MPP08-20
Maine Prairie Township
Planning & Zoning Meeting
November 13, 2008
 
Chair Loewen opened the Planning meeting at 7:05 p.m.   He called for any changes or additions to the minutes.  With none Supervisor Unterberger/Chuck Froehling made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion carried. 
 
Old Business: Bernard Gregory & John Loch – Supervisor Wicker spoke with Tina Dietrich in the Assessor’s office concerning finding a business on site when she was doing their inspections.  Wicker said that Gregory had stated he was running a business out of his home.  Loch has a portable kiln outside his shop area.  It was felt by the board that he had it for a hobby, the assessor will check further.  
 
Mid MN’s Gravel Pit contract does state a well would be installed.  The water appropriations permit from MN Pollution Control will be filed with the gravel permit. 
 
Chair Loewen called for new business:  Wayne Larson was present concerning the ditch right of way problem.  Unterberger felt when they landscaped that the ditch was taken away and the snow might become a problem.  Another concern was the one approach did not have a culvert.  Larson stated that he only added 4-5 inches of black dirt and the approach in question was a field road previously and never had a culvert then.  The decision was to give it one year to see if it becomes a problem.  He was asked to work with the township if it is a problem for catching snow. 
 
Clerk Harff presented the supervisors with a letter she received from Environmental Services concerning Conditional Use and Interim Use Permits, giving the final decision to the county.   The concern was this is just one more permitting process taken over by the county.  Loewen/Wicker made a motion to contact Lawyer Tiede to have him draw up a letter to the county concerning the townships disagreement over the counties decision.  Motion carried.  The supervisors all plan on attending the November 25th meeting at 10:00 a.m. 
 
Mac McElroy representing Winkelman Environmental was present concerning wind turbines.  He has been talking with “The Preserve” about putting a wind turbine on the property behind the lodge.  It would be a 120’ tower that would generate enough energy for the lodge with some surplus energy to sell.  The board explained that the site permits for the Wind Turbine are done at the county.  The township will be working on their MOU concerning wind turbines in the future but for now the county does the permitting except for a Certificate of Compliance.  McElroy explained that studies are done on each location. 
 
Chuck said that it would be nice if the county could give the township a map of a shoreline boundary also showing the parcels within that boundary area.  It would help when it comes to issuing permits outside the boundary area.  
 
Permits were called for:

                                                                                                       
Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to approve the permits presented.
 
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to adjourn the Planning & Zoning meeting.  Motion carried.
 
 
Terre Harff, Clerk