Week of Nov 24 2007 - 7:00pm to Dec 1 2007 - 6:59pm

Chamber will re-focus search for new leader

At its regularly scheduled monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 19, the Clear Lake Economic Development Corporation (EDC) voted to look into the possibility of partnering with the Mason City EDC.
The Clear Lake EDC and and Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce have shared a director and office since 1990. The possible change in direction would separate the two entities and, most importantly, would mean the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce would now be looking for its own executive director to replace Steve Ward, who resigned as leader of both the Chamber and EDC in October.
Since Ward’s resignation, representatives of the EDC and Chamber Boards of Directors had been working jointly on a search committee.
“We fully support this action by the EDC,” said Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce President Rod Bernard. He noted the Chamber has enjoyed a “wonderful working relationship” with the EDC and he looks forward to continuing that relationship, should the Clear Lake and Mason City development groups combine their efforts.
“We realize that for this area to grow economically, we have to be thinking regionally-- not just Clear Lake and not just Mason City,” said Bernard. “We have to recognize what’s good for Clear Lake in the creation of new jobs is also good for Mason City and vice versa.”
Bernard said the decision to pursue a shared EDC with Mason City has changed the direction the search committee will now take. A new committee will be formed immediately to find a Chamber of Commerce executive director. Bernard added that he is confident the new committee will find the best candidate possible to lead the Chamber forward.
“Clear Lake is a great place to live and raise a family,” he said. “Who wouldn’t want to be the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director in a wonderful community like this?”

    The City of Clear Lake finds itself in good financial health heading into the new year, City Administrator Scott Flory told the City Council Monday night.
    By Dec. 1 of each year, all cities in Iowa are required to submit an annual financial report to the Iowa Department of Management and State Auditor’s Office.  Flory shared highlights of Clear Lake’s financial report for the 2007 fiscal year during Monday’s Council meeting.
    The report states fiscal year 2007 revenues will be $14,791,336 and expenditures $10,795,658.  
    The previous high total for expenditures occurred in fiscal year 2002, when they reached $10,604,432.  Revenues that year were $11,065,787.    
    Flory pointed out the city’s general obligation debt limit is $29,842,847.  As of June 30, 2007, the City has $5.6 million in general obligation (GO) bond indebtedness.
    “It is not uncommon for many cities in Iowa to be above 65 percent in GO debt; Clear Lake is currently at roughly 19 percent,” said Flory.
    He noted the city has several major projects on the horizon which will increase GO debt, such as the addition of a fourth water tower at a cost of $1.9 million.  The Council approved a change order and revised contract with Landmark Inc. at Monday’s meeting.
    The Council also approved an ordinance to implement the recently voter-approved increase in the city’s hotel/motel tax.  The revenues from the 2 percent increase (from 5 to 7 percent) will be distributed to fund the City’s financial commitment to the Lake Dredging & Restoration Project  and other Lake improvement initiatives thereafter (1.5 percent), and the maintenance of permanently located recreational, cultural, or entertainment facilities that are available to the general public within the City of Clear Lake (.5 percent).  The rate increase has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2008.

Reporter’s community Christmas
tree will be ready Monday
The Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter will kick off its 18th Giving Tree program Monday, Nov. 26. That’s the first day ornaments featuring the Christmas wishes of Clear Lake and Ventura youngsters will be hung on the Giving Tree at the Mirror-Reporter office, 12 N. 4th St.
Information has been distributed at Clear Lake and Ventura Schools, as well as the local Head Start program, inviting parents who might need some help providing gifts to their children this holiday season to sign up. Although toys are always welcomed and appreciated, the Giving Tree program focuses on meeting clothing and food needs for children and families.
The program has grown significantly through the years. Last year, more than 200 gifts were collected for children and families in Clear Lake and Ventura.
Parents should sign up their children for the program using the forms sent home with students. Additional forms are available at the schools. Those who do not have a child in the school system or Head Start may pick up a form at the Mirror-Reporter office.
Based upon information by parents, ornaments are created for each child or family in need. All information is kept in strict confidence.
Local residents or groups are invited to stop in the Mirror-Reporter office and select an ornament from the tree. The ornaments identify the gender of the child, along with their clothing size. New clothing or toys may be purchased by those selecting the gift ornaments from the tree.

    Thanks to a gift from the Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund and programming at the new Clear Lake Arts Center, there will be several substantial features added to Clear Lake’s Main Street holiday event, “Christmas by the Lake,” scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1.
    ‘Santa’s Workshop Festival’ will take place indoors at the former Gwen’s Hallmark Gift Shop (The Barnyard) on 415 Main Avenue from 1-3 p.m., where children will be entertained by a wide variety of performers and activities at no cost.  
    “It’s play time for Santa’s elves and they are inviting the area’s kids to join them in fun and merriment,” explains organizer Gregory Schmidt.  This will involve professional festival performers and touring acts with magicians, jugglers, a ventriloquist, a balloon-making clown, King Oberon’s Faerie Court, the Peter Pan Pirates, Father Christmas story-teller, sing-alongs, minstrels, a pinata filled with money and candy, arts and crafts stations, and cookie decorating -- thanks to a generous donation from Cookies, Etc. (parental supervision suggested).
    The traditional Dickens/Victorian character stroll from 2-5 p.m. will see a new gathering of professional costumed actors from the Midwest’s Renaissance festival circuit.

Clear Lake is ready to kick off the holiday season
in a big way following the Thanksgiving holiday.

(Above) Kaylee Hill, a Clear Lake first grader,
can’t wait to visit Santa in his new Clear Lake
City Park home. Santa invites children (and adults)
to share their holiday wishes with him starting
Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1-4 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.
and Sunday, Dec. 2, 1-4 p.m.

(Right) Steve Bieber, from the
city’s Public Works Department,
helps to trim the town by wrapping
greenery and lights on all of the antique
light poles in the downtown district

by Marianne Morf
Perhaps no local group is moving faster into the future than the Clear Lake Historical Society.
The group was founded in 1985 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization by Lawrence Copley, who was to preserve a Milwaukee Railroad Depot. Interest in the Society waned after a fire damaged the depot, but citizens asked the Clear Lake Public Library Board to include a history room as part of its building renovation in 1999-2000. Volunteers began preserving and documenting Clear Lake history, with the archives maintained in the library’s Historical Room.
It’s been full speed ahead since that time.
The Society is now launching its first membership drive and will hold an annual meeting next month to elect officers, add a new board member, and discuss member benefits and goals. New bylaws were adopted in 2007 to reflect the Society’s broader purpose.
“Clear Lake has a very rich history and people here are committed to preserving and sharing that history,” said Sue Bescher, president of the Clear Lake Historical Society. Members and volunteers have been diligently working to digitize archives, conduct research and educate the public about the community’s rich past, she noted.
The group recently developed a new logo for use on printed materials, which are now being distributed. In addition, a new website detailing the mission of the Society, as well as pictures and stories from Clear Lake’s past, will soon be on-line at www.clearlakehistoricalsociety.org.