The Clear Lake City Council discussed test well quotes and a future public meeting concerning the potential of seceding from the St. Cloud School District during their July 5 meeting.

 

Council Member Dale Powers informed the board he was planning a public meeting in the fall to gauge the community’s support on seceding from the St. Cloud District. 

 

Earlier he explained that although Clearview’s Spanish Immersion program is bringing in a large number of students from outside the district, many local parents aren’t in favor of it. He cited a survey done by the Annandale School District in which they found a large majority of parents open enrolling their children into their district were doing so because of the program.

 

He further explained Mayor Tim Goenner had been turned down when he attempted to have Clearview become a K though 8 school, and now the school may also be losing its sixth grade. Another issue concerns one of the proposed locations for the new Tech High School, which is 18 miles from Clear Lake, giving local students an even longer commute than they currently have.

 

Although not disclosed during the council meeting, Powers sent a letter to the Becker School Board in June asking if they would allow Clear Lake residents to join the Becker School District. Powers was unaware the board had placed his request on the agenda of their July 11 meeting.

 

(See Staff Writer Bill Morgan’s story on the Becker School meeting in this issue.)

 

Keith Yapp presented the council with three quotes received for the test well near Clearview Elementary. The council had estimated the project to cost $15,000; E.H. Renner & Sons came in with the low bid at $9,650. 

 

A motion was made and carried to accept the bid from Renner & Sons. 

 

Mayor Goenner explained to the council that the trash pump purchased by the city had been borrowed by the Clearwater Sewer Authority eight years ago and not been returned. He suggested billing them for the pump so it becomes their property. Powers volunteered to attend the next sewer authority meeting on July 21.

 

Dan Whitcomb attended the council meeting to introduce himself and his bid for retiring Sen. Dave Brown’s District 15 seat in the Senate. Although not the endorsed Republican candidate, he described himself as a fiscal conservative Republican and told the council he was the type of candidate that’s going down to the Capitol to fix things for our community and for jobs. 

 

He described his background, explaining he has a great deal of experience in local government and energy companies. 

 

“Jobs are a big issue in the entire district,” Whitcomb said. “I know a lot about repowering projects and what’s needed for a tax base.”

 

He stated if elected he won’t forget Clear Lake or the other small towns in the district.

 

Karla Scapanski attended the council meeting to introduce herself and her bid for District 15B State Representative. She is the endorsed DFL candidate, and described herself as a conservative, grassroots gal. 

 

“I was moved to get involved when unionization came into place,” Scapanski explained. “I see what’s going on in our area, communities are giving up.”

 

She stated she doesn’t believe a two party system makes sense, pointing to what happened this year. 

 

“Nothing is getting done. We need to work together.”

 

Powers informed the board he is still attempting to get the stamp of approval on the city’s level three sex offender ordinance.

 

Powers brought up the recent sealcoating and stripping work done in the parking lot and city park, stating although it was in the budget the council hadn’t approved the $6,000 cost to have it done. When he questioned Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning about the project, he was informed Luhning had a $10,000 signature spending authority to make those decisions.

 

Mayor Goenner and Council Member Bob Arnold agreed the signature spending amount seemed high, and asked Clerk Kari Mechtel to look into the matter for future purchases.

 

Mechtel informed the council this year’s National Night Out would have to be cancelled, as the Fire Relief Association didn’t vote on it in time. Mayor Goenner said the cancellation was disappointing for the community as a whole, but they would try again in 2017.

 

There was no sheriff’s report available at the time of the meeting.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be August 2 at 7 p.m.