Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of 4-6-2009

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 6th day of April 2009.

ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jim Casper, 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 Clerk Raisanen at 6:00 PM.

Clerk Raisanen called for nominations for board chair. Bryon Alstead nominated Roger Thalman to be the chairman. Nominations ceased and a unanimous vote was cast for Roger Thalman as chairman. Motion carried unanimously.

The meeting was turned over to Chairman Thalman.

Bryon Alstead nominated Louis Ross to be Vice-Chairman. Nominations ceased and a unanimous vote was cast for Louis Ross as Vice-Chairman.

Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of Deerwood Drive and South LeHomme Dieu Drive under Engineer’s Report. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2009 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor Dahlheimer joined the meeting.

Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 9082-9102 in the amount of $32,728.69 and payroll in the amount of $4,382.14 for a total of $37,110.83. Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: None

PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Oleson presented a request by Wayne Virkus to vacate the public right-of-way of the old county road 81. Mr. Virkus owns two adjoining parcels to the west and is purchasing a third parcel (to the east of the proposed vacation) from Riley Brothers. If Mr. Virkus is successful in the vacation of the right-of-way, his two parcels would then be joined to the Riley Brothers parcel. Mr. Virkus hopes to secure a building permit for a garage, which would be placed on that vacated area. Oleson stated that Mr. Virkus has applied for a preliminary plat, which will be heard by the planning commission this month. Since the vacation will entail Mr. Virkus going through District Court, Oleson wanted to present this to the town board to see what objections, if any, the town would have since the town will be contacted once the court process has begun. At this time, the board had no objections to the proposed vacation.

In the next item of business, Oleson stated that Dennis Conn has requested an extension on his land use permits for storage buildings. Ordinarily land use permits are valid for one year; however, Mr. Conn felt that he would endure a hardship building those storage units at this time due to the economic downturn. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to approve a one-year extension to expire the end of 2009. Motion carried unanimously. They also expressed that they would be unlikely to extend the permits again. The town board directed Zoning Administrator Oleson to relay this information to Mr. Conn.

ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn stated that the county was applying for disaster relief and that they had requested the township provide a flood damage estimate. Engineer Kuhn estimated the damage at around $40,000. This would cover the wash-outs on 50^th Avenue, Homestead Road and E. Lake Victoria, valued at $10,000/each.

The board directed Engineer Kuhn to obtain gravel quotes for their consideration at the next meeting.

The board discussed the drainage in the road right of way along Deerwood Drive. The board authorized Alden Just Road Maintenance to clean out the ditch in the vicinity of 1410 Deerwood Drive.

The board discussed a drainage issue along S. LeHommeDieu Drive. It is a private issue between two property owners.

OLD BUSINESS: None

Supervisor Ross joined the meeting.

NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen stated that the town had received two quotes for summer road maintenance, from Alden Just Road Maintenance and Runge Grading. The contract will run from April 7, 2009 – September 30, 2009. The quotes for Alden Just Road Maintenance are as follows: grading of roads with a motor grader $68/hr.; mowing of road ditches $55/hr.; spraying weeds $56/hr.; sweeping roads $55/hr.; sign installation $32/man hour; base fuel price is $2.03⁹/gal. for dyed fuel, $2.29⁹/gal. for highway fuel. Runge Grading’s quote was as follows: grading of roads with a motor grader $65/hr.; mowing of road ditches $50/hr.; spraying weeds $75/hr.; sweeping roads $65/hr.; sign installation $25/man hour. Clerk Raisanen reported that Mr. Runge’s proposal did not include all of the items requested in the request for proposals. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to contract with Alden Just Road Maintenance for summer road maintenance for the period April 7, 2009- September 30, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.

Clerk Raisanen made the recommendation that the township hire Busy Bee Lawn Care for mowing of Woodland Park since they have done good work for the past few years. Ross, seconded by Dahlheimer, to contract with Busy Bee Lawn Care for park mowing in 2009. Motion carried unanimously.

The following Board appointments were made: LAR – Alstead with Dahlheimer as an alternate; AAEDC – Dahlheimer; Roads – Dahlheimer with Alstead as a back-up; Lakes Regional Planning Agency – Casper; Park Inspection – Alstead; Water Planning Task Force – Casper; Transportation Committee – Casper, Dahlheimer, Russ Niskanen and Larry Steidl from the Planning Commission; Parks/Recreation Committee – Clerk Raisanen, Alstead, Julie Feuling and Lyle Hammerschmidt from the Planning Commission.

Clerk Raisanen reported that he is appointing Bonnie Fulghum as Deputy Clerk.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to maintain the per diem rate at $80/meeting and an additional $20/meeting for the chairman where minutes are recorded. Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Casper, made a motion to maintain the inspection rate at $40. Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to maintain the incidental labor rate at $15/hr. Motion carried unanimously.

Chairman Thalman stated that in lieu of a salary increase for the Administrative Assistant, the board consider the establishment of an HRA account and three additional paid holidays. Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to pay the Administrative Assistant $15.25/hr., authorize the establishment of an HRA account and contribute $60/month and add President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day as paid holidays. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to maintain the current salary of the Treasurer at $630/month. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to maintain the current salary of the Clerk at $630/month. Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to set the mileage rate at the federal reimbursement rate. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to designate the Echo Press as the official newspaper for notices. Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to designate Bremer Bank as the official depositor of funds for the township. Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Ross, made a motion to designate Julie Haseman as the township attorney and Michelle Clark as the attorney for prosecution as well as ordinance enforcement for planning and zoning ordinances. Motion carried unanimously.

Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to appoint all supervisors as weed inspectors, and to appoint Joel Dahlheimer as chief weed inspector. Motion carried unanimously.

Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to recognize the issuance of a charitable gambling permit to United Way for a one-time activity at Geneva Golf Club.

Being no further business Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted…… Approved this ____ day of ________, 2009

_______________________ ______________________

Gregg Raisanen, Clerk Roger Thalman, Chairman