Clear Lake council tonight to discuss battle against Eurasian watermilfoil, but no decision on new city administrator

CLEAR LAKE — Clear Lake’s City Council meets tonight, but one thing not on their agenda is a decision on the city’s new city administrator. The three finalists for the position — acting city administrator Jacob Widman, Charles City’s city administrator Steven Diers, and Hampton’s city manager Ron Dunt — all took part in interviews during a closed session of the council on Saturday. Tonight’s agenda does not list an item pertaining to a decision on the next city administrator. 

== The council tonight will consider signing a letter of support for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to conduct an herbicide treatment on the lake in an attempt to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil. It’s a non-native submersed, rooted aquatic plant that is native to Europe and Asia that impacts an aquatic ecosystem by reducing the sunlight availability, which reduces native aquatic plant germination and diversity.

Eurasian watermilfoil was first identified in Clear Lake in the late fall of 2023, and aquatic vegetation surveys of the lake were conducted last year. Two large spot treatments were also completed last year to reduce the plant’s abundance. The initial treatment cost is estimated to be about $280,000, which will be covered by the DNR. Additional treatments may be needed after the initial treatment during the 90-to-120 days required concentration period.

Acting city administrator Jacob Widman says a conservative estimate for those additional treatments is $170,000, which would be covered through contributions by the cities of Clear Lake and Ventura, Cerro Gordo County, and donations made to the project through the Association for the Preservation of Clear Lake. The council is being asked to approve a letter of financial commitment of up to $85,000 for the additional treatment for the project. 

The council meets at 5:30 this evening at Clear Lake City Hall