November 17 will be a big day for Clear Lake township residents, as the board of supervisors will hold its first meeting in the new Township Hall located at 7938 116th Street S.E.

After beginning construction this past April, the board and several contractors were busy putting the finishing touches on the building in the past week.  The project was a long time coming for current board chair, Gary Gray.

“The planning started back in 2010 with some initial conversations,” says Gray, who credits former members Jack Gallagher and Joe Goenner for hatching the idea.  “We started setting money aside because we knew the old building would outlive its usefulness.  Those past board members had the foresight to look ahead.”

Perhaps the most interesting fact of the building’s construction is that it will be completely paid for when it opens.

“We didn’t borrow any money for the construction,” says Gray.  “We sold the old town hall, as well as our compost site and we’ve been very frugal and fiscally responsible.”

The supervisors were diligent in their financial planning, saving money where possible.  One example is the seating area for the supervisors, which has been repurposed from the old board of commissioners meeting room at the Sherburne County government center.  Other furniture, such as the chairs in the seating area, was bought inexpensively from a government used furniture warehouse.

The building’s design sports a log cabin theme that is reminiscent of the old trading post located in the same general area back in the 1850’s.  The location sits on land that serves as the Township Park, which was donated as parkland dedication back when the surrounding development was first established.

With the new building, the township will now be in compliance with ADA regulations which weren’t possible at the old building.  In addition, there is a satellite office for the Sherburne County Sheriffs Office on site, which will give more of a law enforcement presence in the area.

This area, while it won’t be staffed at all times, has a separate entrance and will allow deputies to conduct interviews and write reports, etc., without having to travel to Elk River.

Gray is also excited that their building will now be in the township proper, as the old location was near the city.

“This will help us to have our own identity,” adds Gray.  “Our old location served us well for 100 years and we expect this one will do the same.”