During their meeting Monday night, current City Building Inspector Nancy Scott approached the Clear Lake City Council to discuss concerns regarding zoning information she had provided them.

 

At a recent council meeting, Council Member Dale Powers had asked for and received permission to put together a request for proposal (RFP) for the building inspector position after stating he had concerns with the work Scott had been doing for the city.

 

Scott, who has been the city’s building inspector for over 18 years, stated she had been unaware there were any problems with her work until hearing about the issue from colleagues at a conference recently, and asked for it to be explained.

 

Powers stated it came from a meeting in which she expressed opinions on the zoning aspect of a proposal, which is not part of her job description. Due to this he felt it was unprofessional conduct.

 

Scott reiterated that her contract actually states she will assist with zoning as necessary, and explained she had been contacted by Mechtel with zoning questions per the council’s request and was asked to attend that particular meeting. Shortly after she received an email from Powers stating it was the sense of the council her services weren’t needed there after all.

 

She stated she had done exactly what was asked of her, and she has never charged the city for zoning.

 

“I don’t want to be your zoning administrator even though I have the qualifications and education,” she said. “I take offense that you are making assumptions and you never addressed me, then you trash me in front of my colleagues. I think it’s retaliation because I wouldn’t go into business with you.”

 

Powers refuted the claim, saying he had contacted her about potentially working as a team to submit an RFP requested by another city for a zoning administrator and rental housing inspector.

 

He asked what her motivation for coming to the meeting was, as she had stated she felt it was a good idea for cities to go out for RFPs on occasion. 

 

Scott responded she was there to clear the disparaging comments made about herself and her company, and that she felt she had no other choice because he wouldn’t respond to her email asking to meet privately.

 

“I didn’t respond because I didn’t know what the meeting was about and if we were to meet it would have had to be with everyone,” Powers said.

 

Scott requested they communicate better with whoever their building inspector is in the future.

 

“At this point I may withdraw my RFP,” she told Powers. “To work for a jurisdiction, I need council support and I don’t feel that’s the case here. You have been rude, disrespectful, bullying and condescending.”

 

“I think your work has always been professional,” said Council Member Bob Arnold. “But I feel we need to go out for RFPs on occasion.” 

 

The council received three RFPs for city building inspector after their request was published, one of which was from Scott’s company. Interviews will be scheduled for Feb. 20.

 

 

Sherburne Co. Sheriff Joel Brott approached the council with the annual sheriff’s report. He informed them there were 610 law enforcement contacts within Clear Lake for 2018, a number which has risen gradually over the last two years.

 

In terms of serious criminal activity, there were no assaults, burglaries or homicides, one narcotics, two DUIs, one criminal sexual conduct, six criminal damage to property and seven thefts. 

 

Brott also informed the council of events happening within the sheriff’s office, which include expansion and renovation of the building and active shooter response training. The sheriff’s office is also working with 22 area law enforcement to create a criminal intelligence center.

 

The county website, including the sheriff’s office page, has been updated and residents can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Sherburne Co. Attorney Kathleen Heaney approached the council with the annual county report. She informed them county-wide felonies were up slightly in 2018, with 582 cases opened, of which 224 have been closed to date.

 

She also explained their juvenile truancy program and the county’s new contact person at the reformatory, and reminded them of MN Statute 484.87, which states a council can enter into a contract with the county attorney to be their prosecutor if their population is over 600, which she believes Clear Lake now is.

 

 

Powers updated the council on the solar ordinance he’s been working on. After a brief discussion, the council agreed to keep A1 zoning with a 15-acre restriction; parcels will not be allowed to be divided in order to obtain multiple solar gardens. A public hearing will be scheduled for Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

Goenner will refrain from voting on the final ordinance due to conflict of interest.

 

Motions carried giving  City Clerk Kari Mechtel and Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning 3% raises, as well as an additional $2 an hour raise for Mechtel due to additional responsibilities she has taken on.

 

Motions carried approving Resolution 19-07, Allocation to Committed Funds, Resolution 19-08, Certification of unpaid fire run charge, 2018 annual fire department capital fund allocations and 2018 annual fire department committed fund expenditures and balances.

 

The next Clear Lake City Council meeting will be March 4 at 7 p.m.