By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
During his City Manager’s Report at the Clare Commission meeting Monday evening, Jeremy Howard reported on the January 8 Planning Commission meeting which included the Public Hearing and Site Plan Review, and approval of a new fueling station (truck stop) and convenience store with fast food to be built at the corner of South Clare Avenue (Old US 27) and Colonville Road this year.
According to the site plan layout for the proposed project, “This project is designed to become a RFP Oil (Richard Paul Fleckenstein – original owner) truck stop/fueling gas station (BP) and convenience store (Fleck’s Fresh Mart) that will also serve fast food breakfast and lunch items mainly for semi-truck drivers.”
The description of the proposed project continued with, “Constructing a new 3,955 square foot convenience store and putting up a gas canopy with five gas pumps installed…beer and wine will be available for sales, [but] no hard liquor will be sold from the store.”
The timing of the project listed construction beginning in March and finishing up around eight months later with the scheduled opening of both the gas station and convenience store.
In another matter, City Manager Howard also reported on the Lake Shamrock Dredging and Dam Project, saying, “Mechanical dredging by the city is fully paused right now due to the weather and ice on the lake. Hydraulic dredging by Savin Lake Service is also paused.
Concerning the dam project, Howard said the engineering firm “GEI is continuing design work for the dam,” adding that, “some work at the site including borings and televising storm sewers in the area have continued. We are still working with GEI to submit our full application for the second phase of the DRRG (Dam Risk Reduction Grant) grant which is due January 31st. ..
“We are still waiting on the grant agreement for the second approved grant (High Hazard Potential Dams or HHPD) to cover part of the next phase of the project,” Howard added.
During new businesses at the meeting, the commission approved bids, accepted the low bidder and awarded a contract for replacement of a portion of the DPW garage roof.
Howard’s agenda report on the matter said, “The roof of the Public Works Department has deteriorated to the point that the integrity of the roof of the building has been compromised and is leaking.”
Six vendors submitted bids for the projects. Public Works Director Luke Potter recommended approval of low bidder Brandle Roofing for $59,726.00. The project was budgeted at $65,000, the amount authorized for the roof work.
In another item on the agenda, an amendment to the Purchasing Policy and Fixed Asset Capitalization Policy was approved. Howard said the 2019 procedures and 2008 Fixed Asset Capitalization Policy needed updates “to ensure that we attain maximum efficiency and effectiveness in our day-to-day operations and remain in compliance with accepted standards.
Other business included the renewal of Andrew Santini’s position for another three-year term on the Clare Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the approval of bills totaling $156,290.96.
