Sherburne Co. Attorney Kathleen Heaney presented the Clear Lake City Council with a brief overview of the county’s annual report during their meeting Wednesday night.

 

She informed the council there had been a 6.24% increase in felonies in 2017, with 562 new cases, and an 11.5% increase in gross misdemeanors, with 283 cases. Misdemeanors had nearly a 20% increase, with 2,007 cases, which she attributed to the discontinuation of the driver’s education program last year.

 

Civil and criminal cases were up 11% from 2017.

 

Heaney said alcohol was the drug of choice in Sherburne Co, with methamphetamines coming in second. Fifth degree controlled substance was the second most common charge.

 

Concerning county youth, pills, phones and mental health were the biggest issues, with kids trading or giving away their medications and not making the best decisions when texting.

 

“Mental health cases are prevalent,” said Heaney. “Mental health permeates just about everything we do.”

 

She ended by expressing her appreciation of the collaboration they have with law enforcement, and reminded the council to forward updated ordinances to the county law library.

 

Audit Manager Janel Bitzan from BerganKDV presented the council with a summary of their 2017 annual audit review. No major issues were found.

 

For the past five years the city’s receipts have exceeded their disbursements. As of December 1, 2017, their cash balance was $129,742, a $16,000 increase. 

 

Representatives from RHL approached the council to request permission to erect an LED billboard on Hwy 10 where the current Walks on Water billboard is located.

 

Council Member Dale Powers said the council was willing to work with them and requested drawings so they could get an idea of what it would look like. 

 

Powers informed the board he would be using $250,000 in Clear Lake’s request to the legislature for a Northstar Link bus stop. The amount was determined using a formula from the City of Becker.

 

The council passed Resolution 18-07 MN Depart. of Transportation and the 2017 annual capital funds allocations for the fire department. 

 

Council Member Sandy Paige resigned from the fire board; Powers will be taking over her position.

 

The sheriff reported 89 points of contact for February, including 33 traffic, 15 security checks and eight extra patrol requests.

 

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