Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of August 3, 2026
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township / Board of Adjustment was held on the 3rd day of August at The Hub on Broadway Conference Room, 203 Broadway Street and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Jeff Oberg, Joel Dahlheimer, Rod Eldevik, Dennis Butz and Jerry Wright. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Eli Biggers, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum, the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Eldevik recessed the regular meeting to open the Board of Adjustment public hearing regarding a variance request submitted by Ethan Deakins. The subject property is located at 3997 Queens Road SE.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the variance request is to construct a grass access path down a steep slope of the property that will extend for a distance of approximately 70-75 feet across the 124 ft of total shoreline. The variance is required due to there being more than 25 feet of width along the shoreline being altered to allow for access to the lake. The applicant has indicated he would remove the existing aging stairway so that the proposed access path would be the only way down to the lake. Several boulder retaining walls would be installed along the grass pathway to retain earth and a short retaining wall would be installed at the top of the hill to create a flatter area for mowing and controlling water coming down the hillside. A drain tile would be installed near the top of the hill to run water down to the bottom of the hill. Oleson said the hillside does not constitute a bluff.
The applicant indicated the purpose of the request is to more easily allow access down the slope for family members with health conditions and disabilities.
Supervisor Oberg asked if the only reason for the variance is the slope. Oleson replied yes.
Chairman Eldevik opened the hearing to the public for comments. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing and reconvened the regular meeting.
Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 7/20/26 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Butz, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 26389 – 26399 in the amount of $64,684.07, net payroll $6,922.79, totaling $71,606.86 with a transfer from savings of $75,000. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING:
Deakins Variance Request. Oleson stated the township’s ordinance limits the area along the shoreline to 25 feet. The applicant’s proposal affects 75 feet.
Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the variance for Mr. Deakins with the 7 staff recommendations listed in the staff report and to add an 8th recommendation to read: To allow a 75’ width in alignment with the drawing provided at the time of application. Roll: Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Butz, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: none
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS:
Election judges. Chairman Eldevik stated the clerk had provided the names of potential election judges for consideration. Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to appoint the following individuals as election judges, with Mark Meuwissen serving as head judge and Mona Billmark as the head judge alternate: Marie Merten, Cindy Yell, Becca Wesley, Paul Stennes, Julie Haar, Debra Eigen, Eli Biggers, Kari Anderson, Mary Ellen Thompson, Stephanie Malingen, and Candi Bohjanen-Hammit. Roll: Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Butz, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Being no further business, Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2026
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman