Maine Prairie Township
Board Meeting
June 10, 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 John Wicker, Jim Unterberger, & Dennis Loewen, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff, Deputy Clerk Beverly Adolph. Others present Chuck Froehling, Lonnie Hendricks, and Kevin Libbesmeier.
Chair Loewen asked if there were any additions or corrections to the May minutes. With name corrections and wording with irrigation spraying onto the road right of way needing correcting. Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report was reviewed. Clerk Harff explained we should be getting the county revenue money in June. Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried.
Chair Loewen called for old business:
City of Rockville: With no further information it will be tabled for July meeting.
Dust Control: Supervisor Unterberger explained dust guarding was completed and the bill was going to be more because of the extra roads done completely. All of Dellwood was done and 66th, North of Dellwood. It came to 51,000 lineal feet of road dust coated. Clerk Harff said that she did not deposit Dennis Carlson’s money, wanted to know if she should. She was directed to do so. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the increased bill from Tri City Paving and pay it. Motion carried.
145th St: Supervisor Wicker received an email from Jody Teich. Supervisor Loewen will check with Wenck Engineering to see if they have done the proper paperwork. Supervisor Wicker felt that DNR might be willing to pay a larger amount.
Comprehensive Growth Plan: Supervisor Loewen felt we should start working on a new plan and suggested that we work a few sections at a time. The reason to work on a new plan was to make a more detailed plan so we don’t have so much trouble at the county level. Road planning is one of the big issues at the county. It was suggested to have the first meeting on Tue, June 24th at 7:00 p.m., Clerk Harff will contact John Gohlman to make sure the fire hall is available and with Clerk Harff on vacation; Deputy Clerk Adolph will be in attendance. Supervisor Wicker suggested 9 square sections done up in a map. Supervisor Loewen will contact Jerry Finch from Lynden Twp to see if he can also attend to give an explanation on how they went about constructing their plan.
Tarring 127th: The residents of 127th St agreed to pay the $9,000.00 towards the paving. Supervisor Unterberger said that there are three residents that will need extended time to pay their portion. Clerk Harff will come up with a contract between the residents to give them until December 31, 2008 to pay their portion. If the residents do not come up with the money by that time, the amount owed will be assessed to their taxes. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to tar 127th with the understanding the un-paying residents will sign a contract stating if they didn’t pay by Dec. 31st it will be assessed against their taxes with interest. Motion carried.
Chair Loewen called for any other old business, with none New Business was called for.
Weight restrictions on 121st St: Tom Gregory had a problem this spring when cement trucks could not haul because the posted restriction is 5 ton. Supervisor Wicker called the sheriff’s office to have it explained how the restrictions work. He found out if you don’t post weight restrictions the road weight is what it is built for with no restrictions. But if it is posted 5 ton, you are not to haul over that. Wicker also talked with Bauerly’s to see what the weight limit is on that road. Mark, from Bauerly’s explained without engineering; he could not say for certain but thought it was 7-9 ton. It was suggested to leave the restriction signs up year round to protect the road.
Township Website: Discussion was to have Mary come in to the July meeting and present what she has done thus far. The board felt it not necessary to add County Phone Numbers on the website, just link to the County. Thought frequently asked questions was a good thing but could not decide if they should have top drop downs or side drop downs.
The newsletter was reviewed; changes were burning permit sites (some deleted), state the audit was completed and the budget but remove the company who did the audit, add about township website, correct donation wording and change the wording on the irrigation section.
Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger attended the Library meeting on June 5th; they felt it was informational and well attended.
Summer Short Course is set for July 18th; renewal of Board of Appeals certificate is on the agenda. Table till July meeting.
Minimum Maintenance Road: Clerk Harff noticed that “Minimum Maintenance” signs were purchased. She wanted to know what road they were for and there should be a motion to list that road as minimum maintenance. Supervisor Unterberger stated it was for 200th street (Pope’s road). He spoke with the family and it was accepted by them to put the sign up. Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to declare 200th Street as a minimum maintenance road. Motion carried.
Chair Loewen went to the League of Cities meeting, found it to be very interesting.
Weed Tour: Supervisors will need to start to look for noxious weeds and report them to the clerk. Tabled until July meeting.
Supervisor Loewen felt we should be putting up road counters on Dellwood Road with one off of Hwy 15 and one off of 66th. Loewen will work at it once he gets the counters.
Clerk Harff ordered new deposit slips and needs a motion to pay the bill. Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to pay the bill. Motion carried.
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the permits
presented by Planning and Zoning. Motion carried.
MP08-23
Bills were presented:
Disbursements Check #
Hendricks Sand & Gravel Blading,Haul Gravel $19,495.55 4309
DiversiCom May. Bill 37.95 4310
Ron Albers Permits MP08-04-06 1,245.00 4311
Murnane Brandt Lawyers Detachment conference 2,850.95 4312
M-R Sign Co Rd Safety Signs 322.26 4313
MATIT Insurance PAL, E&O Liability 1,486.00 4314
Tri City Paving Dust Control 24,476.60 4315
State Bank of Kimball Bank Deposit Slips 27.95 Bank Statement
Dennis Loewen Mileage 148.87 4316
James Unterberger Mileage 270.18 4317
John Wicker Mileage 75.25 4318
Terre Harff Postage & Mileage 120.47 4319
2nd Qtr Payroll 451.59 4320
2nd Qtr Payroll 2,302.00 4321
2nd Qtr Payroll 846.63 4322
2nd Qtr Payroll 1,605.32 4323
2nd Qtr Payroll 994.44 4324
Fed Ex Kinko’s 809 Newsletters sent 493.66 4325
Receipts Receipt #
Interest Earned Checking $ 134.56 Bank Statement
2006 CD Interest $ 19.06 Bank Statement
2007 CD Interest $ 34.47 Bank Statement
Money Market Interest $ 957.35 Bank Statement
Mark Stommes Dust Control 187.50 074545
Dennis Carlson Dust Control 100.00 074546
Stearns County 1st Half Revenue 199,827.97 074547
Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to pay the bills. Motion carried
Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen/ made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried.
Terre Harff,
Clerk/Treasurer