City looks ahead to work on North Shore Drive in 2013

    The Clear Lake City Council did a little long term planning at its regular meeting Monday night.  The Council voted 3-1 to apply for federal funding to help pay for street reconstruction on North Shore Drive from 1st Avenue North to Buddy Holly Place.    Tim Moreau, of Veenstra & Kimm, presented the Council with four main projects to review as possibilities for funding through the Surface Transportation Program (STP) in 2013.  On the recommendation of Moreau, the Council voted to submit its application for the project to the North Iowa Area Council on Governments for placement in the state transportation improvement plan.    The total projected cost for the project is $1,331,000, of which 80 percent would be paid from federal funds and 20 percent from the city.      Councilman Shane Cooney made the motion for the North Shore work, saying that the street’s proximity to downtown and the fact that it is the only portion of North Shore Drive which has not been replaced, made it his choice.  The project could also be packaged together with other smaller work, which could result in better bids, he noted.    Cooney, Ben Furleigh and Mike Callanan voted in favor of choosing the North Shore Drive project for the STP.  Councilman Terry Unsworth voted no, saying he believed the stretch of 10th Avenue North from North 8th Street to Buddy Holly Place, along with a smaller project identified as Lakeshore Drive from Main Avenue to 1st Avenue North and Lakeview Drive was a better leverage of investment. Councilman Dave Solberg was absent from the meeting.    In other business they adopted its proposed budget. For the fourth year in a row, the city’s tax rate will be $10.04 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.