ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of November 28, 2011

A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 28th day of November, 2011 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.

Roll Call: Commission members present were Julie Haar, Russ Niskanen, Larry Steidl and Lyle Hammerschmidt. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Niskanen at 6:00 p.m.

Agenda: Steidl, seconded by Haar, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Minutes: Hammerschmidt, seconded by Haar, made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 24, 2011 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Zoning Administrator’s Report: Update provided.

New Business: The commission reviewed the meeting dates for 2012 and opted to move the December meeting to the third week due to Christmas falling on the normally scheduled fourth Monday of the month.

Old Business: Zoning Administrator Oleson presented drafts of the end-of-year ordinance amendments. Oleson stated that the county has expressed an interest in collaborating with the township on updating the sign ordinance. The county will also be pursuing updates to the variance language as well. The commission chose to delay discussion on the sign and variance portions of the zoning ordinance until further information is obtained from the county.

The commission chose to change the definition of a “fish house/dark house” as follows: “A shelter/structure that is designed for angling or spearing on the ice on any water that is no larger than 240 square feet or 10 feet in height. Such structures, if not licensed by the State of MN or other local government, if in excess of the size and height limitations, or if affixed to any kind of foundation in a permanent or semi-permanent manner (not easily moved for use) shall be considered an accessory structure for the purposes of this ordinance.”

Under regulation of bees, chickens, peacocks and other small animals raised as pets or for personal consumption, the commission instructed Oleson to have language that includes a) containment, b) lot size, c) noise, d) public safety, e) waste, f) number of animals allowed, g) defined as outdoors/household, and h) attached garage/detached garage. They also wanted to include in the listing turkeys, pigs, goats, sheep and possibly deer. It was determined that since state law regulated all exotic species and the town’s small animal ordinance regulates the number and types of domestic animals, these did not need to be included in this section.

The commission had concluded the training series for “Enforcement” and began the first half of the series “Septic Systems”, which covered the topics of state requirements and the necessity for updating sewer systems (public health and environment).

Adjournment: Being no further business Haar, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted…

___________________________________

Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk

Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2011

___________________________________

Russell Niskanen, Vice-Chairman