Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of October 3, 2022
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 3rd day of October, 2022 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Joel Dahlheimer, Rod Eldevik, Dennis Butz and Jerry Wright. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk, with Mona Billmark, Treasurer, attending remotely. 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 regular board meeting to open the Board of Adjustment meeting for the public hearing on the variance request submitted by Shannon and Rychel Larson. Property is located at 4203 Co Rd 73 NE. The request is to allow a one-lot subdivision without connecting to public sanitary sewer.
Chairman Eldevik opened the hearing to the public for comment.
Brad Nyberg, of Nyberg Surveying, questioned the possibility of the public sanitary sewer line coming down this corridor. Chairman Eldevik responded that action has not been established.
Hearing no more comments, Chairman Eldevik closed the Board of Adjustment meeting and re-convened the regular town meeting at 6:05 pm.
Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 09/19/22 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 22182 – 22191 in the amount of $56,988.30, net payroll $4,755.90 totaling $61,744.20 and a transfer of funds from savings of $60,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Chairman Eldevik stated the town board would consider the Larson variance and preliminary plat in two separate actions, beginning with the variance. Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the applicants are proposing to plat off an existing dwelling/shed site as its own platted lot. The platted lot would be approx. 3.75 acres. The remainder parcel would be approx.15.43 acres in size and have approx. 288 ft of road frontage on Co Rd 73. The Alexandria Township Subdivision Ordinance requires connection of homes to the ALASD sewer system when platting occurs within the Urban Residential Zoning District and ALASD boundaries. The applicant is applying for a variance from this requirement due to the long distance from the existing sewer line. The closest existing sewer main line is located approx. 2,400 feet away to the west at the intersection of County Road 73 and East Lake Geneva Road NE. Due to the cost of paying for the extension of the sewer line that distance, the applicant is applying for a variance to not have to meet the requirement of connecting the lots to ALASD sewer at the time of subdivision. The proposed lots would be served with private sewer if the variance is approved and if there is any sewage generated on the sites.
Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to grant the variance to not connect to public sanitary sewer due to the distance from the sewer line along with the cost of implementation and to include the three conditions as outlined in the staff report. Roll: Wright, Butz, Dahlheimer, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson reported the applicants had submitted a one-lot preliminary plat in conjunction with the variance. The planning commission held a public hearing on the Preliminary Plat of Twigs North Side at their September 26, 2022 meeting. The plat meets minimum lot size and width requirements. The planning commission recommended approval with two conditions: 1) that the property either connect to the public sanitary sewer line or obtain a variance from the township; and 2) that any future development of the remainder parcel must connect to public sanitary sewer or obtain a variance from the township.
Wright, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the preliminary plat of Twigs North Side with the two conditions as outlined in the board report. Roll: Wright, Butz, Dahlheimer, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson reported the planning commission held a public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance amendments. They will meet again before making a final recommendation to the town board. The other two public hearing recommendations from their September 26th meeting will come before the town board at their October 17th meeting.
An inquiry was made about a potential nuisance violation on property located along Maple Drive. It was noted this has been a problem location in the past. Consensus that the property is not currently in violation.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: An inquiry has been made about the road in Gavin’s Point. Consensus to have the clerk and Engineer Kuhn respond.
Engineer Kuhn reported the majority of the 2022 road improvements have been done.
He reported the striping on Maple Drive is done, but not on Geneva Golf Club Drive.
He has received one quote for installing a drainage pipe from the Burgen Heights subdivision into Lake Burgen. He will meet with the county engineer to discuss cost sharing of this project. The contractor indicated this work would have to be completed next year.
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: Clerk Raisanen reported the town needs to appoint election judges for the general November election. He is recommending the following individuals be appointed as election judges, with Linda Dokken-McFann as head judge: Barb Sather, Mona Billmark, Becca Wesley, Linda Dokken-McFann, Deb Eigen, Paul Stennes and Jane Cavanaugh-Holmes. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to appoint the aforementioned individuals as election judges for the November 2022 general election.
Clerk Raisanen reported the summer road maintenance contract ended September 30, 2022. Alden Just has indicated he is willing to extend his summer contract until November 1, 2022. The town has advertised for winter road maintenance quotes with contract dates from November 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023. Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to extend the summer road maintenance contract with Alden Just Road Maintenance through October 31, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.
Being no further business, Butz seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2022
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman