The Clear Lake Township board awarded service contracts for hourly road maintenance services and snowplowing of town roads during their meeting Tuesday.

 

The board received two sealed bids that were opened and reviewed during the meeting, one from M L Schendzielos & Sons and one from Driveway Services.

 

Schendzielos was once again awarded the town road snowplowing contract, and the maintenance services contract was once again awarded to Driveway Services. Both contracts are for three years.

 

“For the last three years we’ve been well satisfied with both contractors,” said Supervisor Bud Stimmler.

 

Engineer Terrance Vander Eyk provided the board with copies of the preliminary plat of the new town hall site, and indicated it and the three necessary CUP (conditional use permit) forms would be submitted to the county within the next week.

 

A motion passed to authorize space in the new town hall for the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Dept. An office space will be provided for them to lease as long as the township owns the building. The department will pay a one-time payment of $24,000 that will be used towards the new construction.

 

Vander Eyk presented the board with a $69,150 estimate for possible 2017 seal coat projects. Projects on the estimate include Riverwood, part of 86th Ave. and part of 100th Ave.

 

The board approved the estimate and asked for the projects to go out for bids, which they will open and award at the July meeting.

 

Supervisor Gary Gray informed the board he had received permission from the landowners regarding the cul de sac on 80th Ave. so he will finalize the paperwork. 

 

Vander Eyk indicated he had the bid package for the project put together and it would be going out for quotes. The project will be awarded at the July meeting.

 

Vander Eyk sent out letters concerning sediment control on 41st Ave. and has so far received feedback from one party. He indicated he was looking at setting up a meeting in the next week.

 

Gray and Supervisor Joe Goenner met with the Clear Lake Fire Dept. concerning the renegotiation of the township’s fire contract. The fire department is working through different formulas and a meeting will be held in August to make a decision. 

 

Gray stated the reason behind the renegotiation was for the contract to be more equitable. Currently Clear Lake Township pays 39%, Palmer Township pays 52%, and the City of Clear Lake pays 8%. 

 

The township’s attorney drew up a letter stating they wanted it done by the end of the year or they would terminate the contract entirely at the beginning of 2018.

 

“This has never been about the city, the fire department, their service or their quality,” said Gray. “It’s been about the equitable finances for the township which has gotten way out of balance.”

 

The board approved a MnDOT five-year construction easement for when Hwy. 24 is redone; the township will be compensated $900.

 

The board reviewed a recommendation from the DNR for an AIS (aquatic invasive species) compost bin as an alternative to the dumpster on Elk Lake. Further research will be done before a decision is made.

 

The board approved a pay increase for township attorney Drew Hultgren for $240 an hour.

 

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

 

The next Clear Lake Township meeting will be July 18 at 7 p.m.