Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of November 2, 2009
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 2nd day of November 2009 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Louis Ross, Joel Dahlheimer and Roger Thalman. 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 Thalman at 6:00 p.m.
Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of including the minutes from the 10/19/09 Board of Adjustment meeting for approval. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 10/19/09 regular board meeting and the 10/19/09 Board of Adjustment meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 9300 – 9317 in the amount of $46,568.74, net payroll of $3,516.70 totaling $50,085.44 and a transfer from savings into checking of $32,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: None
PLANNING AND ZONING: Louis and Velvet Ross Conditional Use Permit Application. Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that the town had approved this application at its meeting on October 5, 2009. The application was for approval of up to 9.74 animal units on a 9.74 acre parcel. The original application included Lot 4, part of vacated roads and Lot 5, Block 1, 3rd Addition to Lake Victoria Park in its legal description. The applicant thought that the 9.74 acre delineation included Lots 3 and 4, not 5. He proposed dropping the total number of allowed units to 9.1, thus changing the application to reflect Lot 4 only. After receiving approval from the town for the 9.1 allowed animal units, the applicant realized parcel no. 03-1985-000 in actuality included Lots 4 and 5 and vacated portions of Lot 3, resulting in a total acreage of 9.74 acres. Motion by Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, to acknowledge the approval reflects Lots 4 and 5 and vacated portions of Lot 3,totaling 9.74 acres and a maximum of up to 9.74 animal units. Motion carried unanimously.
Kevin Baumann, 3805 Hazel Hill Road. Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that Mr. Baumann has been collecting and selling scrap metal, temporarily storing the metal in his garage. He has a sign for advertising in his front yard, although he does not consider his venture a “business”. Chairman Thalman indicated that advertising would reflect a business.
Oleson stated that this area is zoned urban residential and thus commercial businesses would not be allowed, only home occupation or personal storage. Supervisor Ross asked if the applicant considered his venture to be a home occupation, and the applicant said yes. If the applicant wants the town to consider this venture as a home occupation, he needs to apply for a conditional use permit and be scheduled for a public hearing before the planning commission.
Jack’s Family Recycling Center. The town has received several complaints and they are outlined as follows:
- Improper handling of e-waste, contamination, etc. The MPCA is investigating and performing tests, results to be forthcoming. It is the opinion of the zoning administrator that the MPCA is better suited to monitor this situation. Consensus of the town board is to have the MPCA continue as the main authority in this situation.
- E-waste containment. Complaint involves semi storage and rolloffs in the back area and to the west, primarily comprised of e-waste. Oleson visited the site on 9/16/09 and 9/21/09 confirming the presence of roll-offs in these areas. A stipulation for utilizing semi-trailers for storage is that they must be licensed and road-worthy. The board directed the zoning administrator to remind the owner that the semis are allowed as temporary storage as long as they are road-worthy.
Another concern is if this storage constitutes an expansion of the business, which is not allowed. The town board discussed how to address repeated violations and ultimately the steps required to revoking permits. The consensus was to have the planning commission address the violations issue.
- Materials being stored in, or near, the wetlands. Zoning Administrator Oleson inspected this area on 9/16/09 and determined that the materials had been removed. Any further concerns should be directed to DNR and/or Soil & Water Conservation agencies.
- Baled plastic stored outside in the front of the building. After consulting with the township attorney, Oleson determined this is not a zoning matter. It could potentially be an OSHA or public safety concern.
- The front of the property is an eyesore. Oleson stated that the town attempted to address this the condition of screening, such as with a fence, trees, etc.
- Mobile home on the property, which is connected to water, but not sewer. Oleson confirmed that the water line has been disconnected. At present, he has been unable to verify whether the mobile home was ever properly permitted or when it was moved onto the property.
Motion by Ross, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to table the issue of JFRC complaints for more review of written comments by the zoning administrator. Motion carried unanimously.
Ordinance Amendment re interim use permits. Oleson stated that the interim use would be an alternative to having permitted and/or conditional uses. It would be used for regulating uses that may be acceptable now for a certain area, but perhaps not in the future as more development fills in around it. He stated that the primary difference between conditional and interim uses is that interim uses can expire and be taken away. Conditional uses are allowed to continue indefinitely as long as the conditions are being met. Interim uses would expire upon the date the planning commission or town set or upon any property transfer. If the zoning ordinance changes and no longer allows a permitted use, the resident would have two years notice beyond the ordinance change. The commission had also discussed a time limit of five years being applied to all interim use permits. The town board directed Oleson to present a resolution for adopting interim uses for the next meeting.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Clerk Raisanen stated that the next street petitioned for blacktop is Southside Drive. The township engineer estimated paving costs at $97,000 and $175,000 for upgrades. The clerk indicated that the township does not have enough funds in the road and bridge account to pay for the road upgrade cost unless money was moved from the blacktop account. Chairman Thalman was in favor of holding a public informational meeting. Clerk Raisanen will consult with the township engineer prior to that meeting.
Update on Queens Rd: Chairman Thalman reported that there are five residents that cannot be served with gravity feed sewer from the lower levels of their homes. The lines were not installed at sufficient depth; therefore, the affected residents will need to install lift stations for the lower levels of their homes.
OLD BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen stated we had received quotes for Salt/Sand. Alden Just Road Maintenance quoted $34/yd. and Douglas County quoted $37.18/yd. Dahlheimer, seconded by Ross, made a motion to contract with Alden Just Road Maintenance for salt/sand. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: None
Being no further business, Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2009
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Roger Thalman, Chairman