Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of 12-17-2007
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 17th Day of December 2007 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Joel Dahlheimer, Jim Casper, and Roger Thalman. Also present were Clerk Gregg Raisanen and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Thalman at 7:48 PM.
Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN CONCERNS: A resident requested that the board consider an amendment to the animal ordinance allowing a household to have more than the three animals that it currently permits. She indicated that they presently have three dogs, two hunting dogs and one housedog. She has recently purchased another hunting dog to replace an older dog and will have four dogs once she takes possession of the new dog. She had contacted the township office and was informed that the ordinance reads three dogs per person not resident prior to purchasing the new dog. Attorney Michelle Clark reported that the ordinance intent was three dogs per household not three dogs per person. Supervisor Casper reported that he would support an ordinance to not include animals that are not seen outside the residence and would not count in the total. He would also support amending the ordinance to allow an increase in the number of animals allowed per household with a conditional use permit. Casper, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to table the current request and to review the existing animal ordinance to consider an amendment to allow for more than three domestic animals per residence. Motion carried unanimously.
Gary Walsh, Canyon Contracting, was present and requested an explanation of why the town board canceled the road maintenance contract with his company. He presented a letter from District 206 Transportation Services and a list of responses in regard to deficiencies in snow plowing performance. He indicated that there were problems with the first snowfall but the deficiencies had been corrected. He said that he had been in contact with Terry Gillespie, Douglas County Supervisor, who indicated that after the second snowfall the intersections were cleared properly. He also reported that a resident in the area by the Wharf reported that the plowing was done sooner than the past. Attorney Michelle Clark also presented a letter drafted by Attorney Kent Marshall, representing Canyon Contracting, reporting that the town board did not have an adequate basis to terminate this contract and indicated that Mr. Walsh desires to settle this mater prior to initiating district court action. Chairman Thalman reported that Canyon Contracting was given a chance to explain why the deficiencies occurred at the December 3, 2007 town board meeting and that the town board took action to terminate the road maintenance contract based on just cause and any further questions can be directed to Attorney Michelle Clark.
PLANNNING AND ZONING: The board considered the final plat application for Rambow’s Second Addition submitted by Arlynn Johnson. Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the application has met all conditions and that the planning commission at their January 17, 2007 meeting unanimously recommended approval. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and to approve the final plat of
Rambow’s Second Addition as presented. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the Planning Commission at their December 17, 2007 meeting unanimously recommended that the board adopt the subdivision ordinance with the minor modifications that were made to the interim subdivision ordinance. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-18, a resolution adopting Alexandria Township Ordinance 116(Subdivision Controls Ordinance) and repealing interim ordinance 110(interim subdivision controls ordinance). . Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-19, a resolution ordering adoption of summary of ordinance 116, subdivision controls ordinance. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the Planning Commission at their December 17, 2007 meeting unanimously recommended that the board adopt the zoning ordinance with the minor modifications that were made to the interim zoning ordinance. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-20, a resolution adopting Alexandria Township Ordinance 115(Zoning Ordinance) and repealing interim ordinance 109(interim zoning ordinance). . Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-21, a resolution ordering adoption of summary of ordinance 115, zoning ordinance. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to table the condition use permit application submitted by Doug Thompson. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to not consider amending the comprehensive land use plan at this time. Supervisor Casper reported that this would allow a more comprehensive view before considering any changes. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the Planning Commission at their December 17, 2007 meeting unanimously recommended that the board deny the rezoning application submitted by Kathy Hodges for a parcel of land located at 3801 Hazel Hill Road. Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to deny the request to rezone a parcel of land located at 3801 Hazel Hill Road from urban residential to commercial-rural or light industrial. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the Planning Commission at their December 17, 2007 meeting unanimously recommended to the board that they do not amend the zoning ordinance to allow a credit for pavers in calculating the percent of impervious surfaces. Douglas County current zoning ordinance currently allows a credit for pavers. Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to not amend the zoning ordinance to allow a credit for pavers in calculating the percent of impervious surfaces. Motion for: Alstead, Casper, Dahlheimer, Thalman. Motion against: None. Motion carried unanimously
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Clerk Raisanen presented a blacktop petition for Queens Road into the Natures Edge Subdivision. The landowner had previously signed a petition that was accepted by the board in 2003. Thirteen property owners out of a total of 20 contiguous property owners signed the petition. Engineer Kuhn presented the board a new cost estimate of $152,600 for the blacktop improvement. The board would have to consider how to estimate assessments for the project if approved since the parcel sizes are significantly different. Engineer Kuhn indicated that there is 7,400 ft for both sides of the road if the board would consider assessing by the front ft. basis. Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to accept the blacktop petition for Queens Road as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Engineer Kuhn presented cost estimates for additional blacktop projects for the board’s consideration. He reported that to reconstruct the road in Erickson Heritage would cost approximately $288,000.00, overlays in LeHommeDieu Heights was estimated at $121,000.00 and for remainder of Maple Drive was estimated at $68,000.00. Clerk Raisanen reported that the township currently has approximately $266,000 in the blacktop fund and will be adding an additional $200,000 next year therefore could support $400,000.00 in blacktop projects next year.
NEW BUSINESS: Dahlheimer, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adopt Resolution 07-22, a resolution appointing David Kjos as Alexandria Township’s representative to the AAEDC for three years. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2007 regular board meeting and the minutes of the December 5 and December 6, 2007 emergency board meetings as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Casper, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 7400-7429 in the amount of $144,834.46 and net payroll in the amount of $2,997.75 for a total of $147,832.21 and to authorize the transfer of $113,000.00 from the savings into the checking account. Motion carried unanimously.
Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to transfer $50,000.00 from the general fund into the planning and zoning fund. Motion carried unanimously.
Being no further business, Alstead, seconded by Casper, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:20PM.
Respectfully Submitted….. Approved this _____ day of________, 2007
_______________________________ ______________________________
Gregg Raisanen, Clerk Roger Thalman, Chairman