Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of 10-02-2006

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 2^nd Day of October 2006 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.

ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Louis Ross, Bryon Alstead, Jim Casper, Joel Dahlheimer, and Roger Thalman. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Thalman at 7:30 PM.

Bids were opened for road maintenance services that were advertised. Clerk Raisanen reported that he had received one bid. Alden Just Road Maintenance submitted the following bid amounts: Removal of snow with a motor grader $70.00/hr., Removal of snow with a truck $70.00/hr., Grading of roads $60.00/hr., Sign installation and other maintenance $30.00/hr., Mowing of road ditches $50.00/hr., Spraying of weeds and road de-icing $56.00/hr., and sweeping of roads $52.00/hr. In addition, a fuel surcharge increase was included based on a price of $2.09⁹ for off-road fuel and $2.53⁹ for highway fuel. Hourly rates would increase by $1.00/hr. for every 12 cents increments above the base price.

Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented with the addition of discussion of the CR 42 project under new business. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2006 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 6289-6310 in the amount of $25,162.70, net payroll in the amount of $2,168.76 for a total of $27,331.46 and to authorize the transfer of $5,000.00 from the savings into the checking account. Motion carried unanimously. Clerk Raisanen reported that the township has received notification from the Lakes Area Humane Society that they have received a grant enabling residents to spay their female dogs and cats for free and requested that the township notify the residents of this service. It will be placed in the next newsletter.

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: The board discussed the possibility of transferring the park located along Green Lane from private ownership to public ownership. This would require all landowners to sign over the park. Supervisor Casper indicated that he would not be in favor of assuming this park until the township developed a park plan for future parks. Casper, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to table discussion of this issue until later in the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

The board discussed an unfinished property located along Shadow Lane. The city would have jurisdiction over this project since they would have required a building permit.

ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn reported that the turnaround at the end of Airway Lane was never recorded on the final plat of this development. The board directed Clerk Raisanen and Engineer Kuhn to research why it was not recorded and report back to the Board.

Engineer Kuhn reported that he had received a call from a concerned resident that vehicles were traveling past the end of Deer Lane unto private property. Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to install end of road signs at the end of Deer Lane. Motion carried unanimously.

Engineer Kuhn reported that a resident in the Moorstone area has requested watch for children signs and speed limit signs. He indicated that the watch for children signs were never replaced after the road was rebuilt. The board was in consensus to reinstall these signs.

NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported that Supervisor Alstead and himself had attended a meeting on September 26 at City Hall to discuss future plans for LAR. He presented an opinion from Attorney Haseman indicated that the township would be unable to contribute more than $10,000.00 annually to a nonprofit organization for recreation if the township was not part of the organization. If the City of Alexandria parks department were combined with LAR, it would not allow townships to contribute money for recreation. Al Lieffort, Douglas County Parks Department was present and reported that the county has collected approximately $31,000.00 within Alexandria Township that can be used for buying of new land for future parks or to expand the existing trail networks. The supervisors have the authority to authorize what the money could be used for to fund projects within Alexandria Township. Mr. Leiffort reported that the county is interested in parks in the size of 50-200 acres, with a focus on outdoor recreation and parks of historical significance. He also reported that he has received a request from residents in the East Lake Geneva area to expand the bike trail from this area to the central lakes trail and the county is looking into the feasibility of extending the bike trail from LeHommeDieu beach to the north along Hwy. 29. Ross, seconded by Casper, made a motion to form a subcommittee of residents and supervisors to develop a park and recreation plan for the township and to provide recommendations of the names of individuals to serve for the next meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Al Lieffort and Jim Oldenkamp offered to serve on this subcommittee.

The board discussed the bid received for road maintenance services. Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to accept the bid received for road maintenance services and to contract with Alden Just road maintenance for the period of October 3, 2006-September 30, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.

There were no items before Douglas County Planning and Zoning.

Clerk Raisanen presented the names of election judges who have been trained for the board’s consideration of the upcoming general election. Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to appoint the following individuals as election judges for the upcoming election: Margaret Movald, Darlene O’Brien, Verla Schwendemann, Marie Mertin, David Falconer, Larry Jepsen, Patricia Puyear, Martin Andrande, Donna Kolstead, Beth Jensen, Mona Billmark, Cecilia Casper, Gregg Raisanen, and to appoint Darlene O’Brien as head election judge. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to reimburse all officers for mileage and expenses to attend the MAT annual conference in Duluth. Motion carried unanimously.

Clerk Raisanen reported that CGI will print three hard copies and twenty CDs of the comprehensive land use plan as part of their contract. The board directed Clerk Raisanen to have them print 5 hard copies of the plan.

Supervisor Casper proposed that Alexandria Township make a recommendation of support for the proposed CR 42 project. He reported that he feels the upgrade of the road is beneficial to the township since it is a major road through the township. Supervisor Alstead also expressed support for the project. The board directed Clerk Raisanen to invite County Engineer Robley to the next meeting to discuss this project.

Being no further business Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted.....

Gregg Raisanen, Clerk

Approved this _____ day of _________, 2006

Roger Thalman, Chairman