Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of December 6, 2021
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 6th day of December, 2021 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Jeff Oberg, Joel Dahlheimer, Rod Eldevik, Dennis Butz and Jerry Wright. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, with Mona Billmark, Treasurer, attending via teleconference. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Eldevik recessed the regular board meeting and opened the Board of Adjustment meeting at 6:02 PM.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported Rose City Sign has requested a variance to permit installation of a sign positioned approximately 4 feet from a side lot line on a property located at 4353 CO Rd 82 SE. Our current ordinance requires either 10 foot side yard setback or 110% of the sign height (22 feet) for the proposal. The applicant stated they had a change of staff during the application process and were unaware of the requirements. In addition, the neighboring property owner has no objection to the proposed installation.
Supervisor Oberg expressed concern for future adjacent property owners if the variance is approved.
Chairman Eldevik closed the Board of Adjustment meeting and reconvened the regular board meeting at 6:15 p.m.
Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 11/15/21 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 21198 – 21208 in the amount of $100,054.45, net payroll $10,823.13, totaling $110,877.58 with a transfer of $2,000.00 from savings into checking. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported Wendy Ramsdell reapplied for an interim use to permit a dog grooming business located at 2701 Kings Rd. SE. The planning commission recommended approval with 6 conditions. Oberg, seconded by Wright, made a motion to approve the interim use permit submitted by Wendy Ramsdell to permit a dog grooming business in a residential area located at 2701 Kings Road SE with the six conditions listed in the staff report. For: Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Butz, Eldevik. Against: none. Motion carried.
The board considered the variance request submitted by Rose City sign on behalf of the Douglas County Car Care Program to permit installation of a sign that does not meet property line setbacks. Chairman Eldevik expressed concern that the footing was installed prior to approval of the variance. The applicant stated that a staffing change was part of the reason for this occurring. Eldevik, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the variance request to install a sign located approximately 4 feet from a side property line at 4353 CR 82 SE provided the following four conditions are met: 1) That the sign must meet building codes, or otherwise be proven to be adequate to prevent collapse from wind loads. Bollards or other suitable barriers must be placed around the base of the sign so as to prevent vehicles from colliding with the base of the sign; 2) Before a permit is issued, the applicant must provide a written copy of a letter or formal easement from the neighboring property to the east indicating that they do not object to the location of the sign and understand that it could potentially fall onto their property; 3) That the applicant must provide verification that the sign border meets or exceeds the required two-foot setback from the service road right-of-way; and 4) All of the above conditions will be met or completed before a permit is issued. If the sign is installed before the completion of the above conditions, the variance is void and the sign will need to meet all required setbacks. For: Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Butz, Eldevik. Against: none. Motion carried.
Zoning Administrator Oleson presented a conditional use request submitted by Rose City Sign to install an electronic message display sign at a property located at 4353 CR 82 SE. The planning commission recommended approval with four conditions. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the conditional use permit submitted by Rose City Sign for an electronic message display sign with the four conditions listed in the staff report. For: Butz, Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Eldevik. Against: None. Motion carried.
Oleson reported numerous vehicles are still located at Billie Dropik’s Newman Road property. Mr. Dropik has requested additional time to come into compliance. The board was in consensus to notify Mr. Dropik that all the vehicles need to be removed by December 22, 2021, and if they are not, the township will contract with a removal company to remove them.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Chairman Eldevik reported the street lights in Geneva Estates cannot be repaired with existing lamps. Rudy’s Electric has installed a new LED bulb in one of the lights, which doesn’t match the existing illumination. The chair of the homeowners association approved the change.
OLD BUSINESS: Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to accept the written proposal submitted by Hometown Planning, LLC to update the 2006 Comprehensive Plan in the amount of $10,400.00. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported the Lakes Area Humane Society contract expires at the end of 2021. Dahlheimer, seconded by Wright, made a motion to approve the contract for animal impoundment services with the Lakes Area Humane Society for $15,250 annually. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen provided a review of year-to-date expenditures and revenues as of December 6, 2021. It appears the township will underspend its budget in three areas: Road and Bridge, Snow and Weed, and Blacktop. Fund balance will be strong at the end of the year.
Being no further business, Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2021
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman