Prior to the start of their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, the Clear Lake City Council held a public hearing to review and potentially approve a request to rezone properties at 7933 State St. and 8672 1st Ave. E owned by McDonald’s Family Properties.

 

Jennifer Dierkes and John Nack were in attendance to provide and explain plans for the properties, which are needed for an expansion proposed by McDonald’s Meats.

 

After a brief discussion the hearing was closed, and the council voted to approve rezoning the properties to central business district.

 

Fire Chief Ron Koren approached the council for approval to purchase two retirement plaques, as the city pays half the cost. A motion passed approving the expenditure.

 

Koren informed the council Chad Koren and Colleen Knafla had been named the fire department’s new captains, and Chad Nelson and Ryan Peterson had been named lieutenants. 

 

He told the council the department had purchased four sets of turn-out gear for $8,650, they had ordered large diameter hoses at the cost of around $500 each, and they will be selling their old grass truck on K-Bid. A motion passed approving payment for the turn-out gear.

 

The council passed four resolutions; Resolution 17-01 – Adopting Rules of Procedure, Resolution 17-02 – Designating Official Appointments, Resolution 17-03 – Annual Gambling Events for the Clear Lake Lions, and Resolution 17-04 – Annual gambling for St. Marcus Church. 

 

Under Resolution 17-02, the following council member designations were made: Bob Arnold acting mayor, Dale Powers community development, Karen White sewer authority, Sandy Paige personal committee, Kari Mechtel fire department. Ron Koren, mayor Tim Goenner and Bob Arnold were designated emergency management.

 

A 3% increase to the sewer flow rate was the only change to the 2017 fee schedule, which passed with a four to one vote. 

 

Mark Markovic asked the council why Clear Lake’s cost was $50 per household when it was only $28 for Clearwater. 

 

City Engineer Keith Yapp explained sewer plant costs were split up by flow percentage; Clear Lake at 20% and Clearwater at 80%.

 

“They’ve [Clearwater] got more population and commercial tax base to spread the cost around,” said Yapp. “Unfortunately because we’re small we have very little we can do to adjust the rate.”

 

Council Member Dale Powers wondered if it would be less expensive for Clear Lake to sell their 20% to Clearwater and use the money to put in holding tanks on each property. They could then buy a pumper and pump the tanks each month.

 

“We need to do something because it’s a vicious circle,” said Powers. “We lose people from possibly moving here because our utility rates are so high, and because people aren’t moving here we don’t have the tax base to lower them.”

Mayor Tim Goenner said he and Clearwater Mayor Pete Edmonson were going to the again to ask for debt relief.

 

“We’re not going to give up,” said Goenner. “It’s one of our biggest concerns.”

 

Clerk Kari Mechtel added the rates hadn’t gone up for four years, and the city needed to build up its reserves.

 

Powers explained the sewer authority runs the plant, however the pipes to the plant are each city’s responsibility, so if something happened to them Clear Lake would have to pay for it.

 

Markovic asked what declares a snow emergency in Clear Lake. Mechtel explained whenever the snowplow has to go out, usually when more than two inches of snow falls.

 

Council Member Sandy Paige said she would like to get the old signs taken down from the Hunter Bluffs Development where roads were originally planned as they look terrible. 

 

“Safety needs to be our guiding principle,” said Yapp. “There are things people could run into if they drive down them, so we need to have some sort of warning.”

 

Goenner suggested the council come up with a solution in the spring.

 

Powers informed the council he has been speaking with a school board member who is in support of Clearview becoming a K-8 school.

 

He reminded them the moratorium on their level three sex offender ordinance would be expiring; he will attempt to have a new ordinance draft ready for the February meeting.

 

The sheriff reported 37 points of contact for December, including seven traffic, three traffic complaints, two accidents and one repossession. 

 

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