By Mary Loden
Two of the top agenda items discussed at the Clear Lake City Council meeting on Aug. 21 included improvements to the Clear Lake Municipal Bandshell and Lakeview Room and the new Pickleball and Basketball court project.
Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory said some maintenance and repair issues concerning the City Park Bandshell were recently brought to his attention by the Parks Department superintendent. The superintendent felt the needed repairs went beyond his department’s ability to undertake along with their day-to-day responsibilities.
“In looking at those [issues] we discovered they are probably in need of more immediate attention. These are needed maintenance level improvements that we would not be able to undertake in-house, including painting of the band shell and so forth. So we would be looking to contract out all of these items,” Flory said.
After a more thorough inspection the decision was made that, “…it would make sense to do the necessary improvements in conjunction with an overall “refresh” of the structure with some added upgrades,” Flory said. It was pointed out that no upgrades have been done to the Lakeview Room since being built in 2000. Upgrades would include lighting and cabinetry.
Atura Architecture in Clear Lake is the architect of record for the original Lakeview Room addition to the City Park Bandshell. They submitted a proposal for full architectural services for the renovation and beautification of the Bandshell and Lakeview Room. In addition to the damaged plaster and wood columns and concrete stage spalling, the majority of the work will be in the updating of materials, including upgrading the electrical and stage lighting.
The proposal the City has negotiated with Atura is for planning, designing, building and then overseeing the construction of the improvements for the band shell in an amount not to exceed $18,500.
Flory said there was no line item in the approved fiscal year 2024 City budget for this improvement, but some of the areas of concern warranted consideration for adding them as an amendment to the FY 24 budget. Flory said that by approving this now they are in the position to bid out the project over the winter so it would hopefully be complete by Memorial Day 2024.
Third Ward councilman Gary Hugi mentioned to Flory that there are a number of people in the community that use the Bandshell in various ways and they are interested in contributing to the project. “So, there is an opportunity for some private philanthropy there,” Flory said.
After Austin Pehl, of Atura Architecture, reviewed the Professional Services Agreement proposal the motion to approve the proposal was accepted by City Council members.
After months of fundraising efforts by the Clear Lake Pickleball Club the new Basketball Court and Basketball to Pickleball Courts conversion project will get underway. The City of Clear Lake solicited proposals from professional engineering firms to assist with the planning, design, bidding, and construction of the project. The least costly proposal was submitted by Veenstra & Kimm of Mason City. The cost of services are not to exceed $14,250 with construction related services not to exceed a fee of $6,500
Funding for this conversion project, located on N. 20th St., just west of the municipal tennis courts across the street from the Clear Lake High School, has already been allocated in the FY24 municipal budget.
The City will undertake this project in cooperation with the Clear Lake School District and in partnership with the local Pickleball Club. Cerro Gordo County and the Clear Lake School District have each allocated some funding towards various components of this project and the Pickleball Club continues in its private fundraising efforts, through grants and donations, to contribute towards the project.
The scope of the project includes maintenance to the existing tennis courts, the conversion of the current basketball court into six pickleball courts, and all new full-size basketball court, as well as new site lighting and site drainage improvements.
By Mary Loden
Two of the top agenda items discussed at the Clear Lake City Council meeting on Aug. 21 included improvements to the Clear Lake Municipal Bandshell and Lakeview Room and the new Pickleball and Basketball court project.
Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory said some maintenance and repair issues concerning the City Park Bandshell were recently brought to his attention by the Parks Department superintendent. The superintendent felt the needed repairs went beyond his department’s ability to undertake along with their day-to-day responsibilities.
“In looking at those [issues] we discovered they are probably in need of more immediate attention. These are needed maintenance level improvements that we would not be able to undertake in-house, including painting of the band shell and so forth. So we would be looking to contract out all of these items,” Flory said.
After a more thorough inspection the decision was made that, “…it would make sense to do the necessary improvements in conjunction with an overall “refresh” of the structure with some added upgrades,” Flory said. It was pointed out that no upgrades have been done to the Lakeview Room since being built in 2000. Upgrades would include lighting and cabinetry.
Atura Architecture in Clear Lake is the architect of record for the original Lakeview Room addition to the City Park Bandshell. They submitted a proposal for full architectural services for the renovation and beautification of the Bandshell and Lakeview Room. In addition to the damaged plaster and wood columns and concrete stage spalling, the majority of the work will be in the updating of materials, including upgrading the electrical and stage lighting.
The proposal the City has negotiated with Atura is for planning, designing, building and then overseeing the construction of the improvements for the band shell in an amount not to exceed $18,500.
Flory said there was no line item in the approved fiscal year 2024 City budget for this improvement, but some of the areas of concern warranted consideration for adding them as an amendment to the FY 24 budget. Flory said that by approving this now they are in the position to bid out the project over the winter so it would hopefully be complete by Memorial Day 2024.
Third Ward councilman Gary Hugi mentioned to Flory that there are a number of people in the community that use the Bandshell in various ways and they are interested in contributing to the project. “So, there is an opportunity for some private philanthropy there,” Flory said.
After Austin Pehl, of Atura Architecture, reviewed the Professional Services Agreement proposal the motion to approve the proposal was accepted by City Council members.
After months of fundraising efforts by the Clear Lake Pickleball Club the new Basketball Court and Basketball to Pickleball Courts conversion project will get underway. The City of Clear Lake solicited proposals from professional engineering firms to assist with the planning, design,
