TOWN OF CLEAR LAKE
MEETING MINUTES

Minutes Of The December 14, 2009 Town Council Meeting

The regular meeting of the Town Council of Clear Lake, Indiana was held at the town hall on Monday, December 14th at 7:00 pm. Present were Council Members Bob Lewis, George Schenkel, Sue Williams, Barry Worl and Alan Korte. Also present were Town Manager, Bob Hull, Zoning Administrator, Bruce Snyder and Town Attorney, Neal Blythe. There were 14 citizens who signed the quest register.

Prior to calling the meeting to order, President Bob Lewis asked those present for a moment of silence in which to remember Jack McArdle, former president of the town council and his wife, Karen who lost their lives on December 11, 2009 in a car accident.

President Bob Lewis called the meeting to order by asking everyone to stand and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the November 9th meeting were read. Bob Lewis asked for a motion to approve the minutes as read. The motion was made by Sue Williams, seconded by Barry Worl, all in favor and the motion passed.

Financial report was given by the Clerk-Treasurer for the month of November stating the beginning and ending balances for cash and investments, receipts and disbursements for the General Fund, Garbage Fund and Sewer Fund. This report is attached to the minutes.

Vouchers for the month of November were as follows for the following funds:
    General Fund     $254,535.77
    Garbage Fund          6,650.39
    Sewer Fund         283,811.15

Total Amount of Vouchers $544,997.31

Warrants to be approved totaled $11,829.62

A motion was made by Alan Korte to approve the Financial Report, vouchers, and warrants to be paid, seconded by George Schenkel, all in favor and the motion passed.


REPORTS:

   MARSHAL’S AND FIRE DEPARTMENT:

      Barry Worl reported for the Marshal that the department is on reduced hours for the month and investigative activity has slowed considerably. Officer McCarty has been off due to shoulder surgery and is scheduled to have the second shoulder operated on soon. Upon Officer McCarty’s return he will be on “light duty” for the next 4-6 weeks. Marshal Gonya included a summary of activities for the calendar year 2009 and that report is attached to the minutes.

      Barry also reported that the Fremont Fire Department made 33 calls for the month of November, none of them in the Town of Clear Lake and 1 woods fire in Clear Lake Twp.

   ZONING ADMINISTRATOR:

      Bruce Snyder reported for the month of November there were 5 Improvement Location Permits issued, 2 variance applications were heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals and 3 Stop Work Orders were issued. The report is attached to the minutes.

   TOWN MANAGER:

      Bob Hull reported that the sewer line at 826 had been excavated and insulated because it has been a problem for the past several winters with freezing. Quiet Harbor #1234 grinder has a broken seal allowing ground water into the sewer line, it will be replaced as soon as weather permits.

      Bob also reported that the snowplow is in good working condition, ready for the season to begin. The salt barn is finished, waiting for the concrete to cure before filling with sand and salt.

   BILLING CLERK:

      Billing clerk will be going to small claims court on January 19th, 2010 for the two outstanding garbage bills totaling $517.74. Outstanding sewer accounts total $23,466.27. Final notices and liens have been sent and filed on 8 accounts.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

   LITIGATION:

      Neal Blythe reported the McElhinney case was closed and the town was not involved.
      The Hoagland Family Limited Partnership has hired a new attorney. The fence case has been continued until June giving the new attorney time to review the case.

      Judge Wheat would like the case of imminent domain over the sewer with Hunt, Sudhoff to be resolved soon. Surveys for that case are being made. Procedural motions have been filed between Hoagland and Nevins defendants for hearings of summary judgment.

      Certified letters will be mailed by the end of the year to residents that have not hooked-up to the town’s sewer system.


   ORDINANCE 2009-9: 3RD READING – AN ORDINANCE CREATING A FUND TO RECEIVE DONATIONS FROM THE CLEAR LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.

      A motion was made by Sue Williams to suspend the rules and read by summary only, seconded by Barry Worl, all in favor and the motion passed.

      Bob Lewis read the ordinance by summary only and asked for a motion to accept the ordinance. A motion was made by George Schenkel to accept the ordinance, seconded by Alan Korte, all in favor and the motion passed.

   ORDINANCE 2009-10: 2ND READING – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLEAR LAKE SEWER ORDINANCE

   ORDINANCE 2009-11: 2ND READING – AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING LOCAL PLANNING AND ZONING FEES PURSUANT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

      For Ordinance 2009-10 and 2009-11, a motion was made by George Schenkel to suspend the rules and read by summary only, seconded by Sue Williams all in favor and the motion passed.

      A motion was made to close the public meeting and open the public hearing by George Schenkel, seconded by Sue Williams, all in favor and the motion passed.

      Bob Lewis read both ordinances by summary only and asked for any further discussion on the ordinances. There being none, a motion was made by George Schenkel to close the public hearing and open the public meeting, seconded by Alan Korte, all in favor and the motion passed.

      Bob Lewis asked to accept Ordinance 2009-10 and Ordinance 2009-11 on the second reading. A motion was made by Barry Worl to accept Ordinance 2009-10 and Ordinance 2009-11 on the second reading, seconded by Sue Williams, all in favor and the motion passed.

   ORDINANCE 2009-10: 3RD READING – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLEAR LAKE SEWER ORDINANCE

   ORDINANCE 2009-11: 3RD READING – AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING LOCAL PLANNING AND ZONING FEES PURSUANT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

      Bob Lewis read Ordinance 2009-10 and Ordinance 2009-11 by summary only and asked for a motion to accept on the third reading. The motion was made by George Schenkel, seconded by Alan Korte, all in favor and the motion passed.

      An amendment was made to Ordinance 2009-11 to amend the fee for Fence and Retaining Wall Permits from $10 to $25 and the fee charged to all applicants for the Platting of Subdivisions, Special Exceptions, Variances, Appeals, Re-zoning, Vacations, and any other petition requiring a public hearing from $50 to $100.

      A motion was made by Alan Korte to accept the fee changes, seconded by George Schenkel, all in favor and the motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS:

   ORDINANCE 2009-13: 1ST READING – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE REAL ESTATE LOCATED AT 375 LAKE DRIVE.

      Bob Lewis read Ordinance 2009-13 in its entirety and asked for a motion to accept on the 1st and only reading. A motion was made by George Schenkel to accept on the only reading of Ordinance 2009-13, seconded by Sue Williams, all in favor and the motion passed.

   ORDINANCE 2009-12: 1ST READING – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLEAR LAKE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

      Bob Lewis read Ordinance 2009-12 to clarify the changes in the UDO in its entirety then asked for a motion to accept the changes as presented. A motion was made by Barry Worl to accept the changes in the UDO as presented in Ordinance 2009-12, seconded by Alan Korte, all in favor and the motion passed.

      Bob Lewis stated that the new UDO books will be ordered.

There being no further business at 7:45 p.m. Bob Lewis asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion to adjourn was made by George Schenkel, seconded by Alan Korte, all in favor and the motion passed.

Robert E. Lewis, Council President

Kay A. Kummer, Clerk-Treasurer