Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of October 1, 2012
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 1st day of October, 2012 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jul Feuling, Joel Dahlheimer and Russell Niskanen. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. Justin Burslie of Community Growth Institute was present, acting as the township zoning authority for the public hearing. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Alstead at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Alstead recessed the board meeting at 6:02 PM and opened the public hearing on the proposed ordinance regulating the use of golf carts on township roads.
Roger Anhorn of 1631 Donway Ct NE stated he would like to see an amendment to the proposed ordinance allowing golf carts to be operational after dark. It is allowed in state statute as long as the golf carts are equipped with headlights, brake lights and taillights. Ray Norsted, 1600 Donway Ct NE, stated that lights on the golf carts are a major factor and some golf carts would need to be retrofitted. Seeing no further comment, Chairman Alstead closed the public comment portion of the hearing and reconvened the town meeting at 6:10 PM.
Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of the Geneva Country Estates preliminary plat under Planning and Zoning. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Alstead proposed moving the golf cart ordinance from New Business to allow for discussion.
Supervisor Niskanen stated he supports the proposed amendment allowing for operation after dark. Clerk Raisanen said the law may not allow for carts to be retrofitted “after the fact” due to the verbage “original equipment”, as depicted in MN Stat. 169.045, Subd. 3 “Times of operation” which reads in part, “Motorized golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, and utility task vehicles may only be operated on designated roadways from sunrise to sunset, unless equipped with original equipment headlights, taillights, and rear-facing brake lights.” The clerk also said that a determination of “original equipment” needs to be ascertained as it may not denote “after market”. Motion by Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, to obtain a legal definition of original equipment as noted in the above-referenced statute from the township attorney. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen stated formal action won’t be taken for a number of months while the board gathers information on fees, materials cost, etc.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 09/17/2012 regular board meeting with a correction to the last sentence under Jack’s Family Recycling Center to read: “A board member will make a site visit to the property”. Motion carried. Dahlheimer abstained.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 12216-12223 in the amount of $64,965.58, net payroll of $3,572.07 totaling $68,537.65 and a transfer from savings of $63,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Burslie presented the preliminary plat of Geneva Country Estates. He stated that the applicant, Ben Zacher, is proposing to split a 75 acre tract of land into four lots. The property is primarily zoned Urban Residential, with a portion on the western side zoned Residential Shoreland. Lot 1 would consist of 15.99 acres; Lot 2 24.14 acres; Lot 3 19.20 acres and Lot 4 15.70 acres. Lots 1 and 2 would have access to E. Lake Geneva Road and can therefore be serviced by public sanitary sewer (ALASD). Lots 3 and 4 would have access to County Road 73. The applicant has applied for a variance exempting these two lots from connecting to the public sewer system due to distance and lack of access to public sewer. The variance request will be heard by the Board of Adjustment.
Burslie said the township had received a letter from ALASD outlining the policy that there are vacant platted lots in the township that are connected to public sanitary sewer. The letter did not express approval or disapproval of the plat.
Motion by Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, to approve the preliminary plat of Geneva Country Estates as presented with the three conditions as outlined in the staff report and adding a fourth condition to read: “All four properties shall be accessed off County Road 73.”
Roll: Niskanen, Feuling, Dahlheimer, Alstead – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: none
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen stated that he had advertised for RFPs for winter road maintenance services from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013. The town received one quote, from Alden Just Road Maintenance. All requirements listed in the RFP were met. Rates quoted are as follows: grading roads with motor grader @ $80/hr; plowing of snow with motor grader and truck @ $82/hr.; sanding of roads (cost of salt/sand not included) @ $75/hr.; and sign installation along with other maintenance @ $34/hr/worker. Fuel surcharge is $3.899/gal. for dyed fuel and $4.109/gal. for highway fuel with a $1/hour fuel adjustment for every $0.12 increase in fuel prices. Motion by Niskanen, seconded by Dahlheimer, to contract with Alden Just Road Maintenance for 2012 winter road maintenance services at the quoted rates. Motion carried unanimously.
Election Judge appointment: Clerk Raisanen recommended appointing Darlene O’Brien, Paul Stennes, Verla Schwendemann, Melony Bosen, Mona Billmark, Brian Wagner, Marie Mertin, Margaret Movald, Anne Riggs, Barb Sather, and Cindy Lund as election judges, with Darlene O’Brien as head judge. Motion by Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, to appoint the election judges as recommended. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2012
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Bryon Alstead, Chairman