MP08-49                                                        
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
November 13, 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, Wayne Larson, Bob Pike, Don Simmon (City of Rockville Councilman), Rick Hanson,(Road maintenance supervisor for the City of Rockville), and Mac McElroy from Winkelman Environmental.
 
Chair Loewen called for any additions or corrections to the minutes, with just spelling corrections, Supervisor’s Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections.  Motion carried.
 
Treasurer’s report was reviewed.  Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried.
 
Chair Loewen went to New Business to allow the City of Rockville board to speak.
 
The City of Rockville representatives were present to come to an agreement for the shared roads. With the judge ruling in favor of the residents, the detachment process became effective November 5, 2008.  The Grand Lake Road becomes a shared road and the majority of the road is in the city.  Two miles of 210th Street is also a shared road.  Options discussed were to have the city continue to take care of these roads.   Rick Hanson stated they checked with the City of St Joseph and they charge $100.00 an hour. It was also suggested to go on a 5 year rotation like is done on a road in the township, or on a rotation of odd and even years.  With no agreement, it was decided the board members would attend the City meeting on Wed. at 6:30 p.m. and try to reach an agreement with their whole board.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to have Unterberger, Wicker and Lonnie Hendricks go to the city meeting and act on the townships behalf.  Motion carried.
 
Rick Hanson did say a speed study was done on 210th by request of the residents. The decision was to leave the speed at 55 mph.  Hanson asked if the city would continue to do the work, what would happen if the road becomes damaged, who would be responsible.  Hanson also explained the city had seal coating in their budget for 2009 for Evergreen Road.  It was agreed that the city and the township needs to come up with some type of road agreement.  Hanson was asked to have their clerk send a copy of an agreement to Clerk Harff for review before their meeting. 
 
Supervisor Wicker also asked the city representatives to contact him when they have their fire board meetings.  Wicker is the fire board representatives for the City of Rockville. 
 
Clerk Harff spoke with Jerry Roering from the Auditor’s office and she was informed that the revenue money for 2009 will still be given to the City of Rockville.  The township will not see any tax money until 2010.  Supervisor Loewen will check into this before the meeting. 
 
Chair Loewen called for old business:
 
Website:  With no one checking out the website, it will continue to be tabled. 
 
145th Street:  The final lift will not take place until spring but the permanent easements for Bob Stein, Nancy & Willliam Herges and Richard Stein will need to recorded at Stearns Co.  Wicker explained the State Park Fund will also put $37,000.00 towards the project. 
 
Comprehensive Growth Plan:  Meeting is set for November 25th.  Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to hire Community Growth Institute as the group to guide us through the process.  Motion carried.    Bob Pike was concerned the committee was going to be expected to make decisions they were not qualified enough to make.  Pike also suggested the township make a list of grievances with the county so those could be addressed in the growth plan.   Chair Loewen will contact Mr Marohn and if he cannot make the Nov. 25th meeting the meeting will be rescheduled.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the 9 members willing to work with the supervisors on the Growth Plan.  With discussion, Loewen amended his motion to state the final decisions will be done by the board; Seconded by Wicker.  Motion carried.  Committee members chosen are:  Bob Pike, Ron Kuechle, Ed Borman, Gretchen Kuseske, Karla Asfeld, Bill Herges, Dave Lochen, Tom Ehlinger, and Bernie Miller. 
 
Letter to Larry Hurrle:  A certified letter was returned un-signed for.  The board felt it important that the letter get delivered so the same problems with his irrigation units will not happen again next year.  Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to have Loewen hand deliver the letter.  Motion carried. 
 
Clerk Harff was directed to send a letter to Hank Schreifels at Environmental Services concerning Tom Siebens requesting them to address the complaints the township is getting with a restraining order to not allow any more refuse to be put on Sieben’s property. 
 
Washout on Hwy 55 by Pope’s land:  Loewen explained that the MNDOT is working with County Soil and Water in repairing the washout since it is in the State right of way. 
 
Township Association Meeting:  Clerk Harff and Supervisor Wicker attended.  Both felt it was very interesting and informative.  Supervisors from other townships are concerned of losing permit control.  Larry Horsch suggested the townships get together with him and he would like to hear what kind of problems the townships are having with environmental services.  The association also discussed the sign resolution passed at the last meeting.  The association is going to pursue funding for updating the road signs. 
 
KDV Auditing Company:  Clerk Harff received a letter from KDV, stating their company will send the audit to the state as required by law with no additional charge.  Supervisor Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to have KDV do the audit for 2008.  Motion carried.  Chair Loewen signed the papers.
 
Chair Loewen called for any further New Business:
 
MOU: The board feels the MOU will need to be looked at with the help of a lawyer.  Unterberger explained how the MOU was first put together with the help of the county.  The board would give the information of change to the county and they would type it into the existing MOU.  Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to get the information into Peter Thiede’s hands for review and any suggestions he might have in updating the MOU. 
 
Supervisor Wicker asked Lonnie what type of salt/sand mixture is used.  He was contacted by owners of Powder Ridge on 93rd Ave and they are willing to pay for more salting of the road pass Powder Ridge Ski Area.  It was stated the making of snow causes some of the ice on the road.  Lonnie explained about the shortage and cost of salt is real high right now.  He was not sure if he would have enough for the whole winter, depending on what kind of winter we have.  Plowing was discussed and it is main roads are plowed first, and then school bus routes.  There was discussion about snow plowing the new roads added by the detachment. 
 
A bill for $854.71 was received from the Office of Administrative Hearings for the detachment process with Maine Prairie’s share 10% of the cost.  Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to pay the Law Judge’s fee of $854.71.  Motion carried.
 
Clerk Harff asked about high speed internet.  It is getting so she cannot down load larger files with land line and had to pay to download some comprehensive plans for the growth committee.  It was suggested to come with different cost and ideas for high speed.  She also said she found out that the township was still on the high cost long distance service.  DiversiCom changed long distance services and have their own now.  Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to change to the service with the lowest long distance charge.  Motion carried.
 
Clerk Harff read a thank you from Bev Adolph for her 70th birthday celebration by the board and a thank you from the residents of the detachment. 
 
Supervisor Unterberger explained that he is working on the Christmas Train Committee coming through Maine Prairie Township and the City of Kimball.  With the city and township working for the celebration together, Unterberger asked if the board could approve any money toward the celebration.  Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to participate with $200 to be given to the group planning the celebration.  Motion carried.
 
Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to accept the permits presented by the planning and zoning board.  Motion carried.
 
Bills were presented:

Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to pay the bills presented including the bill presented at the meeting for the Administrative Law Judge.  Motion carried
 
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried. 
 
 
Terre Harff,
Clerk/Treasurer