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Maine Prairie Town Board Meeting
April 13, 2010
Chair Wicker opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge to the flag.
Town Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Dennis Loewen, Ronald
Kuechle, Clerk Terre Harff & Deputy Clerk Bev Adolph. Others present
were Zoning Administrator, Chuck Froehling, residents of the Goodner Lake
area, County Sheriff John Sanner, Kimball Police Chief Jim Frilstade, Heidi
Wilcoski from Environmental Services, James Hoeft, Alice Robinson, Lonnie
Hendricks, Erin Gutwasser, Kimball City Mayor Tammy Konz, Clerk Nicole
Pikarski, and Councilman Eric Loewen.
Chair Wicker reconvened the Board meeting and called for any corrections or
additions to the March 4th Board meeting. A date correction was noted
for Sign Reflectivity meeting. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion
to accept the corrected minutes. Motion carried.
Chair Wicker called for Treasurers report. Clerk Harff suggested we
move money from Money Market Savings Fire Fund into the Checking in the
amount of $75,000.00. Since we made all our fire contract payments in
March it left a deficit in the Fire fund. With this action it would
leave about $1,000.00 in the Money Market Savings Fire Fund.
Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to move $75,000.00. Motion
carried. Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to approve the
treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
GOODNER LAKE 179TH STREET VACATION HEARING
Chair Wicker opened the hearing at 7:15 p.m. with the clerk reading the
legal notice. It was explained that the hearing was answering a
request to vacate 210 feet of 179th St by Goodner Lake. Glen Schindele
explained the 1.3 acre piece of property in question, was given to the
family after the house burned down. They had family gatherings there
with campers and now the county will not allow campers on the site because
of the campground rules and regulations. They are looking at building
a cabin for all their family members to gather together. The vacating
of part of the road would allow them to meet setbacks and it would eliminate
some of the turnaround traffic. Schindele’s were informed if they are
going to build, they would still need to get a road variance even if the
road was a private road. The board was concern for the Frischmann
Family that lives past the Schindele Family land. Mr Frischmann was
present and stated that Schindele is a great neighbor and feels if they have
a legal easement drawn up to protect their road rights of way and utility
rights, this vacation would eliminate people from coming up and turning
around in their driveway. Wicker asked Schindele if there was a “Dead
End” sign located on the road. Shindele confirmed there was.
Right now the people and school bus turn around in Schindele’s driveway.
Chair Wicker asked for any further discussion.
Supervisor Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to close the public hearing.
Motion carried. Board discussion was to table until the May meeting to
allow the Schindele family to come in with an easement. Supervisor
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to recess the hearing until the May meeting.
Motion carried
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ROAD VARIANCE HEARING FOR KEN JOHNSON
Chair Wicker opened the hearing at 7:30 p.m. with the clerk reading the
legal notice. Ken Johnson explained that he would like to build a
20X24 sleeping cabin but can’t meet all the setbacks. It was cheaper
for him to come to the township and ask for a road setback variance then to
have to go to the county and get a back line set back. The county
would require him to get a survey done. Johnson explained that he
doesn’t plan on putting water or sewer into the cabin but will have
electrical installation. The property is located in R1 zoning on the W.
side of Carnelian Road and R5 zoning on the E. side. The cabin would
be put on the east side so the setbacks are stricter. The road set
back is 85’ from the center of the road, Johnson is requesting to put the
building 30 feet into the road setback.
Chair Wicker called for any other comments. With none, Supervisors
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to close the public hearing. Motion
carried. Board discussion: Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made the motion
to grant the road variance with the condition that the sleeping cabin not be
allowed to have sewer and water installed at a later date. Motion
carried. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn the public
hearing. Motion carried.
Policing the Township: Stearns Co Sheriff, John Sanner, explained the
county does have police coverage for the township and feels it is well
serviced. The county can extend coverage to the township for a $40.00 an
hour charge with the township deciding the added hours needed. The
township is now in quadrant #2, the emergency calls always take precedence.
The board felt they needed more documentation as to where calls were made
and what for. Board brought up road concerns on 93rd Ave, Carnelian
Rd, 103rd St, Co Rd 147, and 73rd, mostly for speed problems. Sanner
did say they can give the township a monthly report upon request. They
work well with Kimball Police and the contact officer for Maine Prairie will
be John Lentz, 259-3701 from Mon-Fri from 8:00-4:30. The county
sheriff’s department now has 10 hour overlapping shifts so they are not
having a lapse in coverage.
City of Kimball police chief, Jim Frilstad presented the board with all the
stops in Maine Prairie Township. Frilstad did say if the county calls,
they go to the site. Jim Unterberger felt the township should look at
contracting in all areas, not just traffic problems. It was
tabled for further discussion.
Comprehensive Growth Resolution: Supervisor Wicker asked Heidi, from
environmental service, why the county is so restrictive for R5 zoning when
the land is suited for growth in these Future Land Use areas. Heidi
explained they look at the amount of growth, explaining it is better to have
smaller areas for growth and just review the growth plan more often to have
growth areas expand as growth demands designate. James Hoeft would
like to see 3-5 acre lots with his land on the East side of 103rd St.
Storm water management was discussed. Clerk Harff will drop off the
future land use map at Heidi’s office and the township will look for
counties input.
Short Course: All supervisors and Clerk Harff attended. Sign
reflectivity was reviewed.
Carnelian Lake Rd: Clerk has a final payment request from Hardrives
for last year’s work for 163rd St by Carnelian Lake Rd. The board
reviewed this road on their spring road tour. Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle
made a motion to pay the balance of the bill. Motion carried.
Supervisors signed the final road inspection. There was a
concern by Jeff Lerum’s home on the corner. The shouldering will
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need repairing. Lonnie, Hendricks Sand & Gravel, was asked to move the stop
sign closer to the corner to make it more visible.
Gravel Tax Resolution: Supervisor Loewen felt we would come up with a
way of keeping track at the amount of gravel hauled out of a pit. The
township is supposed to get 42% of the gravel tax. The township only
received $570 for hauled gravel and last year it was $2200.00. Subject
was tabled for another meeting.
Township Association meeting: Reservations need to be made by April
14th. Those attending will be Dennis, Terre, Ron and his wife.
Stommes Gravel Crushing: The gravel has been tested and meets the
class 5 requirements. They have completed the job. No inspection
for quantity needs to take place because it is scaled while crushing.
Wicker explained there are two additional piles, one is class 1 and one is
class 6. Wicker felt we should be hauling from the new pile because
the existing pile is not of good quality. The board wants gravel to be
hauled as soon as the road restrictions go off.
The board of supervisors went on the annual road tour April 10th. Felt
that a lot of gravel needs to be hauled and the shoulders need reclaiming.
Gravel needs to be put on shouldering of Powder Ridge Rd, and 93rd Ave. by
gravel pit. Other areas needing gravel are: 121st Street, Haus Rd to
Grand Lake Rd.
Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to come up with a list of roads to
gravel for Lonnie. Motion carried. It was a decision of the
board to dust control more roads this year to preserve the gravel.
Orderly Annexation: Mayor Konz, from the City of Kimball, asked what
the next step is. Supervisor Wicker explained that we each go back to
our boards and come up with our own plan, then at our next joint meeting,
discuss the plans of each entity. When the consensus is made, have the
plans drawn up and reviewed by each lawyer.
Fire District Committee: At the annual meeting it was suggested to
form a committee to review each fire district. Loewen/Kuechle made a
motion to appoint Supervisor Wicker as the head of the fire board along with
each fire chief or appointed representatives from each department.
Motion carried. The suggested meeting dates should be later May or
early June.
Town Hall Committee: At the annual meeting it was suggested to form a
committee to look at town hall plans. Supervisor Loewen asked to head
up the committee, Clerk Harff would like to see Jim Unterberger on the
committee; as he was the one doing all the leg work thus far.
Deputy Clerk Adolph asked that Alice Robinson be placed on the committee.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to have each supervisor pick their
own representative to complete the committee.
Dust Guarding: Quotes were received for Magnesium and Calcium
Chloride, by Ferrellgas, Tri City Paving, Dustcoating Inc, and Central MN
Dust Control. Low bids for Mag Chloride was $.45 per lineal foot
from Tri City Paving and for Calcium Chloride it was Dustcoating Inc. at
$.50.4 per lineal foot.
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Supervisor Wicker was going to check with Tri City Paving to see if they
would match Dustcoating Inc. since they did such a good job last year.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to apply Calcium Chloride from Tri
City Paving if they come down to match the price. Motion carried.
The decision was to apply Calcium Chloride because of the ability to get it
sooner because it is a liquid and is hauled by truck where Magnesium
Chloride is hauled by rail. The board also felt it would last longer
from past experience.
The Board called for another meeting on April 22nd at 7:00 p.m. to cover
more road issues, decide what roads need repair, what roads need dust
control treatment, what roads need gravel, ect. Orderly Annexation
needs to be discussed and the Board of Review needs completion. Clerk
will put the legal in the paper and on the website.
Clerk Harff received the final acceptance papers on Edom Rd.
Supervisor Loewen is following legislation concerning PERA.
Supervisor Loewen asked the clerk why names can’t be put to payroll.
Deputy Clerk Adolph explained they were told they could not do it when
she was clerk. Clerk Harff checked with the MN township attorney’s and
according to law you can only list the gross amounts without deductions.
Supervisor Loewen asked about what the audit meant when it stated the
township did not meet the segregation of duties statement. Clerk Harff
explained with a clerk/treasurer position, we will always have that
statement on the audit. They first list what is not met and then it
states in another section what the township does to make it more visible to
the public. An example is when the chairman signs off on checkbook
balance and bank statement: others are two signatures required on each
check, board reviews and approves all claims before paid, any money transfer
is approved by motion ect.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the permits. Motion
carried.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to pay the bills. Motion
carried.
Balance Brought forth: $ 29,618.97
Transferred from savings + 75,000.00
Money received
+ 792.32
Balance total
$105,411.29
Expenses:
- 36,448.58
Bank Error
-
15.20 Will show corrected in May
Balance in Ck Bk $
68,947.51
Total Investments
+ 603,352.37
Total Value of Twsp $ 672,299.88
Supervisor Wicker/Loewen made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk