Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of September 7, 2011
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township was held on the 7th day of September, 2011 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Bryon Alstead, Louis Ross, Jul Feuling, Joel Dahlheimer and Roger Thalman. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Mona Billmark, Treasurer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Ross at 6:00 p.m.
Alstead, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of Shadow Lane under Citizens Concerns; a General category listed as number 3 under Planning and Zoning; Burgen Terrace turnaround update listed as number 3 under Engineer’s Report and McKay Avenue pumping update under Old Business. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 08/15/2011 regular board meeting with the following corrections under Old Business: in paragraph 3 regarding the drainage issues in the Burgen Heights area, Supervisor Alstead was to follow up with the landowner; and paragraph 4 should be amended as follows: “Supervisor Feuling reported that the enforcement of the EPA requirement for contractors to be lead-certified to remodel homes that were built prior to 1978 will possibly result in fewer qualified contractors available to township residents and/or fewer permits being obtained.” Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Thalman, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 11213-11232 in the amount of $59,657.36, net payroll of $3,205.12 for a total of $62,862.48 and a transfer from savings in the amount of $61,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: Chairman Ross stated that he had been contacted by a resident inquiring as to the timeline for completion of the Shadow Lane road project. Supervisors Dahlheimer and Alstead indicated additional work was still needed. Chairman Ross to relay the information to the resident.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that he attended the public hearing on the Douglas County Comprehensive Plan. At the hearing, he made mention that our agreement with the county should be included. The county board of commissioners will officially adopt the plan next week. Oleson did not note any changes in the county plan that would significantly impact the town’s plan. Board consensus is to direct the planning commission to compile a list of revisions for presentation to the town board at year’s end.
Oleson supplied copies of the current fee schedule and indicated the board may wish to make adjustments at the first of the year. He noted in particular the shoreland alteration permits, interim use/conditional use/variance/re-zoning application fees, common property line adjustments and metes and bounds subdivisions. The town board directed Oleson to present a revised fee schedule after comparison with the county’s schedule. Deputy Clerk Fulghum raised the issue of charging a fee for insufficient funds. Board consensus was in favor of establishing a fee for insufficient funds in the area of $35. Clerk Raisanen to research and include in the 2012 fee schedule.
Zoning Administrator Oleson mentioned that the state has altered the language for variances; i.e. hardships being classified as practical difficulties, etc. The board directed Oleson to provide specific examples of what exactly constitutes a hardship and what areas are subject to interpretation.
Oleson received a complaint about a business that was not permitted in the Golden Gate area. He sent letters to the owner requesting her cooperation in contacting us and obtaining a permit. To date the only response has been the removal of a sign. The board instructed Oleson to contact the town attorney for advice in pursuing the matter.
Clerk Raisanen had received a complaint regarding a possible violation at Jack’s Family Recycling Center. Oleson will follow up with a standard annual inspection of the property.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Chairman Ross reported that we had received four quotes for the North Lake Jessie Road project. The quotes were as follows: Lakes Area Excavating – $21,965; Alden Just Road Maintenance – $23,360; Mark Lee Excavating – $25,580; and Central Specialties – $31,270. Motion by Feuling, seconded by Thalman to award the North Lake Jessie Road project to Lakes Area Excavating, with costs not to exceed $21,965.00. Roll: Dahlheimer – no, Alstead – yes, Feuling – yes, Thalman – yes, Ross – yes. Motion carried.
Chairman Ross reported that the Burgen Terrace turnaround project was complete. Supervisor Alstead to inspect.
Chairman Ross reported that we had received two proposals for the soil boring project at Apache Lane. Stork submitted a quote in the amount of $2,120; Braun Intertec’s quote was in the amount of $2,800 – $3,600. Motion by Thalman, seconded by Feuling, to accept the quote from Stork for the Apache Lane soil boring project in the amount of $2,120.00. Roll: Dahlheimer – yes, Alstead – no, Feuling – yes, Thalman – yes, Ross – yes. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS: Chairman Ross stated that the clerk had been approached by the county regarding a possible cost-share on the McKay Avenue pumping project. No cost estimates have been disclosed to date.
NEW BUSINESS: Chairman Ross stated that the current road maintenance contract expires September 30th. The winter road maintenance contract would run from October 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012. Motion by Alstead, seconded by Thalman, to direct the clerk to advertise for quotes for winter road maintenance services. Motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Alstead reported that no action was taken by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners at the special meeting held on August 30th regarding the discussion of the LEC remodel and its possible impact upon the buildings currently rented by LAR.
Supervisor Alstead presented an expense summary for the months of June – August.for LeHomme Dieu Beach.
Supervisor Alstead stated that the town’s representative on the LAR board, Jodi Gray, will resign her position when her property is annexed into the city January 2012. He asked board members to compile a list of possible replacements for consideration.
Being no further business,Thalman, seconded by Alstead, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2011
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Louis Ross, Chairman