Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of September 16, 2024
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 16th day of September 2024 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Rod Eldevik, Joel Dahlheimer, Dennis Butz, Jerry Wright and Jeff Oberg. Also present were Clerk Mark Meuwissen and Treasurer Mona Billmark. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Butz, seconded by Wright, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 9/4/24 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Wright, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 24178 – 24185 in the amount of $5,373.65, EFTPS in the amount of $1,697.04, net payroll $1,491.45 totaling $8,562.14 and a transfer of funds from savings of $6,000. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: The Board considered the conditional use and planned unit development application submitted by Lucas Mogenson for property owned by Thompson-Riley LLC along Old Glory Dr. NE. Zoning Administrator Oleson stated the requirements for a public hearing were met on August 26, 2024. Significant concerns were expressed regarding not only current standing stormwater, but also that future stormwater flow should not be allowed to negatively impact neighboring properties. The Alexandria Township Planning Commission recommended approval with several conditions, including one (condition no. 6) requiring a stormwater management plan for the development.
Dahlheimer stated that the current culverts and holding ponds seem to be working as intended. Wright asked if there were designated wetlands. Engineer Kuhn said there were no areas designated as a wetland. Eldevik inquired whether the Sauk River Watershed had approved a stormwater management plan or had otherwise expressed approval of the planned unit development. Oleson said the Watershed district had been contacted and provided with stormwater plans from when the original Geneva Estates East plat was approved by Douglas County, but nothing has been approved as far as he is aware. Oleson stated a future request to re-plat the existing 7 parcels into the proposed 10 units (5 twinhomes) would have to include a stormwater management plan. The Sauk River Watershed would have jurisdiction also and would have to approve the plan. If a retention pond was needed, it would be included in the stormwater management plan and shown on the revised plats. Oleson further clarified that the Township Board would have opportunity to deny the plat revisions if they felt the stormwater flow was not adequately addressed.
Motion by Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, that the CUP and PUD be approved as presented with the conditions of approval for each as recommended by the Planning Commission. Roll: Dahlheimer, Butz, Wright, Oberg, Eldevik – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Other planning and zoning items of business: Oleson stated a letter had been sent from our Township Attorney to property owners located at 3503 Maple Drive. The Attorney’s letter requested resolution of the violations of the Outdoor Storage and Public Nuisance ordinances by November 4, 2024. The letter referred to prior requests made by the Township and detailed possible fines or actions if the violations are not corrected.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: A citizen expressed concern over increased truck traffic on Maple Dr SE, commonly known as County Road 23. Engineer Kuhn stated this traffic was part of construction activity on Interstate 94 and would be temporary. The increased traffic was not on any township roads.
Kuhn reported there were questions from Carlos Township about who would be required to provide road maintenance along the small section of road formerly known as County Road 120 that was taken over by the Township with an agreement approved by motion on May 20, 2024. It was agreed that the Township had responsibility for any needed road maintenance.
The Township received two requests to install streetlights. The request for a streetlight on West Lake Jessie Drive SE did not specify a location. Oberg observed that adding a streetlight would be expensive and hard to justify. It was agreed that without a more detailed written request listing the location and the reason for the request, no action would be taken by the Board. The second location is located on Pawnee Drive West. Kuhn agreed to get an estimate or quote on the cost of installing a new streetlight at the requested location.
OLD BUSINESS: Clerk Meuwissen reported he agreed to a one-year renewal rate on the $1,000,000 CD with Bremer Bank. Meuwissen said the bank was responsive to the Township’s needs and the renewal rate was very competitive. The board was in agreement with renewing the CD at Bremer Bank. No action was deemed necessary since the renewal will happen automatically.
Meuwissen updated the Board on the Annexation of property by the City of Nelson. Considerable progress has been made preparing a timeline and obtaining affidavits to submit to the Administrative Judge. Meuwissen believes the documents will be sent to the Attorney for review within a few days. Our Township Attorney believes that if the testimonies and attached documents convince the Administrative Judge that sewer service is available for the subject parcels, then the City of Nelson cannot use Minnesota Statute to annex the properties.
Eldevik reminded the Board that in response to the Administrative Judge’s questions, the City of Nelson decided to hold a new public hearing with appropriate notice to satisfy the statute requirements. Meuwissen reported that no notice of a new public hearing had been received by the Township.
NEW BUSINESS: none.
Being no further business, Chairman Eldevik adjourned the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Mark Meuwissen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2024
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman