Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of 03-14-2006
The annual meeting of Alexandria Township was held on the 14th. Day of March 2006 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hwy. 29 North, Alexandria, MN.
Clerk Raisanen opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:05 PM.
Russ Niskanen, seconded by David Kjos, made a motion to nominate Rod Eldevik as moderator for the meeting. Nomination ceased. A unanimously ballot was placed for Rod Eldevik as moderator.
The meeting was turned over to Rod Eldevik at 8:10 PM.
Bryon Alstead, seconded by Larry Steidl, made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
APPROVE MINUTES: David Kjos, seconded by Russell Niskanen, made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 14, 2005 annual meeting as written. Motion carried.
CLERKS REPORT: Clerk Raisanen reported that the Township was in a sound financial condition at the end of the year. The ending fund balance for the year was $341,537 compared to a beginning fund balance of $286,702 with an increase of $54,835. Total Revenue for the year was $884,760 compared to $788,483 in 2004, an increase of $96,267. Total expenditures for the year were $829,925 compared to $1,058,859 in 2004. The biggest decrease in spending was due to the fact there were fewer paving projects completed during the year.
Major road improvement projects completed during the past year were the paving of the roads in the E. Lake Burgen area. In 2006, the township plans on rebuilding the roads in the Golden Gate Area and will be overlaying roads in the Carneva Acres area. In 2007, the roads in the Golden Gate area are planned to be paved and work will continue in the Nature’s Edge plat.
Clerk Raisanen reported the township has continued to review new plats within the township. Geneva East subdivision was built in 2005 and work has begun on the PUD, Jessie’s Meadows.
Clerk Raisanen reported that the township has contracted with CGI to complete a comprehensive land use plan for the township and Ben Oleson, CGI, will present a report later on in the meeting.
Clerk Raisanen reported that the township board of supervisors has secured an alternate location for township meeting at 610 Fillmore St., Suite 8. Good Shepherd Church has been excellent site for previous meetings, however because of conflicts, the board is making the recommendation that the location for future meetings change. Voting will continue to be held at Good Shepherd Church.
Clerk Raisanen presented the proposed budget and levy recommendations made by the board of supervisors for the residents consideration. Total 2006 levy recommended payable in 2007 is $812,371 a 4% reduction from the 2005 levy.
Louis Ross, seconded by John Knowles, made a motion to approve the Clerk’s Report. Motion carried.
ALEXANDRIA AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: David Kjos, Alexandria Township’s representative on the AAEDC presenting information regarding past year accomplishments of the AAEDC. He indicated that the commission has continued to be successful in helping businesses retain and create new jobs. He reported that Douglas County currently has 20,000 jobs and has seen an increase in the number of jobs the previous five years. In 2005, there has been $8,000,000 spent on new infrastructure, which has resulted in the increase of 43 new jobs and the retention of 280 jobs.
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN: Ben Oleson, CGI, gave a summary of the proposed comprehensive land use plan. He reported that work began on the plan in August 2005 with a series of public meetings. He reported that the following portions of the plan have been completed: Land use, Public Services, Parks and Recreation, and Governance. The next steps in the process is to finish and adopt the plan after it has been sent for review to surrounding units of governments and possible adopt ordinances to govern the plan.
Larry Steidl, seconded by Virginia Sheldon, made a motion to move the location of future meetings of the Alexandria Township Board of Supervisors and Alexandria Township Planning Commission to 610 Fillmore Street, Suite 5, Alexandria, MN. Motion carried.
2006 LEVY, payable 2007: John Knowles, seconded by Bryon Alstead, made a motion to act on the levy as a total amount. Motion carried.
Clerk Raisanen presented a proposed levy for the following amounts: General Revenue- $152,822, Road & Bridge- $180,525, Blacktop- $175,520, ALASD- $119,035, Snow & Weed- $50,847, Parks & Recreation- $34,000, Fire Protection- $99,622, Economic Development- $0. Total recommended levy amount for 2006 is $812,371 a decrease of 4.0% from 2006. Dale Sheldon, seconded by John Knowles, made a motion to approve the 2006 Levy, payable in 2007, in an amount of $812,371. Motion carried.
2007 MEETING DATE: Louis Ross, seconded by Julie Fueling, made a motion to set the 2007 annual township meeting on March 13, 2007 at 8:00 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Motion carried.
Clerk Raisanen reported that Gregg Raisanen received 89 votes for Clerk, Bryon Alstead received 81 votes for Supervisor and Shawn Green received 18 votes for Supervisor.
Being no further business, Leonard Harris, seconded by Joel Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully Submitted…..
Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this _____ day of _________, 2007