The newest members of the Clearwater City Council were sworn in Monday evening before the workshop and regular council meeting. 

 

Council Members Andrea Lawrence-Wheeler and Richard Petty took the Oath of Office along with Mayor Peter Edmonson, who was re-elected. 

 

With the start of the new year, council members and staff were assigned to committees.

 

Councilman Kris Crandall was appointed acting mayor.

 

Council Members Petty and Lawrence will remain on the park board.

 

Mayor Edmonson and Councilman Rollie Lange will remain on the EDA, which is currently inactive.

 

Councilman Crandall will continue as liaison to planning and zoning.

 

Edmonson and Councilman Petty will be members of the sewer authority.

 

Edmonson and Lange will serve on the joint planning board, which is currently inactive.

 

 The fire relief association ex-officio members are Mayor Edmonson, Deputy Clerk Deb Petty and Fire Chief Ryan Pridgeon.

 

The signature card/check signers are Edmonson, Councilman Crandall and Deputy Clerk Petty.

 

The media contact is Mayor Edmonson. 

 

The official newspaper is the Citizen-Tribune.

 

 The official depositories are LakeCentral Bank, American Heritage Bank Lake Central Investments, Multi-Bank Securities, US Bank and 4M Fund.

 

Public notice posting sites are Clearwater City Hall and Annandale State Bank.

 

One of the items on Monday’s agenda was setting goals for 2017.

 

Administrator Kevin Kress said a big priority for 2017 should be improvements to the Lions Pavilion.

 

He said over the past year, people have been more interested in renting the space, especially with the new playground equipment in the park. In 2016 the space was rented 22 times, compared to 10 times in 2015.

 

But he said the building needs work. Some of the proposed improvements include replacing carpet, painting, fixing ceiling damage, removing two garage doors and filling the space with concrete block, installing several large windows to view the park, extending the open air pavilion and bathrooms for park visitors, installing outdoor lighting and sidewalks, purchasing a large TV and projector for the meeting room, installing Wi-Fi, purchasing a furnace and air-conditioning units along with a smart thermostat, replacing exterior doors, replacing indoor lighting and purchasing new appliances.

 

Since the improvements are to be done on what is considered a park structure, funds for the improvements can come from sales tax money.

 

The council also agreed to have Kress look into the cost of creating an angled  parking area on Porter Street near the park, and possibly creating a through street from the current pavilion parking area to Porter Street.

 

After a 20-minute discussion the council gave Kress the go ahead to get quotes or bids for the improvements.

 

They discussed moving the hockey rink closer to the pavilion,  but did not approve any changes at this time.

 

The council tabled a decision on extending the city’s growth incentive program until the February meeting. They decided it might be better to use those funds, approximately $30,000, in a different way to promote growth in the city.

 

In other action the council: 

 

• Approved sending a letter of support of the Stearns County Parks Dept. as they seek funding to extend the Beaver Island Trail 4.5 miles to Clearwater;

 

• Approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for Feb. 18 for St. Luke's Catholic Church.