Mayor Tim Goenner began Wednesday night’s Clear Lake City Council meeting by congratulating Bob Arnold, Sandy Paige and Karen White on winning their council seats.

 

Although White’s term doesn’t technically begin until January, the seat she won is vacant so the board chose to have her fill the position immediately. Clerk Kari Mechtel swore White in.

 

Mechtel informed the council she had received a phone call from Gustafson Trailer Sales concerning the vacant lot on the corner of Hwy. 24 and Hwy 10. The Clearwater property the business is currently located on has been sold and they need to relocate.

 

The City of Clear Lake has the first option to purchase the property; Gustafson inquired if the city would be interested in buying it and then selling it to them, as purchasing it directly through the State is a long process. 

 

Gustafson’s second option was a request to temporarily move to the Sherburne State Bank property.

 

Council Member Dale Powers said he was concerned the city would be stuck with the property if it was purchased and Gustafson decided they didn’t want it. 

 

 

Mechtel presented the council with the new expenditure policy she created that outlines city employees’ spending authority. 

 

The policy gives employees signature authority up to $1,500, which allows for regular day-to-day purchases. Amounts over $1,500 must have council authorization prior to making the purchase.

 

The council voted to approve the new policy.

 

Mayor Goenner informed the council the Clear Lake and Clearwater councils will  meet on Jan. 19 to discuss the wastewater treatment plant.

 

The state mandated the city upgrade the facility, and as the city doesn’t have the financial capability to pay for all the upgrades the emphasis is on trying to get forgiveness for the bill. 

 

Rep. Newberger and Sen. Mathews will be asked to attend the meeting.

 

Goenner said he would like meet with Clearwater more often than the current four times a year in order to keep residents better informed about the wastewater plant.

 

Powers informed the council he and White had facilitated a meeting Oct. 15 for residents of Clear Lake to discuss alternatives to St. Cloud School District 742.

 

He said attendees indicated they didn’t want to pursue leaving the district at this time because they liked the flexibility of choosing which school to send their children to and because St. Cloud doesn’t send their buses outside the district. 

 

Attendees expressed a desire for Kid-stop, and a strong desire to reopen the issue of Clearview becoming a K-8 school. Powers has begun a conversation with a school board member who is enthusiastic about this potential.

 

 

Complaints have been received concerning a resident with a loud vehicle regularly speeding on Church Street. Mechtel will contact the Sheriff’s office and ask them to make contact with the resident.

 

Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning informed the council the tree the city had received a complaint on had been removed.

 

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

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.