Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of December 7, 2020
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 7th day of December, 2020 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors Jeff Oberg, Joel Dahlheimer, Dennis Butz, Jerry Wright and Treasurer, Mona Billmark, attended via teleconference. Chairman Eldevik and Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, were onsite. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Oberg, seconded by Wright, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 11/16/20 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 20203 – 20216 in the amount of $39,345.25, net payroll $4,303.58 totaling $43,648.83 and a transfer of funds from savings of $37,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Oleson summarized the changes to the zoning and subdivision ordinances resulting from the town board’s work meeting of
December 2, 2020. The following excerpts are highlights only and do not address all the changes to be incorporated into the zoning ordinance.
Signs – electronic changeable copy signs are to remain at a maximum of 32 square feet in size in all zoning districts and are to be turned off between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Lighted signs are to remain permitted as a conditional use. Wall signs are not to be considered exempted.
Shoreland alterations – any alteration with significant erosion potential shall require an erosion control and sedimentation plan as part of the shoreland alteration permit or as a condition of an issued land use permit for a construction activity.
Sewage treatment – properties in the RCR and RR zoning districts do not need a sewer inspection for properties ten acres in size or greater or on properties less than ten acres in size where an applicant possesses contiguous parcels of land greater than forty acres in size and where any septic systems on the property have been determined to be compliant by inspection within the last twenty years.
Renewable energy – county language to be adopted.
Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt Resolution 20-04, a resolution adopting Alexandria Township Ordinance 132 (zoning ordinance) and repealing Alexandria Township Ordinance 131 (zoning ordinance). Motion was amended to include changing the zoning district in Section VI. Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems, G. Compliance Management, 2(b). Compliance Inspections. Roll: Butz, Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adopt Resolution 20–05, a resolution ordering adoption of summary of Ordinance 132, Zoning Ordinance. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson explained that the discussion about the Subdivision Ordinance centered upon minor changes of correcting verbage that referenced the county and changing it to the township. Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt Resolution 20-06, a resolution adopting Alexandria Township Ordinance 133 (subdivision controls ordinance) and repealing Ordinance 125 (subdivision controls ordinance). Roll: Butz, Wright, Oberg, Dahlheimer, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt Resolution 20-07, a resolution ordering adoption of summary of Ordinance 133, Subdivision Controls Ordinance. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson presented for discussion information on accessory building regulations regarding how the township regulates the size of “shouse” construction. Oleson stated he was waiting on more clarification from the county and will bring the results of that conversation back to the board.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn reported he had met with Tim Erickson, Douglas County Engineer, and Dan New, Hudson Township Supervisor, regarding a grant possibility for improvements to 50th Avenue. He stated that the LRIP grant is a local improvement program to benefit overall regional significance to the area. The program addresses six categories, and the 50th Avenue project would currently meet two of the six. Engineer Erickson stated that Douglas County is willing to proceed with the application process if Hudson and Alexandria townships wish to pursue the grant. Chair Eldevik reported that Hudson Township has expressed interest in pursuing the grant. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize Douglas County to proceed with the grant application on the township’s behalf. Motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS: Chairman Eldevik reported that per the township’s conversation with Billie Dropik at the township board meeting on November 16, 2020, today was the deadline for Mr. Dropik to have transferred cars from his property to his new lot in Nelson. As of this afternoon, only one car had been moved to the new lot. Butz, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize Attorney Johnson to revert to the terms of the December 2019 agreement due to Mr. Dropik’s failure to come into compliance with the time extension granted at the November 16, 2020 meeting. Roll: Butz, Wright, Oberg, Dropik, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported that Gardonville is making progress in fulfilling Phases 1 and 2 and expects residents to have internet connection in the next few weeks. They have installed mainline pipe for Phase 3 and will continue working on this phase until freeze-up. Raisanen also reported that residents in the Carneva Acres area are asking for reliable internet. He stated that Charter is checking into what will be needed for them to extend service to this area. Raisanen will provide more details as they become available.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported that the township must annually designate a voting location. Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion adopting Resolution 20-08, a resolution designating Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as the township’s polling place for 2021. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported that the planning and zoning contract with Hometown Planning expires at the end of the year. Dahlheimer, seconded by Wright, made a motion authorizing the township to enter into contract discussions with Hometown Planning. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported that the Humane Society’s contract renewal is on January 1, 2021. Since this is an automatic renewal, no action is required.
Being no further business, Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2020
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman