Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of November 6, 2023
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 6th day of November, 2023 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 Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Butz, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 10/16/2023 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 23180 – 23195 in the amount of $26,902.76, net payroll $6,008.77, totaling $32,911.53 and a transfer of funds from savings of $25,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: Mark Lindemann, 2105 E Lake Geneva Road NE, was present to discuss his lot situated at the intersection of County Road 73 and E. Lake Geneva Road NE. He plans on building on the lot next year; however, desires to fill the lot by moving dirt from the adjacent field to his lot this fall. Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that by ordinance this requires a CUP since the request is to move more than 50 cubic yards of material and the lot is int the shoreland district. The window of opportunity for excavation is narrow due to the harvesting of crops and the onset of winter. Mr. Lindemann has applied for a conditional use permit, with a public hearing by the planning commission scheduled for November 27th. The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the town board for consideration at their December 18th meeting. Mr. Lindemann’s concern is that by time official permission is given, it will be too late to do any excavation and, with planting in the spring, he won’t be able to access the neighbor’s field until fall of 2024.
Mr. Lindemann is requesting preliminary approval to move the dirt onto his property this fall due to weather constraints. The town board did not wish to circumvent the planning commission process; therefore, their consensus is to have the applicant proceed with the public hearing on November 27th as scheduled and for the town board to move up its review of the application from the second meeting of December to the first meeting on December 4th. To expedite the review, the town board will receive all planning commission materials and have the opportunity of attending the site visit on November 15th.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Oleson reported the township attorney had sent a letter to the landowner on Le Homme Dieu Heights regarding a fence violation. A response is due by the end of this week.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: none
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported the Lakes Area Humane Society impound services contract is due to expire at the end of the year. LAHS is proposing a new contract for two years, annually renewable, with an annual fee of $18,500. This reflects a 21% increase in fees. Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to table for more information. Item tabled to the next meeting.
Clerk Raisanen reported we obtained salt/sand quotes from Douglas County and Alden Just Road Maintenance. He stated the county quoted $28.39/ton for salt/sand mixed. The county will provide salt/sand for townships; however, the municipality must retrieve it from the yard and store it. Private contractors are not allowed to access it. Historically, the township has not opted to contract with the county due to lack of equipment and no place to store the sand. Alden Just Road Maintenance quoted $42.85/ton for salt/sand mixed. Dahlheimer, seconded by Wright, made a motion to accept Alden Just Road Maintenance’s quote in the amount of $42.85/ton. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen presented a revised proposed budget for 2024. The budget amount for ALASD was lowered to the actual amount that was received from their office. He noted the levy was approved at the annual meeting. Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the proposed 2024 budget in the amount of $1.213 million. Motion carried.
The board discussed the Liberty Road public information meeting. Supervisor Dahlheimer spoke against the proposed road transfer, and no supervisors expressed interest in pursing Douglas County’s request for additional road right of way as a condition of taking over Liberty Road. No further action will be taken on this proposal.
Being no further business, Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2023
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman