Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of 9-05-2007

 

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 5th Day of September 2007 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.

 

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

 

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 20, 2007 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Dahlheimer seconded by Alstead, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 7269-7291 in the amount of $24,237.07 and net payroll in the amount of $3,980.53 for a total of $18,212.80 and to authorize the transfer of $17,500 from the savings into checking. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN CONCERNS:  Clerk Raisanen reported that a resident called the office to report that the Alex Golf Club was utilizing the leaf blower after 10:00PM.  Clerk Raisanen reported the violation to Attorney Michelle Clark to have her begin prosecution.  The Golf Club responded with an email indicating that they had purchased a quieter leaf blower and will operate within the hours specified within the noise ordinance.

 

PLANNNING AND ZONING:  Zoning Administrator Oleson presented a Conditional Use Permit for Greg Kraning located at 4018 E. Burgen Rd. within the plat of Spectacular Sunset.  The CUP is to allow approximately 160 yd3 of excavation and to construct a 4 ft. retaining wall.  The Planning Commission recommends approval of the application with five conditions.  Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to approve the CUP application for Greg Kraning with the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission.  Motion for:  Alstead, Ross, Dahlheimer, Thalman.  Motion Against: None.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Zoning Administrator Oleson presented an application for a preliminary plat for a 3-lot plat called Piepho Pines, located at 1040 Genes Rd.  The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval with five conditions.  Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to approve the preliminary Plat of Piepho Pines with the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission.  Motion for:  Alstead, Ross, Dahlheimer, Thalman.  Motion Against: None.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Chairman Thalman reported that Zoning Administrator Oleson had noted that a small part of the Northwest Corner of the Township located within Section 6 was not part of the original orderly annexation agreement.  He had mentioned this to the Joint Planning Board and since there are no township roads located within this area, it will remain, as part of the township after the other area will be annexed.

 

Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that he had met with Richard Zunker who indicated that he would not be willing to sign any agreement, which would require him to remove junk from an adjacent parcel(03-1896-000) within a certain time frame.  Mr. Zunker had shown Zoning Administrator Oleson where he had removed junk from this parcel since the last meeting.  Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to send a certified letter to Richard Zunker requiring him to remove the junk from parcel number 03-1896-000 with 90 days.  Supervisor Ross indicated that he was not interested in this requirement since it did not address the main junkyard and was in favor of requiring cleanup of the whole area within a reasonable time frame.  Motion for:  Alstead, Dahlheimer. Motion against:  Ross, Thalman. Motion failed.

 

Ross, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize Clerk Raisanen to contact Attorney Julie Haseman or a representative to advise the board regarding the Zunker Junkyard.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that a builder/developer, representing the bank of Gavin’s Point Subdivision, has contacted him to meet to address the violations at the development so that the property can be sold.

 

ENGINEER’ REPORT:  Engineer Kuhn reported that he had met with both landowners adjacent to the E. Lake Burgen drainage Easement and the riprap project can be completed next week.  Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to accept the riprap quote submitted by Zacker Excavation in the amount of $7,600.00 for the E. Lake Burgen drainage project.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Engineer Kuhn provided the Board an estimate for a bike trail connecting Golf Course Drive with the bike trail along Liberty Rd.  He reported that the recommended build would be widening the shoulders along Liberty Road to provide a bike surface along both sides of the road.  Estimated cost would be $170,000.00 with an approximate $60,000.00 savings if the fill that was previously offered to the board by Al Beisner were placed along the road surface.  Installation in the road ditch would not be feasible since the road right of way would not be wide enough.  Engineer Kuhn had a conversation with Douglas County about the feasibility of an expanded trail along CR 85 and connecting to Liberty Road.  They expressed some interest and there might be federal and state grant funding available for the expanded project.  The board was in consensus to pursue the expanded option to have the park and recreation subcommittee look at the big picture of bike trails.

 

Engineer Kuhn reported that the Queen’s Road sewer project is progressing slowly and that the main line has been installed down the road.  He indicated that Central Specialties is ready to blacktop the road as soon as the sewer contract is completed; however they may have to blacktop the rest of the project located within the plat of Golden Gate if Queen’s road is not completely ready soon.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  The board directed Clerk Raisanen to prepare a resolution and the final ordinance adopting enforcement of the state building code for the board consideration at the next meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  The Board discussed the jail location that is being debated by the Douglas County Commissioners.  Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to direct Clerk Raisanen to prepare a resolution of support for a new jail site located outside the current jail location to allow for future expansion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Dan Olson, Douglas County Commissioner, had contacted the township to determine if the township would be willing to help support the dredging of the LeHommeDieu/Carlos channel.  The board discussed the need to possibly dredge other channel within the township.  The board was in consensus to consider supporting dredging of channels located within Alexandria Township. 

 

Being no further business, Ross, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Meeting adjourned at 9:15PM.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted.....                                         Approved this _____ day of________, 2007

           

_______________________________                      ______________________________          

    Gregg Raisanen, Clerk                                             Roger Thalman, Chairman