Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of January 5, 2026
A regular / Board of Adjustment meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 5th day of January, 2026 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 were Mark Meuwissen, Clerk, and Bryon Alstead, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Eldevik closed the meeting and re-opened the public hearing on the variance application submitted by Alan and Nina Twardowski. This application had been tabled at the December 1, 2025 meeting.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the application had been tabled in December so the applicants could provide a survey of their lot and an accounting of all the impervious surfaces as well as confirmation that the pergola they wish to build on the upper patio would meet the required 10 foot side property line setback. He stated the applicants have now provided a survey depicting the 10-foot setback would be met and that their existing impervious coverage is now at 28.3% (577 sq ft over the 25% limit). He reiterated the need for a variance is due to exceeding the 25% impervious limit. Oleson stated condition number 1 in the report can be deleted since the applicants have provided a survey. He also made note that the applicants have put in extra drainage control systems. Since the patios were constructed without permits, an after-the-fact penalty will be applied.
Chairman Eldevik opened the meeting to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing on the Twardowski variance request and opened the public hearing on the Alexandria Eastside Storage variance request.
Oleson reported Kelly Morrell of Alexandria Eastside Storage is proposing to subdivide a 19.71 acre property into two parcels, splitting off 8.04 acres on the western side. A central sewer line now runs under Co Rd 82 SE and by ALASD ordinance, properties are required to connect to the central sewer system. The sewer line runs along the north side of the property. When the property was subdivided in 2017, the township granted a variance to not connect to ALASD due to the anticipated use of the lots (commercial use of Lot 2) and the undeveloped land (Lot 1). The condition for that variance was that “no uses which would generate sewage be allowed on the property unless a connection to the ALASD sewer is made or a separate variance is obtained….” Since the applicant does not anticipate expanding the current storage building facility, he wishes to split off some acreage, sell the western 8.04 acre portion, and let the buyer of the property determine the sewer issue. The application is to get a variance allowing the new parcel to not connect to ALASD.
Supervisor Oberg mentioned the board could make a condition that the buyer has to put in a stub. Oleson stated there is already a requirement that a subdivision needs to be sewered. He noted a use cannot be placed on the property that would require sewage.
Chairman Eldevik opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he reconvened the meeting.
Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 12/15/2025 regular board meeting and the 12/29/2025 special board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Butz, seconded by Wright, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 25247 – 25259 in the amount of $ 75,069.93, net payroll $2,985.53 totaling $ 78,055.46 and a transfer of funds from savings of $ 76,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Public hearing no. 1: Oleson stated Alan and Nina Twardowski submitted a variance application due to an overage in impervious coverage. At present, their coverage is at 28.3%, which exceeds the 25% impervious coverage maximum. Staff became aware of the overage when the applicants applied for a permit to build a pergola over the top of the upper patio area. The request was denied due to the patios already in place, which put the property over the 25% limit.
Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the variance request submitted by Alan and Nina Twardowski based on the findings of fact and 7 conditions outlined in the staff report, deleting condition no. 1. Roll: Oberg, Wright, Butz – yes. Dahlheimer and Eldevik – no. Motion carried.
Public hearing no. 2: Oleson stated Alexandria Eastside Storage was seeking a variance to not connect to the sewer district.
Supervisor Oberg suggested the verbiage be changed in condition no. 2 of the staff report.
Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the variance application submitted by Alexandria Eastside Storage based on the findings of fact and 2 conditions as outlined in the staff report, changing condition no. 2 to read: “The landowner, or their real estate or other agent, shall notify all potential landowners that the property being sold is not connected to ALASD sewer and that connection to the ALASD sewer line shall be required at the owner’s expense upon the occurrence of any of the following events, whichever occurs first: a) the sale, transfer, or conveyance of the property to a new owner; b) a further subdivision of the approx. 8 acre parcel that would be created as part of this variance approval; c) prior to the issuance of a permit for the construction of a building or other structure on the property; d) five (5) years from the date of this variance approval (by January 5, 2031); or e) at any time as required by the ordinances of the Alexandria Lakes Area Sanitary District (ALASD).”. Oberg then moved to amend his motion to recommend a third condition to read: “This approval expires in 2 years.” Amendment seconded by Butz. Roll: Oberg, Wright, Butz, Dahlheimer, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn reported he had obtained quotes for soil borings and core samples for the Crestwood Ridge project. Estimates came in at $3,202.50 and $2,942.50 from Braun Intertec, depending on the scope of work. American Engineering Testing submitted a quote of $4,106.75. He stated the board had previously given their approval for this project. The work will commence within two months. Consensus of the board to keep the project moving forward.
OLD BUSINESS: Clerk Meuwissen reported the lease for the new office space at 203 Broadway Street will be approximately $1,059.63/month. He noted there will be additional office expenses we will incur that the AAEDC is currently absorbing. Those extra common area expenses will be approximately $390/month. Dahlheimer, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the lease at 203 Broadway Street along with the $390 estimate of other office expenses. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Meuwissen reported the town’s engineering contract with WSN expired December 31, 2025. We have received a new engineering proposal from Widseth. The contract would span two years, terminating December 31, 2028. Meuwissen said the new contract represents a 4% increase over last year. Oberg, seconded by Wright, made a motion to approve the 2-year contract with accompanying fee schedule from Widseth Smith Nolting for the term of two years. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Meuwissen reported the town’s zoning administration contract with Hometown Planning expired December 31, 2025. We have received a proposal from Hometown Planning for the year 2026. The new contract represents a 3% increase from last year. Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the zoning administration contract with Hometown Planning as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: Billie Dropik, 7604 Newman Rd NE, made a request of the board to grant him an extension to clean up his property until June 1, 2026. The board did not want to make any decisions that would compromise the court order. Clerk Meuwissen mentioned that the court order allows the town to invoice Mr. Dropik for any work or billable fees incurred in the enforcement of the Township’s Ordinances or the court order.
Being no further business, Chairman Eldevik closed the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Mark Meuwissen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2026
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman