CL police chief opening draws 24 applicants

New leader could be in place by August 1

A total of 24 persons have submitted their applications to be considered for the Clear Lake Chief of Police position.

Mayor Nelson Crabb updated the City Council on the search Monday night, saying the deadline to apply was May 15.

According to Crabb, applications were received from candidates nationwide, with 13 of the 24 applicants having recently served as chief or acting chief within their departments.  Two of the applicants come from the CLPD, he said.

Crabb and City Administrator Scott Flory will screen the applications and hope to narrow the field to six or seven to set up interviews with.  Those could occur within the next week or two.  Final candidates would be interviewed in closed session by the City Council.

A potential timeline would have an offer made by the third week of June, with a new chief in place by Aug. 1.

The city has been without a full-time chief since Rex McChesney died of cancer in December 2015.  Lts. Debra Ryg and Paul Chizek have been co-managing the department since that time. 

City Hall rededication

In other business Monday night, Mayor Crabb announced the City will hold an open house Thursday, June 11, to invite the public to tour the newly renovated City Hall building.

A ribbon cutting will be held at 3:45 p.m., followed by building tours from 4-6.  Refreshments will be served.

City Hall has received numerous improvements in a rehabilitation project which is wrapping up this month.  It is the first time in almost 40-years major renovations have been made.  

City Administrator Scott Flory noted the project was able to be done without a bond issue or borrowing.

Kwik Star

The Council also approved a development agreement with Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip/Kwik Star for the construction of a new convenience store and truck center at the intersection of Highway 122 and Willow Creek Court/32nd Street.

Kwik Star is investing nearly $10 million to construct one of their biggest and most sophisticated developments on land next to Pritchard’s Ford along State Highway 122 just east of Interstate 35. The project includes the construction of a new 75-hundred square-foot store and center on approximately 20 acres, of which only 10 acres is proposed for development at this time. The paving improvements include parking for 50 semi-truck trailer combination vehicles and 68 passenger vehicles. 

Under terms of the development agreement, the city will contribute up to $250,000 for improvements to the intersection of State 122 at Willow Creek Court and North 32nd Street, which includes turn lane improvements and a new traffic control device. Kwik Star in turn agrees to a minimum property tax valuation of $1.5 million and to hire and maintain a workforce of 30 employees. 

The new Kwik Star is expected to open in October.