Maine Prairie Township
Board Meeting
February 12, 2008
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. He
directed the meeting to the members of the City of Rockville to present
their information concerning wanting to annex into the township. He then
recessed the board meeting to the Planning & Zoning to reconvene at 7:20
p.m. to the town board meeting.
Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Jim Unterberger, & Dennis
Loewen, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff, Deputy Clerk Beverly Adolph. Others
present Chuck Froehling, Mike Loesch & Gene Mertens. Ron Albers was absent.
Gene Mertens explained that a petition to disband from the City of Rockville was sent to the State Office of Administrative Hearings and a Statement of Resolution was given to the City of Rockville on February 4, 2008. Gene explained he has 90% of the needed resident signatures with some on vacation. Mike Loesch stated that he felt things were on hold until financial impact figures could be investigated by the City of Rockville. Next scheduled meeting for Rockville to discuss the petition is set for February 27th. Chair Wicker would like more info to present to the Annual meeting.
Chair Wicker called for any additions to the minutes of January 9, 2008. With many deletions and rewording, Clerk Harff did not understand what the board is looking for in minutes. Chair Wicker explained less detail more condensed. Clerk Harff will make all the changes and send to the supervisors. Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept the corrected minutes. Motion carried.
Treasurers Report: Clerk Harff explained the IRS and PERA payments for the 4th quarter will need to come out of 2008 expenditures. With December 31st on the weekend the payment was not taken out of the checking account until Jan 3rd. The auditors explained that the 4th quarter payments can continue to come out of the next year expenditures as accounts payable. Supervisor Loewen requested the plaque money be moved from the Township Fund and have it come out of General Fund. With the board members in agreement, Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report with the change. Motion carried.
Old Business: Clerk Harff noted that the monthly March meeting date was
changed to Thursday March 6th.
She also noted the LUCA meetings are set for February 16th and 29th.
Addresses were handed out to the supervisors for locating on their road
tour.
Audit was completed on January 30th & 31st at Clerk Harff’s home. She felt it went real well with concerns that we did not have enough collateral to cover our investments again because a large amount of money came in on December 27th and the bank could not get enough to cover it before the end of the year. Also we did not have a performance bond for the big road project again. She explained we had a bid bond and reclamation bond.
Kimball City Council/Maine Prairie joint meeting minutes were taken by City Clerk Robinson. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept. Motion carried.
Meetings with the Kimball Fire Department and Watkins Fire Departments were discussed. Supervisor Unterberger explained that Watkins Ambulance Service is in need of funding. Many had not paid for services; Medicare only pays half the bill, fuel costs all added to the shortage. They had 322 calls this year with EMT’s receiving $12.00 per call with calls averaging 3 hours. Discussion was to make sure it was noted at the annual meeting.
Sign Policy: Clerk Harff said that we never did adopt the sign policy. Corrections were made but never reviewed after the December 17th meeting. With the removal of the exact cost of the signs and highway sign
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description, Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion accept the changes
and adopt the Sign Policy. Supervisor Wicker – Yes, Supervisor Loewen – Yes
and Supervisor Unterberger – Yes. Motion carried
Maine Prairie Township
Sign Policy
911 Address Sign
The township understands the importance of the 911 Fire Address Systems. So
the township will purchase and install that warning sign for the residents
dwelling property only.
1. If there are two dwellings on one parcel of land, the township will pay for one (1) 911 sign and its installation. The request for any other 911 sign will be at cost to the owner at township rates for the purchase of the sign and its installation. For liability reasons, the sign must be install by the township supervisor in charge.
2) If there are only out buildings on a parcel of land with no dwelling residents, the township will require the owner of the parcel to pay for any 911 sign at cost to the owner at township rates for the purchase of the sign and its installation. For liability reasons, the sign must be install by the township supervisor in charge.
3) If a business is on site at the dwellings parcel of land and the resident requests a separate address for the business. The 911 signs will be at cost to the owner at township rates for the purchase of the sign and its installation. For liability reasons, the sign must be install by the township supervisor in charge.
Business Advertising Signs
The township realizes that businesses need to advertise their business.
There are ordinances that cover the requirements. Refer to Stearns County
Ordinance 209.7.20. Maine Prairie Township follows Stearns County Ordinance
with the exception of:
1. The township requires a renewable permit from the zoning administrator
to be renewed every other year.
Adopted this day, February 12, 2008
Other old Business: 145th Street: Jody Teich, Stearns Co Hwy Dept is working with Wenck Engineering on cost cutting.
New Business: Hommerding Dog complaint. Supervisor Wicker went out to see the dogs were being cared for, things were in fair condition they all had water and shelter, but found the dogs were located close to the Joan Carlson home. Complaint was one of the dogs got loose and killed the neighbor’s cat. When the renewal comes due, Supervisor Wicker felt it should be reviewed.
Paynesville Comp Growth Plan meeting in Paynesville: In attendance, Supervisors Loewen, Unterberger, Clerk Harff, and Chuck Froehling. Dave Knaflia from Stearns County Environmental Services talked about taking over site permits not requiring the residents to get signatures from townships. Feedlot requirements were getting stricter. Discussion was that Maine Prairie needs to work on their Comprehensive Growth Plan inviting Jerry Finch from Lynden Township after LUCA program is over. Issue tabled
A letter was sent to Randy Schaefer concerning electronic depositing of county money. No response.
Township Day at the Capitol will be February 27th to meet at St Cloud
Holiday Inn by 8:40 a.m. If interested contact Clerk Harff. The cost is
$5.00 per person.
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Township Short Course is March 24th will have an agenda before next meeting.
Annual Meeting Agenda was discussed. Added was City of Rockville Residents requesting to be a part of Township, Township Hall location and building, and Website.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to have the Board of Audit meeting at the March 6th monthly meeting. Motion carried
Kimball Rod and Gun Club wanted a gambling license for a raffle on September 17th, 2008. Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to issue the gambling license. Motion carried.
Chair Wicker received a letter from MPCA concerning the City of Kimball Waste Water Treatment.
Human Services letter was reviewed. Kept on file in case we would need to use their services in the future.
Chair Wicker received an invitation letter to the Sauk River Watershed meeting on February 28th. Supervisor Loewen said he would try to attend.
Complaint call from Greg Nystuen on 98th Ave wanting a review of his road.
Clerk Harff needs to get the serial numbers for the HAVA machine and Tabulator machine for the Stearns County Auditor.
Clerk Harff showed the townships new laptop and how it works. She purchased it from Office Depot and she has two estimates of other computers similar that were $200 higher. She explained she removed all Social Security numbers except the last 4 digits for protection from theft.
Supervisor Unterberger spoke with Dennis Kueseke about his property by Dellwood Road. Unterberger will get information to present to the Annual Meeting.
Chuck Froehling presented building costs for the drawn up plan for the board to review. The information will presented at the Annual meeting.
Supervisor Unterberger said the plaques will not be large enough. After searching through the old minute books, there are more supervisors than expected.
Deputy Clerk Adolph asked about the Pope property if anything was done. Wicker did not think so.
Fire Department boundaries were discussed with a question out by Goodner Lake. Watkins and Kimball Fire Department are working on getting things corrected.
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the planning and zoning permit. Motion carried.
Bills were presented:
Bills were presented to the board:
Disbursements Check #
Hendricks Sand & Gravel Snow Removal $ 3,636.00 4261
DiversiCom Telephone December Bill 37.77 4262
City of Kimball Hall Rent 1,000.00 4263
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Tri Co News Legal Filing Notice 40.00 4264
Office Depot Lap Top Computer 668.74 4265
Office Depot Computer Case & supplies 125.64 4266
Receipts Receipt #
Interest Earned Checking $ 235.43 Bank Statement
2006 CD Interest $ 18.70 Bank Statement
2007 CD Interest $ 18.77 Bank Statement
Money Market Interest $ 1,140.28 Bank Statement
Stearns County Gravel Tax 2,226.59 074521
James Strodtman Siding & windows 30.00 074522
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to pay the bills. Motion carried
Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried.
Terre Harff,
Maine Prairie Township, Clerk/Treasurer