Kerkman elected to head Clearwater Trustees

Clearwater Village Board of Trustees will have a new look, following Monday's reorganization meeting held in the fire hall meeting room.

Longtime trustees Steve Hankla and Kevin Filsinger made their final motions prior to the board concluding business sine die.

They, along with Steve Stearns, who stepped away from the board earlier this year, were recognized for their years of service.

Hankla, who served as chairman, said he had served "the past 10 or 11 years."

Filsinger filled the position six years ago.

Stearns spent 14 years on the board.

Newly-elected officials Marsha Hart, Brian King and Jeff Schlecht took the oath of office.

Kelly Kerkman was elected to serve as chairman and Cody Kester, vice chairman.

Each trustee will oversee a committee and were elected by the board, including Kester, parks and recreation; Schlecht, streets; King, water and sewer and Hart, landfill and recycling.

Trustees approved Reed Miller as street superintendent and Miller & Associates as village engineers.

In other business, trustees:

• Tabled discussion of annexation of a portion of the rodeo grounds owned by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce;

• Learned trusses have been delivered for the duplex project;

• Heard water samples were mailed to the lab on Dec. 12. Results should be back by the end of the week. Until then, the school well is offline.

• Scheduled board training in March. Clerk Angie Hupp will arrange dates.