Monday’s Clear Lake City Council meeting consisted of a complaint form ordinance amendment, a peddler permit, gambling requests, personnel policy reviewal and the hiring of a new seasonal employee for the streets department, among other items.

 

The City of Clear Lake received a peddler’s permit on May 11 from a Joshua Reibling of Valrico, FL to sell door-to-door the Southwestern Advantage Learning System. The company, Southwestern, recruits and trains college and university students to sell educational books, software, and website subscriptions door-to-door using direct selling methods. 

 

Council Member Dale Powers questioned the application since it seemed to be incomplete and had too many questions surrounding it. He suggested council table the item until they had the opportunity to meet and question the applicant in person at a later meeting.

 

Fire Chief Ron Koren presented changes he’d like to see to the department’s Standard Operation Guide (SOG).

 

Koren indicated membership in the fire department is dwindling and asked for the changes to bring in more members. Some of the changes in the guide include changing the words “shall”, “should”, “should not” and “may” around to make the requirements less restrictive.

 

Koren also mentioned Assistant Chief Barry Schuldt received the American Legion Outstanding Firefighter of the Year award for the State of Minnesota and will now go up against firefighters from other states for the National American Legion FF of the Year award.

 

The American Legion gives a National Firefighter of the Year Award to a firefighter who has exceeded the requirements expected of his or her position and has shown a distinct pattern of community service and professional achievement. The award, which takes into account heroic acts, will be given annually at the Legion's national convention.

 

Koren mentioned he’d like to see the liaison and the mayor attend the upcoming ICS 300 and 400 classes this fall or winter. The classes are held to train personnel to implement all functions of emergency management should a natural disaster occur in the area.

 

“It’s so the city can work with FEMA should we nee to during an emergency, like a rail derailment,” said Koren.

 

Mayor Tim Goenner said he could possibly attend if it is held this winter.

 

Council discussed a text amendment to an ordinance relating to weeds, grasses and rank vegetation.

 

Some of the discussion centered around a 48-hour extension to the seven day compliance and who should be responsible for granting it. Council concurred the clerk should be given that authority and Powers noted several misspellings in the document that needed to be fixed before it is officially published.

 

St. Marcus Church applied for a temporary gambling license to operate gambling activities during  an upcoming event.

 

The Clear Lake Lions also applied for a gambling license to conduct gambling at one of their upcoming events.

 

Each license was approved.

 

Connie Achman presented the updated version of the city’s personnel policy for reviewal by council. Achman said the last step before council’s review was to get approval from legal, which she did.

 

The purpose of the policy is to establish a uniform and equitable system of personnel administration for employees of the City of Clear Lake.

 

Dustin Luhning said he received a letter from the Minnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) with a new recommendation from the EPA for standards of fluoride in the water system.

 

A Minnesota statute requires the fluoridation of water in all municipal water supplies except where natural levels are sufficient. Many municipal water supplies in the state must add fluoride to their water, through fluoridation, in order to maintain a fluoride concentration between 0.9 and 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L).

 

Luhning said the recommendation is not yet mandated and suggested Clear Lake possibly file a variance to get the required concentration to a level the city can maintain properly and save the city on the high cost of chemicals down the road.

 

Luhning announced the hiring of a new seasonal employee, Noah Marklowitz who started last week and will help with mowing, fire hydrant painting and various odd jobs.

 

Luhning also mentioned MnDOT is hosting a Complete Streets Workshop June 16-17 in Richfield and he would like to attend. Powers also volunteered to attend.

 

Complete Streets is an approach to road planning and design that considers and balances the needs of all transportation users. It’s about improving the transportation system’s safety and functionality for all users. Its main premise is nothing more than for people to get around safely and efficiently from point A to point B, using whatever mode of travel they choose.

 

• An unidentified woman asked to have a memorial tree planted at the city park for Richard Anderson. Luhning said he would talk with the woman to see what the city could do for her;

 

• Goenner mentioned he requested and received $5,000 from the Clear Lake Lions to purchase tables, chairs, security and rocks for the park;

 

• Clerk Kari Mechtel said she sent an email to representatives from SunShare Solar Energy and will have an update for council by the next meeting.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council is July 6 at 7 p.m.