Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of 1-03-2007
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 3rd Day of January 2007 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Louis Ross, Bryon Alstead, Joel Dahlheimer, Jim Casper, and Roger Thalman. Also present were Clerk Gregg Raisanen and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. Also present were Jeff Kuhn, Township Engineer, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Thalman at 7:30 PM.
Ross, seconded by Casper, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of discussion about the planning and zoning press release and future training topics. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2006 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 7001-7014 in the amount of $24,704.34 and net payroll in the amount of $3,606.50 for a total amount of $28,310.84. Motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS: Supervisor Ross presented a rough draft of a press release explaining future planning and zoning within Alexandria Township. It is scheduled for publication on Friday, January 5, 2007.
Chairman Thalman reported that Ben Oleson and himself had met with the Alexandria City Council to discuss the current double permitted process within the two-mile radius of the city. The city council was in favor of working out an agreement between the two entities and suggested a joint work group be formed to negotiate the details. Supervisor Ross and Chairman Thalman will meet with the city.
The board discussed the continued failure of a resident located at 441 S. LeHommeDieu Drive to remove the reflectors placed in the road right of way after being warned by Supervisor Dahlheimer and notified in writing last year by Clerk Raisanen. Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion directing Clerk Raisanen to have Attorney Clark write the landowner a letter notifying him that they have to be removed within 7 days or face prosecution. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: The board discussed future planning and zoning. The board discussed refund of application fees if an application is withdrawn. Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to authorize the refund of application fees if the application is withdrawn prior to publication of public notices. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Oleson presented the board a proposed fee change to the application fee schedule. He indicated that the county recorder’s office will charge the township a $30.00 recording fee and the township might want to increase the fee by this amount. After future discussion, the board kept the fee schedule the same and the cost of administering applications will be reviewed to determine what the cost is before any changes will be made.
Zoning Administrator Oleson discussed future rezoning applications. If a proposed rezone is made that it is less restrictive than the current zone, the county board would have to approved prior to the rezoning. The board was in agreement that if this type of application is made, the request should be heard by the Alexandria Township Planning Commission and Town Board and a public hearing be held prior to the application being forwarded to the County for their approval.
The board discussed the collection and calculation of the park dedication fee for new plat applications. After discussion, the board was in consensus to have the township forward the final plat to the Douglas County parks director for final calculation of the park dedication fee prior to collection to ensure that the correct amount is being collected.
Clerk Raisanen reported that Attorney Michelle Clark has draft an adult use ordinance that has been reviewed by zoning administrator Oleson. He indicated that the proposed ordinance is comprehensive and Ben Oleson has suggested a few changes. The board directed Clerk Raisanen and Zoning Administrator Oleson to finalize a draft and forward to the planning commission for their consideration.
Chairman Thalman inquired into a tree preservation ordinance. The zoning subcommittee has been discussing this issue and a portion is included in the subdivision ordinance.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: The board discussed the lack of speed limit signs on Lois Lane and Shadow Lane. Engineer Kuhn reported that these areas meet the designation as rural residential and can be posted at 30 mph. Ross, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to post 30 mph speed limit signs on Lois and Shadow Lanes. Motion carried unanimously.
Engineer Kuhn recommended that the township consider using a new product to strengthen gravel roads. Douglas County used the product last year and will be using it again this year on some roads. County Engineer Robley was satisfied with the results, which resulted in less road maintenance. The board will discuss this at the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS (Continued): Ben Oleson presented a board a draft of an enforcement policy regarding future violations of the planning and zoning ordinances. The board will consider this at the next meeting.
Supervisor Alstead reported action of the LAR board. The board has passed a motion to authorize utilizing $25,000.00 for the purchase of a portion of the land owned by the LARA; however, the YMCA now wants the whole parcel for their facility. In addition, LAR inquired into whether the town board would consider using a portion of the park dedication fee collected within Alexandria Township for use in purchasing land for a future site.
The board discussed placing a question on the ballot for the appointment of the Clerk and Treasurer position. Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion that the question to adopt option B, providing for the appointment by the town board of the Clerk and Treasurer positions be submitted to the electors for a vote at the next annual town election. Motion carried unanimously.
The board discussed planning and zoning issues. Engineer Kuhn reported that the proposed enlargement of the retention pond within the plat of Longboat Commons would meet the township’s stormwater ordinance.
Supervisor Casper left the meeting.
The board discussed the proposed PUD located off of S. LeHommeDieu drive that was presented to the Joint Planning Board for their consideration. Chairman Thalman reported that this proposal was tabled until all the potential drainage issues could be addressed.
Supervisor Ross presented a list of training topics that the board should consider. The board was in consensus to have Zoning Administrator Oleson address these topics to the town board and the planning commission at their January 22, 2007 meeting.
Being no further business, Alstead, seconded by Ross, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:20PM.
Respectfully Submitted…..
Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this _____ day of _________, 2006
Roger Thalman, Chairman