April 17, 2023 minutes

Alexandria Township

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of April 17, 2023

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 17th day of April, 2023 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 was Mona Billmark, Treasurer.  As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.

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

Wright, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2023 regular board meeting as written.  Motion carried unanimously.

Butz, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 23063 – 23072 in the amount of $10,568.04, EFTPS $1,572.86 totaling $12,140.90 with no transfer of funds from savings.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS:  Ken Johnson. 2439 Shadow Lane NE, remarked that the stop sign was down on the west side of Shadow Lane.  He also requested the township double stripe Lake Victoria Road from Hazel Hill Road to Wickstrom Lane for safety reasons. Chairman Eldevik stated the road is posted 30 mph and the township’s policy is to not stripe 30 mph roads.  Consensus to request the sheriff’s office to increase patrol in that area.  Chairman Eldevik to notify DCSO.

PLANNING AND ZONING:  Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the town had received a preliminary plat and CUP request for East Gate First Addition from Pak Rat Mini Storage, LLC (Joel and Denise Runge, owners).  The proposal relates to the construction of storage buildings intended for individual sale and the associated private roadway and stormwater improvements.  The planning commission has recommended approval with six conditions.  Oleson noted condition number 3 says the private roadway must be built to the same standards as for a public road unless otherwise approved by the town board.  He said our ordinance states you can have a private road with PUDs; however, if you intend the town to eventually take over the road, the road must be built to township standards.  Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the East Gate First Addition preliminary plat and CUP with the six conditions listed in the staff report, changing condition number 3 to read: “The proposed private roadway need not be built to the same standards as for a public road.  Any future requests would require the owner to bring the road up to township standards.”  Dahlheimer, Butz, Wright, Oberg, Eldevik – yes.  Opposed – none.  Motion carried unanimously.

Oleson reported the planning commission reviewed the comments received from the February 27, 2023 public hearing relating to updates to the township’s subdivision ordinance, zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan.  They also reviewed comments received from the letter sent to area builders highlighting changes in the zoning ordinance relating to shouses, contractor’s yards and other items.  The planning commission is recommending approval of all ordinance and comprehensive plan changes as presented at the February 27, 2023 public hearing.

Oleson reported the primary changes to the subdivision ordinance relate to lot width and pre-construction/application (DRT) meetings.

Oleson reported changes to the zoning ordinance include modifications to:

  1. The table of permitted uses in Section III.B;
  2. Accessory buildings in Section V.J.;
  3. Alterations within the shoreland in Section V.L.2;
  4. Erosion control and stormwater management in Section V.Q.;
  5. Addition of a new section, Section V.AA, relating to shouse construction;
  6. Addition of language to Section VI.A relating to land use permits; and
  7. Adding definitions to Section VII.

Oleson reported the amendments to the comprehensive plan would update and modify language relating to issues and trends in Section IV, goals and policies in Section V, and the future land use map in Section VI.

Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to table action on the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance and to approve the changes for the subdivision ordinance as outlined in the board report.   Motion carried unanimously.

Consensus to create a policy directing town board reports be emailed prior to the meeting and that written copies be provided at the meetings.

ENGINEER’S REPORT: none

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS: Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion authorizing Engineer Kuhn to secure gravel quotes for 2023.  Motion carried unanimously.

Being no further business, Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted….

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Bonnie Fulghum, Administrative Assistant

Approved this ____ day of ________, 2023

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Rod Eldevik, Chairman