Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of January 22, 2014
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd day of January, 2014 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jul Feuling, 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 Chairman Alstead at 6:00 p.m.
Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of AAEDC representative under citizen concerns, and added PERA and newsletter under new business. Motion carried unanimously.
Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 01/06/2014 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Hammerschmidt, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 14017 – 14025 in the amount of $4,352.99, net payroll of $720.33, EFTPS $950.37, totaling $6,023.69. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: Jeff Patience, Alexandria Township’s representative to the AAEDC board, was present and reported that he will be moving into the City of Alexandria effective the end of January. His term on the commission expires at the end of 2014. Jeff indicated his desire to finish his term on the board. Jason Murray reported that representatives to the commission normally either live or work in the jurisdiction they represent, but nothing prohibits a member from serving who does not meet this criterion. Dahlheimer, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to appoint Jeff Patience to the AAEDC board as the Alexandria Township representative for the remainder of 2014. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported that he and Chairman Alstead met with representatives of ORB Management to discuss office and meeting space needs for the township in regard to the Old Broadway property. The township has not committed to leasing space if this project goes forward. Alexandria HRA is conducting a feasibility study to determine if this project could go forward and what the future needs of the township might be if the township would be interested.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that Larry Steidl is proposing to plat a 2.5 acre parcel that would abut the turnaround at the end of Airway Lane. Since the abutting property would only have approximately 77 feet of road frontage, a variance application would be required as the turnaround is not a cul-de-sac. The board expressed no concern about a future extension of Airway Lane to connect with another road, thus a variance may be supported.
The board discussed approval of board of adjustment minutes. Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that he had contacted the league of MN Cities in regard to this issue and they indicated that draft minutes would be considered as official and there was no requirement to hold a meeting just to approve minutes. In the future, the draft minutes will be reviewed and if there are no changes, the board will approve at a future meeting. If changes are required, the board would amend at the next meeting.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the township had received complaints regarding blowing cardboard from Jack’s Family Recycling Center and that the Sheriff’s Department had been contacted.
OLD BUSINESS: The board discussed the proposed resolution regarding support of a comprehensive Omnibus transportation finance bill that was forwarded by MAT.
Clerk Raisanen reported that he and Chairman Alstead had met with Attorney Paul Johnson to discuss the Zimmerman property along Neewana Beach Road. Attorney Johnson did not express any concern if the township wanted to secure an enlarged easement area and/or if Mr. Zimmerman wanted to gift the property to the township. Chairman Alstead said that he would support paying $2,500 for the enlarged easement and/or would also support acceptance of the property if Mr. Zimmerman would be willing to gift it to the township. The board was in support of this. Clerk Raisanen will contact Mr. Zimmerman to find out if he is acceptable to this and to work with Attorney Johnson to draft the easement terms and conditions.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported that he had received an engagement letter for the 2013 financial audit from Carlson Highland. Niskanen, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to contract with Carlson Highland for the 2013 financial audit. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to not contract with Douglas County for calcium chloride for 2014. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported that Treasurer Billmark had been contacted by a representative of PERA indicating that she and Clerk Raisanen are required to participate in the PERA retirement plan since their offices are appointed instead of elected. PERA will be sending the township a bill for contributions back to 2010 and both will have to make back contributions to the plan.
The board discussed a future newsletter including the following items: snowplowing policy, animal control, and winter parking ban.
Being no further business, Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2014
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Bryon Alstead, Chairman