Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of July 15, 2013
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 15th day of July, 2013 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jul Feuling, Lyle Hammerschmidt, Joel Dahlheimer and Russell Niskanen. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Alstead at 6:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of trees under new business. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 7/01/2013 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Niskanen, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 13150 – 13158 in the amount of $92,078.49, EFTPS of $1,287.92 for a total of $93,366.41 and a transfer of funds of $93,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: None
PLANNING AND ZONING: None
ENGINEER’S REPORT: County Engineer Dave Robley was present to discuss the feasibility of Douglas County’s turning back a portion of CR 85 to Alexandria Township. Douglas County took over the road from the township in 1978 and overlaid the blacktop most recently in 2003. Engineer Robley described the two possible ways that this road could be turned back to the township: 1) a public hearing and then the county’s maintaining the road for two years or 2) both entities entering into an agreement. He reported that the county has spent approximately $15,000/year to maintain the road during the past 2 years. The township and county have traded roads in the past; however, in this case there is no road that would serve the county at the present time. Clerk Raisanen will meet with Supervisors Niskanen and Dahlheimer to make a recommendation on a possible dollar amount for the proposed turn back.
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: Dean Birkeland, Carlson-Highland, was present to review the recently completed financial audit. He reported that the township received a clean opinion. Total net assets at the end of 2012 were $2,046,392 with a fund balance of $811,301 which was an increase of $133,521 from the previous year. The general fund budget was underspent by $34,424.
ENGINEER’S REPORT CONTINUED: Engineer Kuhn reported that Mark Lee Excavating has been using magnets to remove the metal on 50th Ave. that was inadvertently applied in the gravel. They will continue this operation after each time the road surface has been graded. It appears that most of the metal has been removed. Engineer Kuhn reported that the gravel appears to be good material; however, there is concern that the concrete in the gravel may result in increased dust. The board discussed withholding a portion of payment to the contractor until fall.
Engineer Kuhn reported that Matt Zimmerman, who owns the tax forfeited property on Neewana Beach Rd,. has been in contact with him and intends to build a home on the parcel. There is concern from the board that this lot is prone to flooding and that a large portion is a delineated wetland. The township had installed a drainage pipe on this property to reduce flooding. The lot was not assessed when the road was blacktopped.
Supervisor Hammerschmidt reported that there are additional trees located along W. Lake Jessie Drive that are extending to the roadway. Supervisor Dahlheimer will contact the road maintenance contractor to trim.
Being no further business, Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
______________________________________
Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2013
_______________________________________
Bryon Alstead, Chairman