At the Clarion City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 2, the group had a full agenda. The council heard a lengthy presentation from Kelly Evans, ISG Engineer, pertaining to the Water Treatment Facility. The presentation is a DNR requirement for the project. Evans reminded everyone that there is a need for a new water treatment facility because the old one is dilapidated and there is a risk of failure. He also noted that it would likely be more costly to repair the current one than building new. A new facility is estimated to cost approximately $8.6 million. It will be located south of the old skating rink, between 1st and 2nd Street SW. A loan will be sought from USDA Rural Development in addition to using CDBG grant funds. The goal is to continue current ordinance-defined water rate increases as scheduled, without any extra increases during and after the project.
The new plant would use a reverse osmosis filtration system that was previously piloted in Clarion a few months ago. The facility would result in improved water quality with a significant reduction in hardness. The presentation was an early step in the process. Public Works Director Jon DeVries added that they now may be able to seek bids for the project by next fall or early winter.
In other business, two public hearings were set for next meeting. The first is for the firm Simmering-Cory to keep pursuing grants on the city’s behalf. The other is to approve a development agreement with Wright County Family Dental. The board approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Ahlers and Cooney law firm to represent the city in negotiation with the Clarion Police Bargaining Unit, a recently formed union.
Early in the meeting, the council also heard from citizen Carolyn Bowman about various issues. She noted that the Clarion Pride Good Neighbor group plans to hold their spring clean-up sometime in May. They will distribute fliers with the date after it is decided. Bowman also asked about the ordinances for shoveling sidewalks. (Residents have 48 hours after it snows to clear sidewalks). Bowman pointed out that various areas, including downtown, have not been adequately cleared and noted she recently fell because of icy sidewalks. Chief of Police Steve TerHark confirmed that they are planning to enforce the ordinances more strictly.
Bowman also asked about Iowa’s Ride. City Administrator Clint Middleton said that the Iowa’s Ride organizers are still optimistic about the bike ride happening. It is planned for July 18-24, with Clarion slated to be an overnight stop Wednesday the 21st. City officials are still in talks with organizers about specific plans for the stop.
The meeting ended with the council going into closed session pertaining to “economic development authority information on an industrial prospect with which the authority is currently negotiating.” No action was taken following the closed session.
