In April, council announced they will give a financial relief on citizens’ April water bills for those who have an increase of 500+ gallons over and above their normal monthly usage. 

 

Clay and Sara Norman said they sustained frozen water pies from the curb to the water main outside their home that led to two invoices from two contractors who were hired to correct the problem. The two charges totaled $680 and the Normans asked the city to reimburse them since the issue was not from the curb to their home.

 

A similar request came in from Joleen Krueger who happened to be away from her property for a month during the time the city sent notices to homeowners to run water continually to avoid broken pipes in their homes. Krueger was asking to have $700 reimbursed to her for the two invoices for repairs.

 

Seth and Andrea Grimm were seeking reimbursement for $347 for repairs to their water line that extended well over 120 feet beyond the curb stop.

 

Phyllis Carlin had two companies come out to her property and charged her $1,093.75 for the work. The first contractor couldn’t reach the problem while the second told Carlin their equipment got stuck at the curb stop and part of it had to be cut off to free the apparatus. The Carlins said they would contact the septic company in the next few weeks to ensure they return to the problem and use whatever means necessary to free the obstruction left behind — all at no cost to the city nor the homeowner.

 

Council agreed to reimburse all the parties who testified.

 

 

Another issue that sparked debate was the idea by council to tack on a surcharge to citizen’s water bill to help pay to have a GIS map created to guide public works in locating buried lines and valves.

 

A public hearing was opened to hear from the public.

 

Several residents barked at the surcharge and some said it was unfair since the water bills are already some of the highest rates in the state. Others said that just because the city suffered through a hard freeze that comes along maybe once or twice every dozen or so years, doesn’t mean something like what this winter was would occur next year and beyond.

 

The cost for the GIS mapping is estimated at $7,500.

 

One resident said he was sure public works could locate and identify the pipes with an ordinary metal detector, which the city already owns.

 

Streets Supervisor Dustin Luhning said it would be helpful to have a new mapping system since the current one they are using dates from 1978.

 

Council Member Dale Powers asked the public if they thought the GIS mapping was a good idea or not and most agreed it was, but Powers then asked if a surcharge was the best way to pay for it and all said “no”.

 

Powers proceeded to vote against the surcharge idea and said the subject needed to be researched more.

 

 

A second public hearing was held to consider amending some text associated with the city’s zoning ordinance. The amendment would allow storage units to be built within the B-2 zoning province.

 

Powers said he read through the amendment and noticed the wording said “permitted use” instead of “conditional use”. Powers said if the city allowed the builder “permitted use”, they could apply for a permit and come into the city and build whatever kind of structure they deemed fit.

 

Powers suggested they change the text to “conditional use” so the city will have the final say on what the building and landscape looks like.

 

Council agreed and a new public hearing will need to be scheduled to allow citizens to discuss the updated text amendment.

 

 

• Steve Wischmann of KDV gave a 2013 audit presentation;

 

• Members of  parks and streets discussed a land purchase along Hwys. 10 and 24;

 

• Luhning talked about attaining financial relief from the sewer authority;

 

• Mayor Tim Goenner talked about Great River Energy and  a lineman truck;

 

• Council discussed the city’s personnel policy to Powers and Connie Auchman;

 

• City clean-up day is May 3 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting is May 5 at 7 p.m. at city hall.