Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of May 21, 2012
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 21st day of May, 2012 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Jul Feuling, 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.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 05/07/2012 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Niskanen, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 12109-12166 in the amount of $10,939.19, payroll of $1,855.72, EFTPS $1,262.54 totaling $14,057.45 with a transfer of funds from savings in the amount of $14,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
2011 FINACIAL AUDIT: Wayne Johnson, Chris Mitchell Accounting, reviewed the 2011 financial audit with the board. Wayne reported that the township currently has approximately $2 million in assets at the end of 2011. He indicated that the township overspent the budget by $153,000; however $450,000 was spent on roads. He provided the board with a 13 year revenue/expenditure analysis which showed that the township has only overspent revenue in three out of 13 years when significant road projects were done. All the other budget areas were on target for 2011 with the exception of planning and zoning, where it is hard to budget expenditures with the uncertainty of activity in future years.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: The Township received an anonymous complaint regarding a home based business in a residential area and too many animals. This has been forwarded to the zoning administrator to investigate.
PLANNING AND ZONING: The board discussed the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance to permit and regulate small animals not otherwise regulated; i.e. such as livestock or dogs and cats, which was previously recommended by the planning commission. These changes would allow the keeping of small animals such as chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, etc. Also included in the ordinance was a section allowing for beekeeping. The board discussed the possibility of a resident objecting due to potential allergies to bee stings. Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve Resolution 12-03, a resolution ordering adoption of Alexandria Township Ordinance 125 and repealing subdivision ordinance 120 with an amendment of the definitions in Section V, no. 2 to include Breeding and Resale in the definition. For: Niskanen, Feuling, Dahlheimer, Alstead. Against: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to adopt Resolution 12-04, a resolution ordering adoption of the summary of ordinance 125 for publication. For: Niskanen, Feuling, Dahlheimer, Alstead. Against: none. Motion carried unanimously.
The board reviewed the recommended changes to the zoning ordinance which would include the requirement of street signs as recommended by the planning commission. Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to adopt Resolution 12-05, a resolution adopting zoning ordinance 124 and repealing zoning ordinance 123. For: Niskanen, Feuling, Dahlheimer, Alstead. Against: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to adopt Resolution 12-06, a resolution ordering adoption of the summary of ordinance 124 for publication. For: Niskanen, Feuling, Dahlheimer, Alstead. Against: none. Motion carried unanimously.
The board discussed the comprehensive land use plan to determine if it will be a revision to the existing plan or a complete new plan. A decision was tabled until the next meeting.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Engineer Kuhn obtained two written quotes for gravel: Mark Lee Excavating quoted $7.50/ton and Central Specialties quoted $7.30/ton. Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to accept the quote for gravel from Central Specialties in the amount of $7.30/ton. Motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Dahlheimer reported that a culvert under 50th Ave. should be replaced. Engineer Kuhn will check with Hudson Township to determine if they are interested in cost sharing to replace the culvert.
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported that Woodland Park and Manor Hills Park were not transferred to the city as a result of the annexation. As a consequence, Woodland Park has not been cleaned or mowed this year. The City has agreed to begin maintenance on the park and is checking with the county to determine the process for the transfer of ownership to the city.
Clerk Raisanen reported that when the new drainage easement was drafted on the east side of Lake Burgen in 2009, it contained an incorrect parcel number. Instead of listing parcel 3 on the vacation of the old easement, it listed parcel 5. Attorney Paul Johnson reviewed the document to correct the mistake on the drainage easement and has no objections to the correction document. Niskanen, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the amendment to the easement agreement and vacation of easement that was drafted to correct the original agreement dated October 13, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.
Being no further business, Feuling, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2012
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Bryon Alstead, Chairman