Clearwater trustees approve hiring new village street superintendent

The Village of Clearwater will have a new street superintendent in 2024.

During the trustees’ Dec. 13 meeting, the board unanimously approved hiring Advanced Consulting Engineering Services and John Zwingman as the village’s engineering company and street superintendent for 2024.

Reed Miller, from Miller & Associates has filled the position in past years.

According to Kelly Kerkman, village chairman, Zwingman will attend a meeting each quarter.

“This guy comes highly recommended,” he said.

Board member Jeff Schlecht questioned the status of current projects with Miller & Associates.

Village clerk Angie Hupp said those projects would continue under contract for ARPA funds, the duplex grant and the lagoon grant.

Trustees also approved a $30,000 economic development loan, with conditions, to Two Bills Steakhouse, based on a recommendation from the LB840 Committee.

Village attorney Kyle Peterson reviewed conditions, which include, but are not limited to, maintaining four to five full-time equivalent employees, a trustee deed waiver, a guarantee from all owners of Summerland Investments, a blanket security agreement, and repayment of a current LB 840 loan on the property.

In other business, trustees:

• Learned Peterson has been researching a possible audit on the lagoon project. He told trustees he would provide his legal opinion in executive session.

• Approved appointing Nick Hoffman to the Citizens Advisory Review Committee.

• Gave the okay for a new library savings account, to be used for building fund donations.

• Discussed the appointment of a Clearwater community member to the CORE board.

• Reappointed Kerkman as chairperson and Cody Kester as vice-chairperson for 2024.