Clearwater may be doing another road project soon  that isn’t currently part of its capital improvement plan.

 

Monday, the city council discussed the possibility of reconstructing Heaton Blvd., Shorty Street and a section of Nelson Drive at a cost of over $1.5 million.

 

The roads are heavily used by trucks and are rapidly deteriorating.

 

“It’s not so much the trucks when they’re driving at 30 or 40 miles per hour,” said Engineer Joe Pelawa with Bolton & Menk. “It’s when they slow down and it’s warm. That slower movement gradually squashes the blacktop.”

 

Pelawa’s estimate covered the loop from Hwy. 24 to Co. Rd. 75 using eight inches of concrete to replace the bituminous. Concrete is much stronger than asphalt and can handle much more weight.

 

“On Hwy. 169 in Elk River there’s a little stretch in front of all the traffic lights where they’ve made it concrete instead of blacktop,” said Pelawa.

 

Members of the council agreed the road needed tobe fixed.

 

 “That’s a really good idea,” said Councilman Rollie Lange. “That road is terrible.”

 

Mayor Pete Edmonson asked if it was possible to do concrete on the areas where trucks would be going slower or stopping.

 

Pelawa said it’s possible, but he felt the entire road would need concrete.

 

“Trucks coming off Hwy. 24 are going to be driving slowly all along there before they turn into the truck stop,” he said.

 

“What would we do with routing of the traffic while that is happening?” asked Lange.

 

“We’ll have to figure out a temporary traffic plan,” said Pelawa.

 

The road is in the commercial district, and multiple businesses would be affected.

 

Administrator Kevin Kress said the council may want to reconsider its assessment policy because traffic to the businesses are doing the damage to the streets.

 

“I think it would be very good to have the business owners come in for a workshop,” said Edmonson. Pelawa said the roads didn’t have to be done this year, but soon.

 

“The road could function for another year the way it is, but when you start getting to two years, you’ll want to do something,” he said. “You can do a “bandaid” - come in and mill and do a two-inch overlay. But we’ll be having this same discussion three years from now.”

 

“We can visit with the businesses and see what their thoughts are,” said Kress.

 

No date has been set for the project.

 

The council adopted the following transfers from the general fund: $220,000 to the Streets Capital Reserve fund; $38,450 to the Fire Operating Fund; $61,450 to the Public Works Capital Reserve Fund; $500,000 to the Sewer Enterprise Operating Fund; $25,795 to the Library Fund; $31,000 to the Parks Fund.

 

The council also adopted a transfer of $25,892.82 to the general fund to utilize on street expenditures; $3,951.42 from the EDA Fund to the Water Fund and $11,214 to the Sewer Fund for the Residential Growth Incentive Program. 

 

The council approved an ordinance allowing the city council liaison to the Clearwater Park Commission to be a voting member.

 

Two council members are allowed to serve on the five-member commission.

 

After a 10-minute discussion, the council voted to waive fees for the use of Sportsman’s Park, including the pavilion rental, for the Kayleen Legacy 5k walk/run on June 3.

 

They tabled a decision on whether to cover the cost of portable toilets for the event.

 

In other action the council:

 

• Approved a gambling premises permit for Spring Lake Lions to conduct bar Bingo at the Clearwater American Legion;

 

• Approved a tax exempt temporary gambling permit for Clearwater/Clear Lake Ducks Unlimited for an April 20 raffle;

 

• Approved a step wage increase for James Kirchenbauer of the public works department to $19.90 per hour effective Feb. 10;

 

• Approved the continuation of the Growth Incentive Program.