Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of March 5, 2012
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 5th day of March, 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. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Alstead at 6:00 p.m.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of salt/sand mixture under Engineer’s Report and attorney correspondence under Old Business. Motion carried unanimously.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 02/22/2012 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 12050 – 12057 in the amount of $14,823.38, net payroll of $3,668.78, totaling $18,492.16 and a transfer of funds from savings in the amount of $14,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Dahlheimer joined the meeting.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: none
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Supervisor Niskanen asked if a 50/50 blend of salt/sand would help prevent accidents and compaction of snow on the road surface. Engineer Kuhn explained that our current salt/sand mixture is a 40/60 blend. He also stated that temperature affects the end result of the mixture on the road surface. Engineer Kuhn will contact the county engineer about the feasibility and estimated cost of the 50/50 blend.
Supervisor Niskanen stated that at one time the township and the county had discussed the possibility of road swapping. Engineer Kuhn will discuss with the Douglas County.
Engineer Kuhn stated that the township had turned in our request for striping to the county. The only project on the docket was the south end of W. Lake Jessie Drive. Consensus to add Maple Drive to the striping list.
OLD BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen stated that the township attorney will draft a letter to the homeowner charged with operating a dog grooming business without a permit. He is also researching the Geneva Estates drainage issue and will provide his opinion.
Chairman Alstead recessed the meeting to open the Board of Audit meeting at 6:27 PM.
Clerk Raisanen provided copies of the depreciation schedule of previous road projects.
Clerk Raisanen presented Schedule 1 cash report for 2011. Total receipts were $986,501.47, $1,191,140.63 in disbursements with an ending balance of $736,596.45 for 2011. Cash fund balance decreased by $204,639 compared to the end of 2010.
Clerk Raisanen presented the draft of the audited financial statements. The balance sheet shows total assets of the township at $802,783.00. The combined statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance for the year ending 2011 depicted total Revenue of $984,983 and expenditures of $1,216,252. Total Fund balance at the end of the year was $677,780.
He then presented a budget sheet depicting 2011 actual and budgeted amounts. He stated that expenditures exceeded budgeted amount by 16-17% due to increased blacktop projects that were completed during the year.
Supervisor Feuling asked what the township’s total market value is. Clerk Raisanen responded that it is in the vicinity of $472 million. This number has been affected by annexation over the last 12 years. He also reported that fund balance recommendations for townships the size of Alexandria would be approximately 6 months of reserves. With a cash fund balance of $677,780, the township is in good financial shape.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to approve the Board of Audit reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to close the Board of Audit proceedings. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Alstead reconvened the town meeting at 6:50 PM.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen presented the proposed 2012 levy and 2013 budget that was developed by the budget committee. The board discussed winter maintenance needs and possibly increasing the snow and weed account. Motion by Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, to recommend the 2012 levy in the amount of $620,292, including an increase of $8,000.00 in the Snow and Weed fund, to be presented to the residents at the annual meeting. This levy represents a decrease of 9.4% compared to the previous year. Motion carried unanimously.
The board discussed summer road maintenance. The board was in consensus to advertise for quotes for a six-month summer road maintenance contract.
Being no further business, Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2012
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Bryon Alstead, Chairman