Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of August 19, 2024
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 19th day of August, 2024 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Jeff Oberg, Rod Eldevik, Jerry Wright, Joel Dahlheimer, and Dennis Butz. Also present were Mark Meuwissen, Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Butz, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 8/5/2024 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Wright, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 24161 – 24169 in the amount of $4,482.48, net payroll of $3,550, EFTPS $1,486.07 totaling $9,518.55 and a transfer from savings of $4,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Planning and Zoning Administrator Oleson stated there were no significant new issues to report to the Board. Oleson said he continues to monitor previous situations to make sure they are resolved and do not return to their undesirable condition.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn opened a conversation on the previously tabled topic of water drainage in the Maple Drive/Queens area. Kuhn stated he could not make a recommendation to the Board without spending time to conduct a more formal study of the situation. Kuhn suggested there could potentially be money available through grants, partnerships, or by designating a portion of future budgets to a stormwater improvement fund so the Township has resources to make necessary improvements. Kuhn repeated that such partnerships or outside funding would have to be preceded by a formal study to justify the project.
In previous Board discussions, Kuhn mentioned that a study of just the Maple Drive/Queens drainage problem could be over $5,000, but a regional study of the hydraulics in that watershed region could cost considerably more. Kuhn did not recommend one approach over the other, suggesting the Board has to give him direction before he can proceed.
Wright stated the Township has an obligation to address drainage problems arising outside the control or influence of downstream residents. Oberg said it might be inappropriate to spend Township money if the drainage situation is between two or three parcels that may have increased the problem through their own actions. Oberg also stated the Township experienced rainfall levels well above normal, and many other properties saw similar drainage problems. Oberg had a concern about not setting a precedent that could obligate the Township to take actions beyond the normal scope of Township responsibilities. Dahlheimer stated this water problem existed back in 2011 and dates before the Township took over zoning and enforcement responsibility from the County. Dahlheimer continued that there is no clear answer to this because it can’t be determined whether the problem is confined to this small area or created by development that has increased the speed of drainage from upstream areas.
Oberg, Eldevik, and Wright recommended it might be better to hold off on a decision to spend money on a formal study until the next budget cycle. Kuhn suggested the Township could create a committee to better define the problem and the Township’s potential responsibility. The cost of creating this committee to further define the issue would be minimal. The Board was in consensus, instructing Kuhn to form this committee and spend some time to better define the situation.
Kuhn reported the details of the pre-construction meeting for pending road repair and improvements. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th, at 11:00 a.m.
OLD BUSINESS:
Supervisors were provided a copy of the block party permit. No action was taken.
Clerk Meuwissen gave a summary of Attorney Hill’s recent email communication update on the next steps in contesting the annexation by the City of Nelson. There is no action necessary by the Township and future actions by the administrative judge or City of Nelson will be communicated.
NEW BUSINESS: none
Being no further business, Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Mark Meuwissen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2024
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman