Chris Gustafson from Gustafson Trailers attended the Clear Lake City Council meeting Monday night to discuss his business’ potential move to Clear Lake. He needs to relocate from his current location in Clearwater due to Kwik Trip purchasing the lot. He’s interested in the SE corner of Hwy 24 and Hwy 10.

 

“My concern is the lot in Clearwater looks like junk and I don’t want that as the entrance to the city,” said Council Member Dale Powers. “We’d probably have to put in some design standards and screening.”

 

Gustafson said he wants to make the location look nice, and he’s proposing gravel and landscaping. He also indicated he would install lighting, spray for weeds and cut the ditch, and the trailers would be organized and lined up neatly.

 

 “I’m not opposed to it,” said Mayor Tim Goenner. “However when people drive into the city I want it to look nice.”

 

He asked Gustafson if he’d looked at any other properties in the city; Gustafson indicated he hadn’t.

 

Goenner told Gustafson he would get information on other properties in the city as potential options for him. The request will be brought up again at next month’s meeting.

Annual Sheriff’s Report

 

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott presented the council with the county’s 2016 annual report.

 

He told the board there were 434 total calls for service in the city, which for serious criminal activity included two assault, two burglary, 1 narcotics, two DUI, four criminal sexual conduct, nine theft and three criminal damage to property. 

 

Brott informed them the county had hired five new patrol deputies in the past year, and a new police dog, K-9 Riggs, had joined the force.

 

Sexual Offender Ordinance

Powers reminded the council the interim ordinance for the predatory sex offender residency regulations they enacted last year would soon be expiring. 

 

A public hearing will be scheduled for March concerning a permanent ordinance that would prohibit the placement and habitation of level three predatory sex offenders in the City of Clear Lake. 

 

Goenner informed the council an open house for the Hunter Lake Bluffs temporary park has been planned for 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at City Hall.

 

He said the excavating and picnic shelter have been donated, and he’s working on turf for the play area and concrete for the shelter. A Rainbow play system has been purchased.

Clearview Update

 

Powers informed the council they had received notice Clearview Elementary will become a Spanish Magnet School next fall.

 

He indicated the part of the information from District 742 that concerned him was in the section that listed benefits of magnet schools, which indicated increased “positive attitudes toward diversity,” saying he would like to know what they see as both positive and negative attitudes.

 

The council will request a representative from the district attend a future council meeting to discuss concerns.

 

Clerk Kari Mechtel informed the council the water and sewer rate increase that had passed had not been implemented yet, as they were waiting to see if the city would be receiving money from the sewer authority. If that happens, they may not need to enact the rate increase. 

 

Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning asked the council for approval to look into the purchase of a used plow truck if he found a good deal, rather than having to wait for the next meeting and risk losing out on it. The city had been planning the purchase for next year.

 

Approval for $25,000 to $30,000 was given, and Goenner asked him to look into selling the city’s old John Deere loader on Internet auction.

 

Employee reviews were held before the meeting, with Mechtel and Nicholle Corey receiving a 1% raise and Luhning 2½%. 

 

“I’m proud of our staff,” said Goenner. “They do an excellent job for our city.”

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be March 6 at 7 p.m.