MP08-29
Maine Prairie Township
Board Meeting
Aug 12, 2008
Chair Loewen opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. He recessed to Planning & Zoning at 7:05 p.m.
Board members present: Supervisors Dennis Loewen John Wicker, & Jim Unterberger, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff, Deputy Clerk Beverly Adolph. Others present Chuck Froehling, Ron Albers, Lonnie Hendricks, Dan Kron (Brice Green Rep), Roger Neil (Throw Fire Project), Mickey & Deborah Brower, Mark Priester & his wife, Jim Sarcone (Wind Turbine Co), Tom Zipoy, Rev. David Mills, Mayor Tammy Konz, Charles Kraft, Mary Mueller, Sarah Yozamp & her friend, & Chris Hommerding.
Chair Loewen asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes. Corrections on pg MP08-27 should read 123rd Ave S of 120th St not Hwy 55. Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report was reviewed. Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried.
Chair Loewen called for old business:
City of Rockville: Hearing is August 19, 2008 at Rockville City Hall @ 9:00 a.m.. The board made the decision to go to the hearing without council to save the cost of a lawyer. Chair Loewen will call the Administrative Law Judge to explain Maine Prairie Township’s position.
145th St: MN DOT is requesting permanent easements from the land owners on the North side of 145th St. Chair Loewen will work at obtaining those easements.
Comprehensive Growth Plan: Discussion is the township looking at doing its own planning & zoning and creating a planning board. Supervisor Wicker felt we should complete our Comprehensive Growth Plan first. Supervisor Loewen felt it might be to the townships advantage to work with other townships such as Lynden and Avon townships that have their own Comp plan. Comprehensive Growth meeting will be Aug. 26th @ 7:00 p.m. Discussion was to have a combine business meeting before the Comp meetings; Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to have a combination of Comprehensive Growth and business meeting on the 4th Tue of the month. Motion carried. Clerk explained she will check to see how it is listed in the paper, if it was put in the paper as an additional meeting Harff felt the legal notice would allow it. It is also to be listed under the calendar portion of the paper as an open meeting.
Green Acres Meeting: August 19, 2008 to discuss law changes. No one from township could attend because of Rockville Hearing.
Noxious Weeds: A concern that there is Wild Parsnip on the South end of the township on the North Side of Kingston Street on the wetland. The board felt it will need to be sprayed but wanted to speak with John Waldorf, County Weed Inspector, first to see what spray will work on this weed. Then a decision can be made on who will do the spraying. Lonnie was asked if he could do the spraying and if he would check into doing the township spraying.
Weed Ditch cutting was discussed. Supervisor Loewen was concerned of the electric fences so close to the road that the ditches could not be mowed. The land is owned by John Donnay and Kevin Donnay on Balkan Road. Supervisor Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to control the road right of ways, which includes electric fences in the right of way and to send letters to those who are violating state law and using the right of ways for farming practices. Supervisor Wicker voted No. Wicker felt the process should be work with the land owners not put demands on them. Motion carried. The discussion then was not to use letters but to speak with each farmer personally asking them to voluntarily remove their fences or stop farming the right of way. Then follow up with a letter for documentation.
Meeting with the City of Kimball will be August 21st @ 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Area representatives will be invited.
Clerk Harff attended Summer Short Course and found it very beneficial. It talked a lot about rules of order, running meetings, clerk’s position on the board, financial reporting and etc.
Clerk Harff received permission by Chair Loewen to pay Mid MN Hot Mix $164,039.95 for doing 103rd Ave with a contract explaining why $1013.00 of the contract was not paid. Before the check was paid, the contract was signed by Mid MN Representative accepting the amount paid. The contract is attached to the bill paid and a copy in the file for 103rd Ave.
Review website: Mary Mueller brought up the township website on her computer for the board to review. She will email an attachment to each supervisor to review on their own and bring changes to the next meeting.
MOU discussion came about because of the Wind Turbine Cert of Compliance for Priester’s. The board felt if the MOU was going to be changed for a Wind Turbine, other issues like towers and antennas should be included. Supervisor Wicker was concerned Environmental Services were drawing up the MOU and felt it should be done by our attorney. It was decided to look into it more thoroughly before making changes now.
Mileage rate has increased from $ .505 to $ .585 per mile to begin as of July 1, 2008. Clerk Harff learned that in Short Course that she needs a motion to make the action legal. Supervisor Loewen felt a motion was not necessary because it is set by the state and if the township follows the state mileage rate, it is automatically accepted when it is approved by the state. Clerk Harff felt a motion should be made to accept the state rate and changes at the Board of Canvass where the mileage rate is approved every year.
Chair Loewen called for any other old business, with none New Business was called for.
Supervisor Loewen received a complaint on 179th St by Goodner Lake. The concern was ditch work done and campers were gathered on the Schindele property where the house burned down. After checking it out, the proper permits were in order.
Clerk Harff was directed to send a certified letter to Lawrence Hurrle because his irrigation was spraying on 150th St & 83rd Ave.
Road Decisions: Chair Loewen asked that each month Hendricks Sand & Gravel come to the meeting with a plan as to what roads need gravel or work. Emergency issues can be dealt with immediately.
With permitting being put on the website, the clerk asked for clarification as to when and what requires a permit. Harff found the old resolution adopted on July 14, 2004 and the board is issuing permits for projects not listed as requiring permits. In the minutes of Jan 10, 2006, it showed that the cost of a hearing was increased because of the price increased at the county to record the hearings, driveway approaches, and change in window size also were listed as needing a permit. Sheds 10X12’ or larger by a lake needs a permit by the county. Clerk Harff did not know there was a resolution that set the fines, fees and permits. She is concerned that no motion to amend the resolution. Chuck Froehling would like to have it addressed because he also questions when he should be issuing a permit. It will be tabled until winter when the agenda has fewer issues.
Deputy Clerk Adolph was asked to gather one box of township papers per week from her home to either be filed or stored at the township hall. Clerk Harff will give her a list of the retention of records adopted by Maine Prairie Township in 2006.
Vern Klaverkamp was concerned when the township listed 200th street as a Minimum Maintenance Road. He felt it would lower the value of his property. Supervisor Wicker encouraged him to come before the meeting.
District 5 meeting is August 20, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at Willmar Health & Human Services Bldg.
Balsam Road: A letter was received from the Wetlands Conservation board concerning the work done with the culvert on Balsam Road. On August 25th, a meeting will be held with the Wetland Rules Committee to address anything else required to be done to complete the project.
Edom Road: A meeting will be held on site with county representatives to answer the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) evaluation on Aug 21st 8:00 a.m. to discuss the letter stating the vegetation was not sufficient and run off was going into the sediment basin. Clerk Harff showed the notice of termination report from PCA to the supervisors showing the job stated the vegetation was good. After spot check by all supervisors, it appeared to them to be sufficient vegetation. They felt the Township Association should be more involved with the issues of the Wetland conservation rules.
Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to accept the permits presented by the zoning board with the exception of the two Mastec Comcast Utility permits for Warren Lommel & Tom Klaverkamp. No permit was required for them. Motion carried.
Bills were presented.
Disbursements Check #
Hendricks Sand & Gravel Balsam Rd, 103rd $12,497.36 4339
& Grading
DiversiCom July Bill/Website 54.50 4340
Ron Albers MP08-07,09-16 2,373.00 4341
Tri Co Humane Socieity 1 Dog 53.50 4342
Stearns Co Auditor 2008 Assessing Charg 12,970.06 4343
Murnan Brandt Lawyers Detachment Legal Advice 741.00 4344
Tri Co News Variance, Weed & Mtg Notice 132.75 4345
Stearns Co Auditor Maps for Com Grow Mtg 65.00 4346
Mid MN Hot Mix Asphalt for Patching Rds 277.39 4347
MP08-32
Stearns Co Recorder Copies of Recorded Rds 5.25 4348
Mid MN Hot Mix 4,431 Yds Gravel used 12,185.25 4349
Kinko’s 150 copies of Cert of Comp 56.17 4350
Kinko’s Laminated 4 lg maps 154.08 4351
Receipts Receipt #
Interest Earned Checking $ 111.09 Bank Statement
2006 CD Interest $ 19.21 Bank Statement
2007 CD Interest $ 34.66 Bank Statement
Money Market Interest $ 907.71 Bank Statement
Stearns Co Wetland ’07 Settlement 39.56 074579
Stearns Co Wetland ’08 Settlement 734.34 074580
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to pay the bills presented. Motion carried.
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Terre Harff,
Clerk/Treasurer