeting Tuesday night. 

 

The first hearing was in regards to re-zoning property located at 8897 Main Ave. from commercial to residential. Two parcels are associated with the property.

 

Kenny Swanson, representing Thousand Lakes Realty, informed the council they had a buyer lined up, ready to close at the end of the month, contingent upon the re-zoning of the property to residential. 

 

Under its current commercial zoning the property has had no interested buyers, but numerous residential buyers have expressed interest.

 

After brief public input the hearing was closed, and the council voted to approve re-zoning both parcels.

 

The second hearing concerned Amendment Chapter 40, allowing the city to opt out of the temporary health care dwellings (also known as granny pods) bill. 

 

There was no public input and the hearing was closed. The council voted to approve the amendment.

 

The council discussed Resolution 16-08, approving the 2017 tax levy.

 

Council Member Dale Powers asked if money could be incorporated into the budget for the proposed park in the Hunter Lakes Bluff Development that was agreed to at last month’s meeting. 

 

The homeowner’s association has $6,000 in an account, and the council had discussed matching that amount when the park was first considered. 

 

The council agreed to budget $6,000 towards the park, and the preliminary levy was approved at $353,743.

 

Later in the meeting Mayor Tim Goenner informed the council he had met with the bank that owns the lots in Hunter Lakes Bluff, and they agreed to rent one out for $1 a year in which to create a temporary park.

 

“I’d like to get with residents to find out what they want to see go in there,” he said. “We’ll be working on this throughout the winter and get going on it in the spring.”

 

A proposal for an ROV (remote operating vehicle) inspection of the water tower was discussed. 

 

After the inspection is completed a proposal for potential projects will be submitted, which can be budgeted for from that point.

 

 

The proposal passed in the amount of $3,300, which includes inspecting for lead.

Keith Yapp informed the council he had recently received the chemical analysis of the test well’s water. The results indicate very little nitrates or arsenic, however there was a high level of manganese and iron. Neither are health issues, but taste and odor could be affected.

 

After a brief discussion with the council concerning the analysis, Yapp said a number of options would be looked at and recommendations made.

 

Powers informed the council the Clear Lake/Clearwater Sewer Authority had returned the pump borrowed from the city they’d been using for the past eight years. They have no plans on compensating Clear Lake for its use.

 

Powers informed the council he was looking at having a private meeting with city residents concerning the possibility of leaving the St. Cloud School District rather than the council holding one.

Cost to get the word out to residents about the meeting is the biggest issue; he is considering mailing postcards. 

 

Powers is planning the meeting for mid-October, and said it will give the council direction on which way to go with the issue.

 

The council approved Resolution 16-09, unpaid utility charges, which will be assessed under the owner’s property taxes.

 

Jennifer Dierkes from McDonald’s Meats approached the board with preliminary plans for a large expansion the business is proposing.

 

The 30 unsold lots at Hunter Lakes Bluff Development have been put on the market for $299,000. Powers asked the council if they felt the city should purchase the lots.

 

After a brief discussion the council decided a decision would be made at a later date.

 

The sheriff reported 36 points of contact for the month of August. 

 

Sergeant Johnson informed the council he had sat at the intersection of Hwy 10 and 24 for two hours Monday to watch for offenders of the “no turn on red” sign posted there. Even with him there motorists continued to turn illegally; some were ticketed.

 

A brief discussion was held concerning ways to get motorists to comply with the sign. Mayor Goenner said he had heard talk from MnDOT regarding the placement of a neon red no-turn arrow at the intersection.

 

The council had requested the intersection be monitored more often due to the large number of motorists ignoring the sign.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be Monday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.