April 7, 2014 Meeting Minutes

Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of April 7, 2014

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 7th day of April, 2014 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.

 

ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Lyle Hammerschmidt, Joel Dahlheimer and Russell Niskanen. 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 p.m.

 

Clerk Raisanen called for nominations for chairman. Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to nominate Bryon Alstead as chairman. Nominations ceased and a unanimous ballot was cast for Alstead as chairman. The meeting was turned over to Chairman Alstead.

 

Chairman Alstead called for nominations for vice-chair. Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to nominate Joel Dahlheimer as vice-chair. Nominations ceased and a unanimous ballot was cast for Dahlheimer as vice-chair.

 

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

 

Hammerschmidt, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 03/17/2014 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Dahlheimer, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 14066 – 14084 in the amount of $19,140.37, net payroll of $4,828.70, totaling $23,969.07. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT: Neewana Beach drainage easement. Clerk Raisanen reported Widseth Smith Nolting has drafted an agreement to secure a drainage easement for the Matt Zimmerman property located on Neewana Beach Road. The agreement would stipulate the entire lot be considered a drainage easement with the exception of an area in the northwest corner (the North 55 feet of the West 45 feet). He also noted ALASD has a 10 foot utility easement at the rear of the property.   Consensus to: 1) instruct the township attorney to formalize the agreement with the stated terms, and 2) consider offering payment for the drainage easement in the amount of $2,500.

 

Gravel quotes. Engineer Kuhn reported we had received three written quotes for gravel. Central Specialties $58,680; Alden Just Road Maintenance $$67,700 and Mark Lee $75,400. Engineer Kuhn stated the quotes included the Base One application. Alstead, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to award the gravel contract to Central Specialties in the amount of $58,680. Motion carried unanimously. Engineer Kuhn to notify Central Specialties.

 

Supervisor Hammerschmidt requested that manholes on West Lake Jessie Drive be addressed at the annual road inspection. Road inspection was finalized for Saturday, April 26, 2014, 8:30 a.m., commencing from Alden Just Road Maintenance on Geneva Road.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanan reported we received one RFP for summer road maintenance from Alden Just Road Maintenance. The proposal includes all the requested information. The breakout of fees for services is as follows: blading and maintaining of township roads – $83/hr.; mowing weeds and ditches – $62/hr.; spraying of weeds – $62/hr; sweeping streets/roads – $62/hr; sign installation/tree removal/other maintenance – $34/hr/worker. Base fuel rates are as follows: $3.699/gal for dyed fuel and $3.899/gal for highway fuel with a $1/hr. fuel adjustment for $0.12/gal increase in fuel prices. Clerk Raisanen noted we had also received a list of services and fee schedule from another company; however, it did not include all of the information in the RFP. Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to award the 2014 summer road maintenance contract to Alden Just Road Maintenance at the fee schedule provided above for the period of April 8, 2014 – September 30, 2014. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Planning commission term expirations. Dahlheimer, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to re-appoint Linda Dokken-McFann to a 3-year term expiring March 2017. Motion carried unanimously. Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to appoint Shad Steinbrecher to the planning commission seat vacated by Julie Haar, the 3-year term expiring March 2017. Motion carried unanimously. Administrative Assistant Fulghum to notify Mr. Steinbrecher.

 

REORGANIZATION MEETING:

 

  1. The following Board appointments were made for 2014:

 

  • LAR – Chairman Alstead
  • AAEDC – Vice-chair Dahlheimer
  • Planning & Zoning Subcommittee – Supervisors Feuling and Niskanen, with Chairman Alstead as alternate – these individuals will also serve on the ad hoc joint board with the city re final review of the annexation agreement
  • Roads – Vice-chair Dahlheimer and Supervisor Niskanen

 

The Transportation and Parks/ Recreation committees will be suspended until further notice.

 

  1. Per diem rate – Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to have the per diem rate remain at $80/meeting with an extra $20/meeting chairing a meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Inspection rate – Dahlheimer, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to have the inspection rate remain at $40/inspection. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Incidental labor rate – Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to have the incidental labor rate remain at $15/hr. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Administrative Assistant salary – Dahlheimer, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to raise the administrative assistant’s salary from $17.50/hr to $18.50/hr. The increase was due in part to the discontinuation of the health reimbursement account. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Treasurer’s salary – Niskanen, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to set the treasurer’s salary at $700/month. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Clerk’s salary – Dahlehimer, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to set the clerk’s salary at $700/month. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Clerk’s internet – Dahlheimer, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to reimburse the clerk $30/month for internet use. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Mileage rate – Hammerschmidt, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the IRS millage reimbursement rate. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Official newspaper – Niskanen, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to designate the Echo Press as the township’s official site for legal notifications. It was noted that the township also uses the website as an official posting site. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Township bank – Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to designate Bremer Bank as our depositor of funds. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Attorney – Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to designate the Pemberton Law Firm as legal counsel, with Paul Johnson serving as the township attorney. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Weed inspector – Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to designate all town supervisors as weed inspectors with Vice-chair Dahlheimer as chief weed inspector. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Deputy clerk – Clerk Raisanen appointed Bonnie Fulghum as deputy clerk.

 

  1. Group life insurance – Dahlheimer, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to retain coverage at the silver level. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Being no further business, Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted….

 

______________________________________

Gregg Raisanen, Clerk

 

Approved this ____ day of ________, 2014

 

 

_______________________________________

Bryon Alstead, Chairman