Monday’s Clear Lake City Council meeting began with a truth in taxation public hearing to discuss the proposed 2019 levy and budget amount. With no public input, the hearing was closed and the regular council meeting opened.

 

Motions carried approving the 2019 expenditure and revenue budget and Resolution 18-15, 2019 tax levy.

 

 

Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning informed the council he would be getting an ad out for a new public works employee. The 32-hour a week position is for a licensed water sewer operator with a D license who would have the same responsibilities as Luhning.

 

A discussion was held on the pay range for the position and if it should be raised. A motion carried allowing Luhning to continue with the hiring process.

 

 

Mayor Tim Goenner told the council he had met with Paul and Gary Gray concerning the property the city’s new well will be situated on. The city will purchase the land for $25,000 and the Grays will then give the city the second half of a piece of land Howard Gray had already donated to them years earlier.

 

Engineer Keith Yapp informed the council they would be completing a grant application for the project before the end of the year.

 

 

Council Member Dale Powers told the council he believes that with the new governor and change in the legislature there will be a push to extend the Northstar Corridor, and said he felt they should look at the possibility of getting a station in the city again.

 

The council had vetoed the possibility of a station in 2001 because the city didn’t have the tax base to support it, however, the city has grown since then.

 

Recently Powers had been working with the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission, which is the operator of the Northstar Link commuter bus from St. Cloud to the Northstar Commuter Rail Line station in Big Lake, on the possibility of getting a bus stop in the city.

 

He asked the council if they would prefer he pursue attempting to get a station again or continue with the bus stop option.

 

“The only concern I have is this area gets so congested in the summer,” said Council Member Sandy Paige. “I just worry about the traffic increase with a station.”

 

Goenner indicated he would like to see a bus stop in the city, but would like to see what the ridership would be first. The rest of the council agreed, and Powers said he would continue with that option.

 

 

Trinity Lutheran Church Council Member Rita Lietha approached the board to discuss the plowing of Church Street, the road the church is located on.

 

She explained snow gets plowed into their parking lot, giving them excess snow to move and eliminating parking spaces, and said the council was wondering if an amicable solution could be agreed upon, such as plowing the snow that way every other time.

 

Luhning described how the street plowing is done, and said he’s already getting as minimal snow into their lot as possible. Goenner explained it’s just something everyone has to deal with in the winter.

 

Lietha thanked the board for their time, and said she would inform the rest of the council.

 

 

Powers told the council he would be meeting with the developers concerning building in Park Side. Detached townhomes had been proposed in the past, but due to a number of issues couldn’t be pursued. With the current market changes Powers said he felt it was time to relook at the proposal.

 

Powers asked for and received council permission to put together an RFP (request for proposal) for the city building inspector position.

 

Goenner presented Paige, who declined to run again in November, with a plaque of appreciation; newly-elected Kristin Brandt will be taking over the position in January.

 

The sheriff reported 36 points of contact for November, including three motor vehicle accidents, one medical, one theft, one disturbing the peace and a stolen motor vehicle retrieved.

 

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