During their meeting Tuesday night, Clear Lake Twp. supervisors discussed the possibility of a new fire department fill station on property being leased by NextEra Energy Resources for a solar farm.

 

The subject was presented to company representative Joe Hamel by the board during their February meeting. Hamel has since informed them the solar farm project won’t interfere with the well, and they were receptive to leaving it there to be used as a fill station.

 

Engineer Terrance Vander Eyk informed the board the planning commission’s attorney had recommended the well be allowed to be used for that purpose, and they had added it into the contingencies of their approval for the project.

 

Supervisor Gary Gray requested and was given approval from the board to be allowed to spend money to work with their attorney on what was needed to get the project implemented, which he estimated would be the creation of a driveway approach and cul de sac, an inspection to ensure the well was up to code, working with the adjacent landowner and possibly paying for hookups. 

 

“Doing it this way will cost considerably less than putting one in at the new town hall like originally discussed,” said Gray. “We can spend the money we’re saving from the new fire contract.”

 

He indicated there were a number of details that still need to be worked out with the fire department.

 

“I’m not sure what this all entails,” said Gray. “It isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight, there’s a lot of moving parts involved.”

 

Gray requested and was given approval from the board to sign the latest fire contract if it is approved by the Clear Lake City Council at their April meeting. The contract was approved by the fire board and uses the formula requested by the city council to determine cost percentages. If approved, the township will pay $88,000, a decrease of 3.6%.

 

Gray reiterated once again that the change to the contract had nothing to do with the service of the fire department, which all three parties are pleased with, it was how the contract was worded and what best fit the calls made by the department.

 

Gray requested and was given permission from the board to negotiate with Eyk to be hired as a future employee of Clear Lake Twp. as their engineer. Eyk will be retiring from Bogart Pederson.

 

“This has no bearing on Bogart Pederson,” said Gray. “It’s an option for us to continue to have Eyk maintain our roads. He’s a township resident, he has a history with us, and he knows the roads.”

 

Eyk presented the board with the bid results for the 97th Street overlay project; Knife River was the low bidder at $35,320. A motion passed awarding the contract to them.

 

Supervisor Bud Stimmler informed the board the history book was at the printer and would be available for purchase before the end of April. Selling price will be $15.

 

A motion passed keeping all supervisor appointments the same as 2017.

 

Stimmler took the oath of office, having retained his seat on the board at the annual election.

 

Clean-up day was set for May 5 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

 

The Board of Appeal meeting will be April 11 at 10 a.m. The township road tour will follow that evening at 5 p.m.

 

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

 

The next Clear Lake Twp. meeting will be April 17 at 7 p.m.