April 1, 2024 minutes

Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of April 1, 2024

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 1st day of April, 2024 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, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer.  As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Clerk Raisanen at 6:00 p.m.

Clerk Raisanen called for nominations for chairman.  Wright nominated Rod Eldevik for chairman.  Nominations ceased and a unanimous ballot was cast for Eldevik as chair.  The meeting was turned over to Chairman Eldevik.

Chairman Eldevik called for nominations for vice-chairman.  Wright nominated Joel Dahlheimer for vice-chairman.  Nominations ceased and a unanimous ballot was cast for Dahlheimer as vice-chairman.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to appoint Mark Meuwissen as township clerk. Motion carried unanimously.

Chairman Eldevik called for the reading of Resolution 24-03, A Resolution Recognizing Outstanding Service Of Retired Township Clerk Gregg Raisanen.  Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt Resolution 24-03.  Roll:  Butz, Dahlheimer, Eldevik, Wright – yes.  Opposed:  none.  Motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor Oberg joined the meeting.

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

Butz, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 3/18/2024 regular board meeting as written.  Motion carried unanimously.

Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 24073 – 24083 in the amount of $25,931.78, net payroll of $3,695.58 totaling $29,627.36 with no transfer of funds from savings.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none

PLANNING AND ZONING:  Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the township attorney had written a letter to the landowner at 4810 Co Rd 82 SE about bringing his septic system into compliance. The landowner was given until June 1, 2024 to comply.

Oleson reported he has been in contact with Gerald Patrick’s son regarding the clean-up effort for Mr. Patrick’s property located along Co Rd 81 SE.  They are negotiating a date for compliance.

Supervisor Dahlheimer reported the Boggs property on LeHomme Dieu Heights appears to have accumulated more items.

ENGINEER’S REPORT:  Engineer Kuhn reported he has been in contact with Northern Natural Gas about a temporary road closure on 30th Avenue.  Engineer Kuhn informed the company the town will require proper notification of the temporary road closure. Any disturbance of road right-of-way needs to be restored to pre-existing conditions.  The town will also require signed easements for the work taking place on the township right-of-way and through the project area in the township.  Engineer Kuhn stated there should be no disturbance of the road surface.  Consensus to authorize a maximum of 14 days for road closure.

OLD BUSINESS:  Chairman Eldevik reported the RFP for summer road maintenance quotes was advertised twice with one proposal received from Alden Just Road Maintenance.  Quoted amounts were as follows: grading of roads – $135.00/hr., mowing road ditches – $90.00/hr., spraying weeds – $90.00/hr., sweeping roads – $90.00/hr,. sign installation and other maintenance – $46.00/hr/worker with base fuel prices of $3.786 / gal. for diesel fuel and $3.989 / gal. for highway fuel with 12-cent increments @ $1/hr. fuel adjustment for $0.12 / gal. increase in fuel prices. The submitted proposal met all requested information in the RFP.  Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to award the summer road maintenance contract to Alden Just Road Maintenance at the quoted amounts for the period April 1, 2024-September 30, 2024.  Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Supervisor Oberg requested discussion of the current mailbox replacement policy. Consensus to have the policy remain intact and to have it uploaded to the website.
  2. Consensus to have Rod Eldevik and Joel Dahlheimer remain supervisor designees for township / county roads.
  3. Economic Development Commission board appointment. Consensus to reappoint Joel Dahlheimer to a one-year term on the AAEDC board.
  4. Planning Commission appointment. Consensus to reappoint Linda Dokken-McFann to a 3-year term expiring March 2027.
  5. Per Diem Rate. Eldevik called for a motion to set the 2024 per diem rate.  Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to have the per diem rate raised to $90/meeting with an additional $20/meeting for the chairman.  Motion carried unanimously.
  6. Inspection Rate. Eldevik called for a motion to set the 2024 inspection rate. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to have the inspection rate raised to $45/inspection.  Motion carried unanimously.
  7. Incidental Labor Rate. Wright, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to have the incidental labor rate raised to $25/hr.  Motion carried unanimously.
  8. Administrative Assistant Salary. Chairman Eldevik stated the current salary is set at $27.56/hr. Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to increase the administrative assistant salary to $28.50/hr.  Motion carried unanimously.
  9. Treasurer’s / Clerk’s Salary. Chairman Eldevik stated the current salary is set at $865.00/month. Dahlheimer, seconded by Wright, made a motion to increase the treasurer’s and clerk’s salaries to $900.00/month.  Motion carried unanimously.
  10. Mileage Rate. Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adopt the IRS mileage reimbursement rate.  Motion carried unanimously.
  11. Official Publication for Notices. Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to designate the Echo Press and the township’s website as the township’s official site for legal notifications.  Motion carried unanimously.
  12. Township Bank. Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to designate Bremer Bank and Viking Bank as our depositor of funds.  Motion carried unanimously.
  13. Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize the township’s clerk and treasurer to make electronic fund transfers. Motion carried unanimously.
  14. Township Attorney. Consensus to designate Kennedy & Graven as legal counsel, with Troy Gilchrist serving as the township’s attorney.
  15. Weed Inspector. Consensus to designate all town board supervisors as weed inspectors.
  16. Group Life Insurance. Consensus to have it remain at the silver level.
  17. Annual Road Inspection. Consensus to table until the next meeting.

Being no further business, Butz, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted….

______________________________________

Mark Meuwissen, Clerk

Approved this ____ day of ________, 2024

_______________________________________

Rod Eldevik, Chairman