PUBLIC HEARING PROCEEDINGS

Village of Clearwater

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

June 13, 2022

A quorum of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater attended a public hearing regarding applying for a Downtown Revitalization planning grant Monday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Hearing opened at 7:30 p.m. Notice of Public Hearing was posted in three places around town and notice was given to board members prior to hearing. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster.

Present: Kevin Filsinger, Steve Hankla, Kelly Kerkman, Steve Stearns, Cody Kester. Others present: Kate Ahlers, LuAnn Schindler, Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, Jeff Schlecht, Riah Deane, Dick Kester, Bill Thiele, Angie Hupp.

The Village of Clearwater is interested in applying for $53,000 in grant funds from NENEDD, with a $5,000 village match, to hire a planning firm to assess the needs of the village for a Downtown Revitalization Grant.

Riah Deane, community planner for Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District, discussed this planning phase and what options are available if the village chose to move forward and apply for downtown revitalization grant funds. The planning firm would designate the business area in town and only businesses in the designated area would be eligible to apply for funds. Some improvement options that fall under the DTR grant include façade, demolition, signage, lighting, ADA compliance, energy efficiency. All businesses who applied for grant funds through DTR would be required to invest a certain percentage of their own funds to the project. ED Director Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen mentioned that two contributing factors to receiving DTR funds are low to moderate income and blight percentages. Clearwater qualifies under both factors. Public questions and comments were heard throughout the hearing.

Motion by Kerkman, seconded by Kester, to close the hearing. Voting aye: Kester, Kerkman, Stearns, Hankla, Filsinger. Nay: none. Hearing adjourned at 8 p.m.

Angie Hupp,

Village Clerk

Published June 23, 2022

ZNEZ