Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of 3-12-2013
The annual meeting of Alexandria Township was held on the 12th Day of March 2013 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hwy. 29 North, Alexandria, MN.
Clerk Raisanen opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:05 PM.
Russ Niskanen nominated Rod Eldevik as moderator for the meeting. Nominations ceased. A unanimous ballot was placed for Rod Eldevik as moderator.
The meeting was turned over to Rod Eldevik at 8:05 PM.
Bryon Alstead, seconded by Lyle Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
APPROVE MINUTES: Bryon Alstead, seconded by Russ Niskanen, made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2012 annual meeting as written. Motion carried.
CLERK’S REPORT: Clerk Raisanen reported that the Township was in a sound financial condition at the end of the year. The audited financial statement shows that the township’s total assets at the end of 2012 were $877,626. The ending fund balance for the year was $811,301 compared to a beginning fund balance of $677,780, an increase of $133,521. Total Revenue for the year was $934,891 compared to $984,983 in 2011, a decrease of $50,000. Total expenditures for the year were $801,370 compared to $1,216,252, a decrease of $415,000. Most of the decrease in spending was in the blacktop and ALASD fund due to the loss of market value as a result of annexation.
Major road improvement projects planned for 2013 include the repaving of E. Lake Geneva Rd and S. E. Lake Victoria Rd.
Clerk Raisanen reported that development activity continues to be slow with few new plats approved within the township. One major agenda item for the planning commission is the completion of a new comprehensive land use plan.
Clerk Raisanen presented a proposed 2014 budget in the amount of $724,576 compared to the approved budget for 2013 of $765,500, which is a decrease of 5.3 %. The proposed levy is $523,603 compared to last year’s amount of $620,292, which is a 15.6% decrease.
Lyle Hammerschimdt questioned, with respect to the proposed levy, if township taxes should decrease since they increased in 2013. Clerk Raisanen explained that with this proposed levy, the township share of taxes will decrease in 2014.
Larry Steidl, seconded by Joel Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the Clerk’s Report as presented. Motion carried.
Jeff Patience, Alexandria Township’s representative on the AAEDC provided a brief report highlighting the activities of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission. He highlighted projects that the AAEDC helped finance during the previous year. In addition, he also discussed some of the other activities that staff has been involved in. The proposed budget is $305,028, which is a slight increase from the previous year.
Bryan Alstead, seconded by Russ Niskanen, made a motion to approve the total levy in one vote. Motion carried.
Clerk Raisanen presented a proposed levy for the following amounts: General Revenue- $137,596, Road & Bridge- $139,927, Blacktop- $40,000, ALASD- $86,689, Snow & Weed- $39,215, Parks & Recreation- $20,000, Fire Protection- $60,176, Total recommended levy amount for 2013 is $523,603. Joel Dahlheimer, seconded by Larry Steidl, made a motion to approve the 2013 Levy, payable in 2014, in the total amount of $523,603. Motion carried.
2014 MEETING DATE: Bryon Alstead, seconded by Russ Niskanen, made a motion to set the 2014 annual township meeting on March 11, 2014 at 8:00 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Motion carried.
Moderator Eldevik opened the floor for any items. Russ Niskanen inquired into the current population of the township. Clerk Raisanen reported that the current estimate is approximately 2,800 residents and that the number of registered voters as of today was slightly less than 1800.
Clerk Raisanen reported that Joel Dahlheimer and Lyle Hammerschmidt had received the most votes for the position of Supervisor.
Being no further business, Russ Niskanen, seconded by Lyle Hammerschmidt, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted…..
Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this _____ day of _________, 2013
Rod Eldevik- Moderator