Maine Prairie Township
Planning & Zoning
Meeting July 8, 2008
Chair Loewen opened the Planning meeting at 7:05 p.m. He called for any
changes or additions to the Minutes. With no changes Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker
made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. Ron
Albers was not present for personal reasons.
Chair Loewen called for old business:
Radio antenna: Hearing is July 17th 7:00 p.m. and is # 4 on the Agenda at the County Planning & Zoning Meeting. Supervisors Unterberger and Wicker plan to attend.
Mark from Knife River presented his reasoning for renewing his yearly permit for the Sommer’s property. Mark explained they have a 5 year agreement with Tom Sommers. They have no plans to do any asphalt this year and he is done mining for the year. He just wants to take his stock pile out. It was explained he needed no permit since he was just removing their stock piles the permit money was returned.
Bernard Gregory – Supervisor Wicker talked with Tina Dietrich at the County Assessor’s office. She said the landscape improvement does not increase the value unless it is a major project such as retaining wall ect. Supervisor Loewen felt it needs to be discussed further. Gregory sent money for the permit. Further discussion tabled for August meeting.
Chair Loewen recessed the Planning & Zoning meeting to hold the Public Hearing for Beverly and Bob Adolph.
Adolph Public Hearing
Chair Loewen had Clerk Harff read the legal from the paper and asked if there was any written response. With none he called for any comments from the floor. With none, Beverly Adolph explained why they want to build a building with higher side walls. Supervisor Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to close the public hearing. Motion carried. Discussion – With it being 5 acres, the building should not cause any viewing obstruction. A discussion went to why we require a variance every time a request comes in for a higher sidewall height. Unterberger explained that every situation is different and it gives the township a say so no buildings are place to close to the neighbors that would block their view. Wicker felt it should be discussed further at a different meeting. Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to approve the 16’ high sidewall for the shed. Loewen – Yes, Wicker – Yes Unterberger – Yes Motion carried. Wicker/Loewen made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Motion carried.
Chair Loewen reconvened the Planning & Zoning meeting. David Smith’s
variance will run out on July 31st for the placement of his new home in the
road right of way by Carnelian Lake. Loewen suggested that the clerk send a
letter to inform Mr Smith of his options.
Kevin Libbesmeier came before the board asking if the board had a chance to
view the approach discussed in the June meeting. After speaking with Dennis
Libbesmeier his intention is to move the approach. Kevin was told that it
will be Dennis’s responsibility to move the approach at some point. It will
need to be done at the time of sale or platting.
Chair Loewen called for old business with none he called for new business.
Supervisor Unterberger thought Tom Zipoy was going to be in attendance concerning St John’s Lutheran Church’s approach onto 135th St. Clerk Harff ask if she could speak on behalf of her church. She spoke with Vanman Engineering and the approach in now is temporary. Unterberger stated that Tom Zipoy was into the Township in 2003 and he was told he needed a permit for the approach In April of 2008 he went into the City of Kimball council meeting and said the township was not allowed to put an approach on that road. The concern was for any damage from the equipment for that road. With that being a township road, a permit is needed and the clerk was asked to send notification to the church.
Erin Gutwasser and her husband just purchased the Amy Backer Thelen property on 93rd Ave. She wanted to know what she could do with the property. They will be destroying two of the buildings and replacing a cement slab. It was explained she will need a no charge permit, just to get it off the tax roll. Gutwasser was also concerned that the home is limited to four persons only and wanted to know if it could be used as a rental. Supervisor Unterberger explained they cannot have two residents on one parcel. Clerk Harff gave her a copy of the ruling from the county and she will need to take up that issue with Environmental Services since they issued the variance with conditions. Gutwasser explained they will be building a shed. Clerk Harff explained that if it is less than 10 acres, even if it is zoned A40, the county considers it a R5 or R10. She will need to come back to the township when ready to build.
Kathy Johnson came before the board to explain they have footing and foundation problems on the home they purchased in 1993. The house needs to be lifted and new foundation put in. Johnson said their furnace was condemned so it is important they work at getting things fixed. They are looking at a new technology-solar hot air heat panels. She was directed to Stearns County Environmental Services because it is within shoreland district. Clerk Harff was directed to send a copy of the new technology panel papers (submitted by Johnson) to Ron Albers to see if it meets state code. Johnson was asked about the semi trailer parked on Carnelian Lake Road. Her explanation was she had to put her furniture in it while she was fixing her home. Supervisor Loewen asked who own the trailer. Johnson explained it was owned by Aspen Storage out of Clearwater. Johnson was informed it is a safety hazard and must be removed. It was noted a letter was sent to Johnson to inform her she must remove the electric cord running across the road, and to remove or safely secure the refrigerator sitting outside. She complained about the neighbor’s fence falling down. Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to give her five days to have the trailer moved. Motion carried.
Dorothy Schmitz sent the township a check for $30.00. Clerk Harff called to see what it was for. Schmitz explained she talked with Chuck Froehling about a deck she was replacing. He directed her to Ron Albers because she was replacing footings and stairs. Ron Albers looked at it and collected the fee. After she spoke with Unterberger, he did not think she need an inspection so she got her money back from Albers and sent her check to the township for the $30.00 permit. After finding out that the deck
MPP08-13
was increased in size and completely redone, Unterberger said he would speak
to her. He thought she was just replacing a few boards. Tabled for next
meeting.
With no other new business, permits were called for.
Permit presented to the board: Permit# Receipt# Amount
Bernard Gregory Concrete Curbing 612 074551 $ 30.00
Erin Gutwasser Remove two building 611 No Charge
Jerry Spoden Moved a pole shed in 610 074552 30.00
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to approve the permits presented. Motion carried.
Chuck Froehling/Supervisor Wicker made a motion to adjourn the Planning
and Zoning meeting. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Maine Prairie Township, Clerk/Treasurer