ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of July 28, 2025
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 28th day of July, 2025 at the Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann, Jessica Fettig and Julie Haar. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Steidl at 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: Steinbrecher, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Steinbrecher, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 6/23/2025 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the interim use request submitted by Mid Minnesota Grinding & Mulch, Inc. located at 4605 County Road 82 SE.
Public Hearing: Mark LeBrun, representing Mid Minnesota Grinding & Mulch, Inc., stated his company wants to start a leaf grass clipping / composting site off County Road 82 SE. No brush, garbage or food waste would be allowed. The area will be monitored by cameras. He will have a dumpster onsite for bags, etc. He acknowledges there will be a bit of an odor when the clippings are rotated, comparing it to the smell of corn silage. Signage would be installed stating “No Garbage, No Brush, Leaves and Grass Clippings Only.”
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the applicant plans to utilize just a small portion of the 47-acre parcel off County Road 82 SE. He noted the area is zoned Commercial-Urban. The ordinance doesn’t have an actual “use category” for this type of business, so it will default into the C-U category. By ordinance, the application will be processed as an interim use permit, which has a time limit. Lawn clippings and leaves can be dropped off by anyone from the public as well as lawncare contractors. The applicant plans to sell the finished product to local landscapers and nurseries. Oleson said Douglas County Public Works has no concerns regarding traffic, in part due to the bypass lane.
Chairman Steidl closed the meeting and opened the hearing to the public for comment.
Ritchie Spindler, 851 Apache Lane SE, stated he lives in a very nice area and does not want to have leaves and debris blowing around the neighborhood. Mr. LeBrun said there are procedures in place to avoid that scenario. His office is located in one of the buildings in that area, enabling him to monitor the start-up business.
Josh Gladis, 3725 Pawnee Dr SE, asked what happens if people leave things they shouldn’t and who will be responsible for disposing of that waste. Mr. LeBrun stated if that happens, he will check cameras for license plates and contact law enforcement. He acknowledged it may be at his cost to dispose of those items that are inappropriately left. He also assured the public that there will not be a grinder on site. A trommell machine will be onsite perhaps 2 days a year to clean and screen the material and then it will be trucked out by semi-trailer.
Craig Erickson, 301 Erickson Heritage, asked if the composting site could be moved around the property. Mr. LeBrun said it will remain in the indicated spot on the map indicated in the staff report or, if needed, behind the adjacent building to the east. If the business takes off and there is too much product, he may need to truck out material to his property in Osakis.
Pat Bruggeman, 4218 Heritage, asked if there will be a cement perimeter. Mr. LeBrun responded yes. He also asked where the inlet and outlet for the business would be located. Mr. LeBrun responded off the bypass lane from County Road 82 SE.
Mr. LeBrun mentioned he has received endorsement from both the Mayor of the City of Alexandria and Pope Douglas County Sanitation.
Chairman Steidl closed the public hearing and reconvened the meeting.
Haar, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to recommend approval of the Mid Minnesota Grinding & Mulch IUP application based on the findings of fact and 7 conditions outlined in the staff report, with changes to conditions 1, 2, 3 5 and 6 as follows:
Condition No. 1 to read “The approved interim use permit shall be for the collection and composting of leaves and grass clippings only. No large stumps or tree branches, food waste, general household waste, electronics or any other waste material shall be allowed. The composting facility shall be limited to the area identified in the application (the gravel-surfaced parking area approximately 150-325 feet north of the County Road 82 right of way between PIDs 03-1799-000 and 03-1758-000), and will also include an overflow area directly behind parcel no. 03-1758-000 within 140 feet of the property line. Any expansion of the use beyond that area shall require an amended interim use permit;
Condition No. 2 to read “The applicant shall install appropriate security measures to prevent and aid in enforcement of unauthorized dumping. This shall include, at a minimum, the installation of the proposed concrete “jersey barriers” around the composting site and the installation of a security camera that saves recorded video for a sufficient time to aid in enforcement. Should unauthorized dumping become a regular problem, the applicant shall install security fencing to prevent unauthorized vehicle access to the site. The applicant shall be responsible for disposing of unauthorized waste;
Condition No. 3 to read “The use shall not generate excessive odors or attract unusual amounts of mice or other vermin to the site such that it becomes a nuisance or health hazard to occupants of nearby businesses or the public dropping off materials. The compost pile shall be turned only as much as is needed during the hours of 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. to aid in the composting and final processing of the material;
Condition No. 5 to read “The current owner shall be responsible to identify and comply with all other local, state and federal regulations applicable to their proposed use and alteration of their property; and
Condition No. 6 to read “The interim use permit shall be valid for three years. The applicant must either discontinue use at that time or apply for a new interim use permit or obtain approval as per the applicable zoning ordinance at that time.”
Roll: Haar, Steinbrecher, Dokken-McFann, Feuling, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the consideration of amendments to the township’s zoning ordinance related to the regulation of cannabis businesses including their location, operation, and permitting procedures for zoning purposes. Sections of the zoning ordinance to be amended include: III (Zoning District Regulations), V (Performance Standards), VI (Administration) and VII (Definitions).
Oleson reported that over the last few years, cannabis was legalized in Minnesota. State law doesn’t allow the township to prohibit cannabis businesses entirely, but we can limit where those operations will be established. Douglas County is permitting these types of businesses as conditional uses. Oleson recommends the township permit them as interim uses.
Commissioner Dokken-McFann suggested under BB. Cannabis Businesses, 4(e ) General Requirements, to recommend 1000-foot setbacks for all the following: educational institutions, licensed daycare facilities, residential treatment facilities, public areas frequented regularly by minors, and places of religious worship (excluding cemeteries).
Dokken-McFann, seconded by Haar, made a motion to recommend approval of the zoning amendments regarding cannabis as presented in the staff report with the 1000-foot setback change mentioned above if deemed legal to do so. Roll: Haar, Steinbrecher, Dokken-McFann, Fettig, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business: none
Old Business: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Oleson provided an update on permitting activities.
Adjournment: Being no further business Steinbrecher, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Administrative Assistant
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2025
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Larry Steidl, Chairman