Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of 11-5-2007
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 5th day of November, 2007 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jim Casper, Louis Ross, and Roger Thalman. Also present were Deputy Clerk Bonnie Fulghum and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Thalman at 7:30 p.m.
Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of group home construction and zoning under Citizen Concerns and resolutions/cost assessments for the Golden Gate paving project under Old Business. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 10/15/07 regular board meeting as written. Casper dissented, requesting the minutes be tabled until the next meeting. Motion failed. Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to table the 10/15/07 minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 7346 – 7359 in the amount of $26,374.36 and to authorize the transfer of $22,000.00 from the savings into the checking account. Motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Dahlheimer joined the meeting.
CITIZEN CONCERNS: Supervisor Ross brought up the subject of group homes. As an example, he cited that there are three existing and a fourth pending in an area of approximately 50 homes. His concern was in the area of construction and zoning of these homes. Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that if there are under six residents in the home, it is treated as a single-family residence. Discussion ensued regarding problems of traffic, does the township anticipate having a higher concentration of group homes in the future, should the township pursue an ordinance, or inclusion in the zoning ordinance, about group homes? What regulations are in place for daycare settings, since they also generate traffic, etc.? The Town Board concurred to have Supervisor Ross and Zoning Administrator Oleson contact Attorney Kristin Carr to clarify issues regarding distance between homes and specifically what the township can, or cannot, regulate. This is to include both group homes and daycare settings.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Township Engineer Kuhn reported that there was a change order for Queens Road regarding a soft stretch on Queens. It was excavated and replaced. Approximate value is just over $10,000.
Kuhn stated that there is a project in the LeHomme Dieu Heights area that is yet to be completed for millwork. The township received a quote from Alden Just Road Maintenance in the amount of $625. The Town Board requested that Engineer Kuhn meet with Alden Just to complete the work.
Discussion ensued regarding Queens Road and Maple Drive. Mr. Rodney Eldevik has dug a temporary ditch for water to flow in the spring.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Attorney Michelle Clark and Zoning Administrator Oleson visited with Mr. Zunker regarding the clean-up of his site. Attorney Clark informed Mr. Zunker of the board’s intent to pursue a timeline. Attorney Clark to begin court proceedings.
Oleson informed the Town Board that the Planning Commission tabled the Conditional Use Permit for Jack’s Family Recycling at their last meeting. He explained that upon further investigation, it was determined that prior to the permit being issued, the company will need to either apply for a variance or for re-zoning. He indicated that the applicant chose to apply for re-zoning. Zoning Administrator Oleson requested feedback from the Town Board with regard to the re-zoning issue; specifically, does the Town Board feel that area would constitute a good place for industrial and/or commercial uses? The Planning Commission will be reviewing this application and its relation to the comprehensive plan/future land use map at their next meeting.
Supervisor Ross had expressed concern at a prior meeting about the poor quality of site plans that are being submitted with applications. Oleson presented four options to the Board: 1) the applicant would submit as much information as possible with assistance from staff. Oleson would look at aerial photos for corroboration; however, the calculations may not be exact; 2) the township could require applicants to download photos from the internet and would draw on that photo; 3) the township could require exact measurements; and 4) the township could require a survey of everything. It was the consensus of the Board to require “to-scale” drawings with exact measurements, with the requirement of additional data to be made at the discretion of the zoning administrator.
Oleson asked the Board what procedure they wished to follow in enforcing violations; i.e. to go through the Planning Commission or the Town Board. The Town Board stipulated that Oleson should present the violations to the Town Board prior to submitting them to our township attorney.
Oleson asked the Board what procedure should be followed regarding his communication(s) with our township attorneys. At present, he contacts the attorney(s) directly and copies the town clerk on said communications. The Board’s response was for Oleson to continue the current procedure and to make regular reports to the Board.
OLD BUSINESS: Deputy Clerk Fulghum presented a map, cost summaries and an auditor listing to the Board for the Golden Gate paving project. Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-14, a resolution declaring cost to be assessed and ordering preparation of proposed assessment. Motion for: Ross, Dahlheimer, Casper, Alstead, Thalman. Motion against: none. Motion carried unanimously. Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-15, a resolution for hearing on proposed assessment. Motion for: Ross, Dahlheimer, Casper, Alstead, Thalman. Motion against: none. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: As no quotes were available for salt/sand, the issue was tabled.
The date for the Golden Gate assessment hearing was officially set for December 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the township conference room.
Being no further business, Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Approved this ____ day of ______, 2007
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk Roger Thalman, Chairman