The Clear Lake City Council unanimously approved the city being a co-applicant on a future grant application request for the proposed North Iowa Children’s Museum at their Nov. 20 regular meeting.
The Children’s Museum is a registered non-profit that plans to create an up-to-20,000 square foot destination for learning and exploration with hands-on exhibits that would encourage different learning styles including gross and fine motor engagement, imaginative and dramatic play, and collaboration. Area families have shown much enthusiasm for the interactive displays they have brought to Clear Lake for special events over the past year.
Board member Ellen Pritchard Sedlock announced at the council meeting that they have a donor who has committed to donating a plot of land for the museum in the Emerald Edge subdivision. “This is a change from the last time we were up here to speak with you all. We see pros of being on Highway 18, you’re very close to the interstate as well as being right on that main corridor, so area communities can come and enjoy it in the winter time.”
Sedlock said they are now ready to pursue some grants now that they have solidified a location. “One of those is the CAT Grant as well as Destination Iowa. I’m not here to ask for any money or anything of that sort from the city, but I am here to ask for a letter of intent to partner with us on that endeavor. Essentially get a grant writer, start preparing for those, because those deadlines will be here before we know it.”
Sedlock explained that the Community Attractions and Tourism (CAT) grant could be a big help in getting the project completed. “That is approximately $1.3 million is the total we could get from that grant. 65 percent of the total project cost is required to be committed to the project before even asking for that grant, and we are very confident that we have that in donors. Just between getting out there and getting those commitments, they are pledges, it’s not actual dollars and cents, but we’re there, we’re very confident that we can get that dollar amount.”
Other business
Also on the meeting agenda was a petition from Brandon and Dennis Hrubes of LSA, LLC to rezone a 25.62 acre tract of land located south of 15th Ave. S. and west of S. 8th St. The proposal is to divide the parcel into three separate zoning districts to incorporate stick-built and manufactured homes with commercial components.
The Clear Lake Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed this requested rezoning several times at its regular meetings and voted to approve the preliminary OPD-H (Planned Development Housing Overlay District) for this land. The Hrubes’ have already notified all parcel owners within 200-feet of this parcel and have obtained at least 50 percent of the signatures agreeing with these zoning changes.
The Council set a date of Dec. 4 for a public hearing on the proposed rezoning.
The meeting ended with the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Nelson Crabb said, “This is a follow-up on a request for support of the Child Care Works Wage Supplement Program Initiative from the Cerro Gordo Public Health Child Care Works collaborative.”
Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory told the Council that Mason City pledged $100,000 of their unspent ARPA (Covid relief) funds and the Cerro Gordo County Supervisors recently pledged $50,000 over the course of three years. “So, just as a reminder, this state grant is a two-for-one in this situation. They’ll match $2 at the state level for every dollar that we would put in here locally,” he said.
Councilman Bennett Smith made a motion to accept the $50,000 pledge over two years and all Council members agreed.
The meeting was adjourned.
by Mary Loden
The Clear Lake City Council unanimously approved the city being a co-applicant on a future grant application request for the proposed North Iowa Children’s Museum at their Nov. 20 regular meeting.
The Children’s Museum is a registered non-profit that plans to create an up-to-20,000 square foot destination for learning and exploration with hands-on exhibits that would encourage different learning styles including gross and fine motor engagement, imaginative and dramatic play, and collaboration. Area families have shown much enthusiasm for the interactive displays they have brought to Clear Lake for special events over the past year.
Board member Ellen Pritchard Sedlock announced at the council meeting that they have a donor who has committed to donating a plot of land for the museum in the Emerald Edge subdivision. “This is a change from the last time we were up here to speak with you all. We see pros of being on Highway 18, you’re very close to the interstate as well as being right on that main corridor, so area communities can come and enjoy it in the winter time.”
Sedlock said they are now ready to pursue some grants now that they have solidified a location. “One of those is the CAT Grant as well as Destination Iowa. I’m not here to ask for any money or anything of that sort from the city, but I am here to ask for a letter of intent to partner with us on that endeavor. Essentially get a grant writer, start preparing for those, because those deadlines will be here before we know it.”
Sedlock explained that the Community Attractions and Tourism (CAT) grant could be a big help in getting the project completed. “That is approximately $1.3 million is the total we could get from that grant. 65 percent of the total project cost is required to be committed to the project before even asking for that grant, and we are very confident that we have that in donors. Just between getting out there and getting those commitments, they are pledges, it’s not actual dollars and cents, but we’re there, we’re very confident that we can get that dollar amount.”
Other business
Also on the meeting agenda was a petition from Brandon and Dennis Hrubes of LSA, LLC to rezone a 25.62 acre tract of land located south of 15th Ave. S. and west of S. 8th St. The proposal is to divide the parcel into three separate zoning districts to incorporate stick-built and manufactured homes with commercial components.
The Clear Lake Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed this requested rezoning several times at its regular meetings and voted to approve the preliminary OPD-H (Planned Development Housing Overlay District) for this land. The Hrubes’ have already notified all parcel owners within 200-feet of this parcel and have obtained at least 50 percent of the signatures agreeing with these zoning changes.
The Council set a date of Dec. 4 for a public hearing on the proposed rezoning.
The meeting ended with the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Nelson Crabb said, “This is a follow-up on a request for support of the Child Care Works Wage Supplement Program Initiative from the Cerro Gordo Public Health Child Care Works collaborative.”
Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory told the Council that Mason City pledged $100,000 of their unspent ARPA (Covid relief) funds and the Cerro Gordo County Supervisors recently pledged $50,000 over the course of three years. “So, just as a reminder, this state grant is a two-for-one in this situation. They’ll match $2 at the state level for every dollar that we would put in here locally,” he said.
Councilman Bennett Smith made a motion to accept the $50,000 pledge over two years and all Council members agreed.
The meeting was adjourned.
