Several issues and requests were brought up during the public forum portion of the Clearwater City Council meetings this summer, including concerns about the disc golf championship event at the golf course and the Hwy. 24 corridor project, and a landscape request.

Hwy. 24 Project

During public forum at the June meeting, several residents and business owners addressed the council with concerns about the Hwy. 24 Corridor Project. 

James Thiesen, 20-year owner of Flintstones, stated that after attending MnDOT’s public meetings he had many concerns. He stated he doesn’t support roundabouts or eliminating left turns on the highway and doesn’t like the proposed pedestrian crossings at the 1-94 ramps. 

He believes people won’t cross a 3-foot cement barricade to get across the road, communication about the project has been poor, and that the plan will destroy businesses.

He asked the council to reconsider the project as a whole.

Tom Plaggerman from Clearwater Parts City expressed his opposition to the two MnDOT proposals. He opposes the removal of left turns as well and believes there are better ways to improve the corridor. He stated that the project designer’s traffic statistics estimate that traffic numbers will decline if they do the project and is concerned business growth will be stunted. 

He said there are other plans to address safety without hurting businesses, citing a pamphlet from the FHA that can be found online, and asked for another plan to be considered that included left turns.

Telcom employee Amanda Finnenan said she believes the lights are beneficial because of the number of accidents at Co. Road 75 and Hwy. 24 and the lights allow people to cross. She stated that none of the proposals alleviate concerns coming out of Kwik Trip, and asked how tractors crossing the bridge would be able to navigate and how the project would help with residential growth.

Mayor Lawrence provided background on the project along with feedback from recent meetings with MnDOT about alternatives. She noted that the council shares some of the concerns raised by residents and businesses and asked people to continue to share their feedback with MnDOT.

Golf Course

During public forum at the July meeting, Butch Donat, on behalf of the Clearwater Estates Assoc. HOA expressed concerns about the disc golf championship event held at the golf course. 

Concerns included illegal parking on private property, failure to obey speed limits and stop signs, driving through the gates when they were in the down position and causing damage to the gates, loud music until nearly 4 a.m., alcohol sales without proper licenses, illegal camping, and the sheer volume of visitors.

Paul Neustrom, also from the HOA, stated they have invested money in local facilities to protect residents with security measures, provide nice roadways for their use, and keep their neighborhood safe. He said that disc golf attendees were rude to local residents, ignored their concerns when asked, drove through the neighborhood at high rates of speed, broke their gates, and had cars coming and going at all hours of the night. The gate tracked over 90 vehicles passing through after midnight. 

The association would like the council to address these concerns before issuing further special event permits and wants them to require security and the sheriff’s presence at future events.

Mayor Lawrence asked staff to require the disc golf organizers to attend a council meeting to ask for special event permits in person in the future.

City Landscaping

A motion carried to approve Ord. 2024-06, which amends the city’s weed ordinance to suspend mowing enforcement during the month of May (No Mow May). 

During public forum, resident Corissa Everett asked the council to consider amending the landscaping ordinance that requires turf grass to additionally allow other types of pollinating plants. 

Member Schwinghammer asked if the council should consider Everett’s request as part of the ordinance. City Administrator Smythe explained the requirements that include turf grass is part of the Zoning Ordinance and would require a public hearing before the Planning Commission to make changes.