Fire contract and road projects were on the agenda for Clear Lake Twp.’s first meeting of the year Monday.

 

Chairman Gary Gray informed the board he had attended the January Clear Lake City Council meeting for approval on the new fire contract, however, it was tabled after a lengthy discussion. One council member asked to see more formulas run to determine the breakdown in percentages each entity would be responsible for.

 

Gray said he’d attended the most recent fire department meeting to explain the township was very happy with their service. He then attended the fire board meeting, where the fire contract was once approved with no change to the formula.

 

Everyone on the board was in agreement on the contract, including representatives from Clear Lake and Palmer Twps., Clear Lake City Council and the fire department.

 

The contract will be presented again at the February city council meeting; members from each entity will be present to address any questions.

 

Engineer Terrance Vander Eyk presented the board with a map showing the proposed storm water management pond on the plat of the future town hall, which will be built at the Clear Lake Township Park. The south side of the parking lot was determined to be the best location.

 

County ordinances don’t require storm water management ponds if construction of a building takes less than one acre, however, they requested one be added to the plat for contingency purposes. 

 

Gray informed the board John Kerwin had inquired if there was a recorded easement on State Street along Hwy 10, which there doesn’t appear to be.

 

After researching the issue, Eyk informed the board the only reference he could find was back in 1866 and there was nothing concerning road orders. He doesn’t believe the township owns the section and said if there was no formal vacation it must have reverted to the landowner.

 

Due to their findings, the board determined there was no reason to get a recorded easement or install a road sign. Gray will inform Kerwin their recommendation is for things to stay as is unless Kerwin wants to perform his own research.

 

Eyk reminded the board they were most likely going to partner with Baldwin on seal coating operations, and that they prefer to open bids themselves.

 

A motion carried approving the joint powers agreement between the county and the township for overlay on 97th Street. 

 

Clean up day is scheduled for May 5.

 

The sheriff reported 82 points of contact for December, which included 25 traffic violations, seven medicals and two domestics. There were two burglaries, one of a residence and one commercial, which led to two arrests. There was also a theft of tools from a construction trailer and a theft of fishing gear from a fish house.

 

The township board of audit meeting was scheduled for March 6 at 9 a.m.

 

The next Clear Lake Twp. meeting will be Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.