Business owners, public invited to open house to look at sidewalk options

(Above) City officials say sections of the brick paver sidewalks in downtown Clear Lake pose a safety hazard.-Reporter photo.

Property owners and the public in general are invited to discuss proposed sidewalk improvements in the downtown at an open house meeting Thursday, March 31, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Several concepts are being developed for the project to facilitate getting some cost estimates.  However, no specific plan for the work has been identified.  A few options shared by consulting engineer Jason Petersburg, of Veenstra & Kimm,  differ on the ratio of brick pavers to concrete proposed for the walkways.  For example, one option would use strips of brick pavers on the outside edges of a concrete sidewalk.

Early cost estimates place the cost of an all-brick sidewalk at $540,000; an option using brick and concrete, resulting in fewer bricks and brick paver base, would drop the cost to roughly $465,000.

This will be the first of a handful of meetings to be scheduled with business owners and the public to receive input about the sidewalk reconstruction.

Monday’s Council meeting also included a brief discussion about the recently completed 2016 City-wide Sidewalk Master Plan.  The plan rates segments of sidewalks within the city and identifies those considered to be deficient.  In addition it spells out the city’s sidewalk requirements.

City leaders plan to earmark $150,000 per year for sidewalk projects.  Those identified in the five-year capital improvement plan include downtown sidewalks, 20th Street North, North Shore Drive and on the south side of Highway 18 on Buddy Holly Place to facilitate a safer crossing.

City budget approved

At Monday night’s meeting, the Council held a public hearing and approved its city budget for Fiscal year

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2017.  Under the plan the tax rate will drop from $10.54  to $10.05 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

The City’s share of the overall tax rate has been at $10.54 for the previous five fiscal years.   The proposed rate of $10.04 is the same rate which the City had maintained for five consecutive years prior to the 50-cent increase made in 2012 as a result of the voter-approved $2.3 million general obligation bond issued for the new fire station building.

Owners of a home assessed at $150,000 will see a reduction of $41 in their tax asking from the city; owners of a commercial property will see a $66 drop in their city taxes.

City leaders remind property owners that the City’s portion of the total tax bill is roughly one-third.  Other entities, such as the school district, sanitary district, NIACC and others, represent two-thirds of a property owners’ total tax asking.

Once again, Clear Lake will feature one of the lowest tax rates in Iowa for cities with a population greater than 4,000.  In 2016, Clear Lake’s tax rate will rank as the ninth lowest city tax rate in cities of 4,000 or more people.

The taxable valuation for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2016 and ends June 30, 2017, continues the positive trend of growth in the community.

Major capital projects in the proposed budget include reconstruction work on East Main Avenue ($950,000), Main Avenue sidewalk replacement ($650,000), overlay projects ($700,000), Water Plant chlorine room improvements ($350,000) and storm sewer lining  work ($250,000) to name a few.

Proposed major capital purchases include replacement and equipment of a police car ($50,000), vehicle purchases for public works ($200,000) and capital reserve fund additions.

Police business

In other business Monday, the Council approved a job description and gave the go-ahead for Police Chief Pete Roth to begin advertising for a police captain.  Although the captain’s position is new to the department, it is not a new hire for the department.  In prior years there has been a chief and three lieutenants.  The new structure will use a chief, captain and two lieutenants.

City Administrator Scott Flory said the creation of a captain position within the department has been a priority for city leaders in strategic planning the past few years.  The position will provide more verticality within the ranks, he said.

Qualifications for the position include a minimum of 10-years experience in law enforcement, with at least four years in a police supervisory role and a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in criminal justice, police science, public administration or a related field.

Police Chief Roth also announced the retirement of police officer Kevin Borrill.  Borrill has informed the chief he is seeking a job outside of law enforcement.  Borrill, a Clear Lake High School graduate who has been with the department since 1995, has not given a date of departure.

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