Monday’s Clear Lake City Council meeting began with two public hearings; one for a re-zone request for property that is currently zoned agricultural and needs to be zoned residential, and one for a variance request for a private well to be installed.

 

With no public participation, the hearings were closed and the regular meeting opened. Motions carried approving both requests. Mayor Tim Goenner refrained from voting on the variance request.

 

 

Connie Netters approached the council to ask for a reduction on the $2,752 water and sewer bill for her Main Street property, explaining it was caused by a frozen water line. 

 

After a brief discussion on how they’ve handled similar incidents in the past, the council agreed to reduce the water portion of the bill, however, as the city had to pay the sewer authority for the additional water that went into the floor drain they were unable to reduce the sewer portion.

 

A motion carried reducing the bill.

 

 

Council Member Dale Powers updated the council on community development, stating he’s working on getting a bank to open a branch in the city as well as speaking with a company that processes potatoes.

 

As the latter is some distance from Clear Lake, he asked the council if they would consider approving mileage. Clerk Kari Mechtel stated it was in the budget; a motion carried approving the mileage reimbursement.

 

 

Council Member Karen White asked if anything had been decided on creating a compost on the sewer authority property. She said it had been discussed at an earlier Sewer Authority meeting and Clearwater was on board with the idea as they’re out of room.

 

Powers said the city would need to approve a zoning amendment authorizing a compost in that zoning district and approve a CUP; it would be a joint application between Clear Lake and the sewer authority.

 

Goenner told the council he would get the project moving at the next sewer authority meeting in July.

 

 

Engineer Keith Yapp updated the council on the new well project, explaining they were waiting for the Dept. of Health to finish reviewing the plans. He’s hopeful everything will be approved by the next meeting.

 

The council gave Mechtel dates that would work for an annexation meeting with Clear Lake Twp. She indicated she will follow up with the township and keep the council informed, all members want to be involved in the process.

 

Goenner expressed disproval on the quality of the state’s grass reseeding work done after their project completion, stating it was unacceptable, and asked to attend the next meeting so he can meet with them face-to-face.

 

Mechtel informed the council the fire department was looking at purchasing a shed for behind the fire hall that will be used for storing supplies they’re running out of room for. It can then be moved once a new fire hall is built in the future.

 

The portion of the sidewalk towards Clearview that is in Clear Lake Twp. still needs to have Roundup applied. The township had indicated they would take care of the issue; Goenner will follow up.

 

Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning informed the council he had hired two seasonal employees.

 

The council approved an updated city logo.

 

The sheriff reported 17 points of contact for May, including two damage to property, two medical, one traffic and one welfare check.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting is July 1 at 7 p.m.