Clear Lake Township Chairman Gary Gray attended Monday night’s Clear Lake City Council meeting to discuss the draft of the new fire contract and sale of the township hall.

 

Gray approached the council to answer any questions they had on the new fire contract, stressing it was just a draft and up for discussion. The document was drafted by the township’s attorney, and both the township board and fire board have okayed it.

 

The contract states the costs will be determined by number of household addresses, which Gray said come from the Sherburne Co. Assessor; Palmer Twp. and the fire chief felt it was the best formula to use. Addresses are considered as actually receiving mail.

 

“This one seemed to be the cleanest and clearest,” he said.

 

Council Member Dale Powers had a few questions and said he felt household addresses seemed vague. Gray agreed the word household should probably be struck from the wording.

 

“I understand we should probably pay more,” said Powers. “I just want to make sure it’s fair.”

 

Gray explained the township would absorb half the city’s increased cost in 2018 as it hadn’t been budgeted for.

 

Gray informed the council the township had entered into a purchase agreement for their town hall. The closing date is January 5, which means they will need a place to store their filing cabinets and meet each month until the new town hall is built. 

 

The council indicated they were agreeable to entering into a financial agreement for the township to use city hall.

 

The town hall property will need to be rezoned B1 in order for it to work for the company that intends to purchase it. The council indicated they would rezone the property contingent on its sale and receiving the application and fees.

 

Clerk Kari Mechtel asked the council if they still wanted her to set up a joint meeting with the City of Clearwater concerning their shared wastewater treatment plant; Clearwater has indicated they would like to take over its management. 

 

Council Member Karen White said the part-time person hired by the sewer authority had recently been changed to full-time, and now they’re looking for a clerk to perform bookkeeping duties. It had been suggested either the Clearwater or Clear Lake clerk assume the role.

 

“I don’t accept the notion that Clearwater is so much more superior to Clear Lake,” said Powers. “I’d trust Kari over Kevin.”

 

Powers asked Mechtel if she would be willing to take over the position; she replied she would need to think about it, as it involves a number of additional responsibilities.

 

Powers indicated he wasn’t interested in a joint meeting with Clearwater unless they were willing to pay the council’s meeting fees.

 

Clear Lake Assistant Fire Chief Chad McKay approached the council to request ratification of the fire department’s bylaws, which were updated to follow state recommendations. A motion to accept carried.

The council approved the proposed construction agreement with the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation for $8,856.

 

The council approved Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning’s request to purchase a used field drag and equipment to maintain the ballfield. The seller has agreed to defer payment until year.

 

Pat Weir from IPS Solar attended the meeting to discuss the city joining the Stearns Co. community solar garden. A motion was made to table the discussion until the January meeting.

 

A public hearing was held concerning Resolution 17-13, 2018 levy. The resolution passed after no public input was brought forward.

 

The sheriff reported 54 points of contact for November, including 20 traffic, three medical, one accident, one DWI and one narcotic arrest.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 2 due to New Year’s Day.