July 06, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of 7-6-2005

 

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 6th day of July 2005.

 

ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Louis Ross, T. Michael Thompson, 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 7:30 PM.

 

Thompson, seconded by Ross, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Thompson, seconded by Ross, made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 20, 2005 regular board meeting and the June 27, 2005 special Board Meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Ross, seconded by Thompson, made a motion to authorize payment of the bills in the amount of $161,467.49 and to authorize the transfer of $160,000.00 from the savings into the checking account. Motion carried unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported that the contract for Assessor Services with Jim Howard expired the end of June. The Board was in consensus to negotiate a new contract with Jim Howard for Assessor Services at the same price for their consideration at the next meeting.

 

Clerk Raisanen provided three quotes for a computer system for the Treasurer. Networks for Hire quoted $1,600.00, Computer Specialists quoted $1,188, and Betterware Computers quoted $1,036.00. Thompson, seconded by Ross, authorized Clerk Raisanen to purchase a computer system without a monitor from Betterware Computers. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Clerk Raisanen presented a letter drafted by Attorney Michelle Clark to a landowner who had placed a fence in the road right-of-way and has failed to relocate it after being contacted twice by the township. The Board was in consensus to send the letter if the fence remained.

 

Chairman Thalman made the recommendation that the positions of the Clerk and Treasurer should be appointed instead of elected and recommended that this option be placed before the voters at the annual meeting.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT: Lawrence Galbodon, Brigitta Drive, was present to request approval of the Board to allow the light posts that he constructed in the road right-of-way along his driveway to remain. He indicated that the posts are hollow and constructed of bricks and would crumble if a vehicle struck them. Engineer Kuhn reported that these structures are located in the vehicle recovery zone and recommended that they be removed. After further discussion, the Board was in consensus to require that the structures be moved from the recovery zone. The Board requested that Clerk Raisanen consult with Attorney Haseman to determine liability.

 

Residents from Pawnee Drive West were present to discuss streetlights for their street. Engineer Kuhn reported that current Township Road Standards would permit three lights located on the corner. If the residents desired to have an additional light at the end of the street, it would be the responsibility of the residents to purchase the lights. In addition, if the residents desire to have fiberglass in place of wood poles, it would be at an additional cost to the residents.

 

Engineer Kuhn reported that he would discuss the Deerwood Drive/Scenic Heights intersection at a scheduled highway committee meeting.

 

The Board discussed the Longboat Commons re-plat and had no concerns with this project.

 

OLD BUSINESS: Representatives of the Community Growth Institute were present to review their Comprehensive Land Use proposal with the Board. They presented two additional alternative cost proposals depending upon the detail the Board desires to have in the plan.

 

The Board discussed the zoning administrator position. Thompson, seconded by Ross, made a motion to contract with Community Growth Institute for zoning administrator services. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Representatives of Municipal Development Group, Inc. were present to review their Comprehensive Land Use proposal with the Board. They reviewed the communities that they have prepared plans for. Most of their past work was with cities. They indicated that most of the time, it would take 12 months to complete a plan; however, they could be finished with this plan in 9 months.

 

After discussing both proposals, Ross, seconded by Thompson, made a motion to contract with Community Growth Institute for drafting the Comprehensive Land Use Plan at the lowest cost level. Motion carried. Clerk Raisanen will invite them to the next meeting to review the expectations.

 

Being no further business Ross, seconded by Thompson, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted…..

Gregg Raisanen, Clerk

 

Approved this _____ day of _________, 2005

Roger Thalman, Chairman