MP09-04                                                        
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
February 10, 2009
 
Chair Loewen opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag.  He recessed to Planning & Zoning at 7:03 p.m. 
 
Board members present: Supervisors Dennis Loewen John Wicker, & Jim Unterberger, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff.  Others present Chuck Froehling, Lonnie Hendricks, Brian Becker, Kris Becker, Gene Mertens, Rockville City Council members – Susan Palmer and Bill Becker.
 
Chair Loewen called for any additions or corrections to the minutes. Clerk noted a spelling error.  Supervisor’s Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the minutes.  Motion carried.
 
Treasurer’s report was reviewed.  Clerk Harff presented a final report she has made up for the annual meeting for the board to review.  Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried. 
 
Chair Loewen called for old business:
 
Chair Loewen called on the City of Rockville representatives to come forward to discuss the fire contracts.  With the contracts looked at and accepted by the board with Maine Prairie and Rockville splitting the cost of service to the fire district for the year of 2009.  The contracts will be signed and returned to Rockville.  The City of Rockville representatives brought information before the board concerning the shared roads.  After reviewing the map, the decision was to allow the City of Rockville to take care of the tarred roads and Maine Prairie to care for the gravel roads.  The amount the township would pay the City is still under negotiation.  The representatives of the City will take it back to their board for approval and to draw up an agreement.
 
Representatives from the City asked if Maine Prairie would adopt the City of Rockville Shoreland Ordinance to protect the water.  Since their ordinance for density is stricter than Stearns County and since the land on the south side is now in Maine Prairie Township, there is a concern of water run-off.  Stearns County has 25% density and City of Rockville has 10-20% density.  The board said they would review the ordinance.  The City also asked if the township would work with them for orderly annexation if requests come in for water/sewer.  The township would like to review and discuss further.  The township asked for regularly scheduled meetings with the city twice a year.  Supervisor Wicker asked to be invited to their fire board meetings since he is the representative for the township in the Rockville Fire district. 
 
145th Permanent Land Easements – Chair Loewen will be sending all the permanent land easements over to the township lawyer to have it done the way the county is requesting. 
 
Clerk Harff will check into the land easement signed by the board for Powder Ridge Estate concerning the townships legal easement and care of the storm water basins.  There was a problem with who drafted it and how it was signed.  It was not drafted by the township and they were in need of the township seal by the clerk’s signature.  She will check with the recorder’s office. 
 
 
MP09-05
Comprehensive Growth meeting – Clerk Harff will put a change of meeting date for this February 26th meeting.  Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to make a permanent change of meeting for the Comprehensive Growth meeting to the 4th Thursday of every month.  Motion carried. 
 
City of Kimball Road Maintenance – Meeting is set for March 5th 
 
Stearns County Environmental Services in Paynesville on January 27th.  Board members attending were Loewen, Wicker, & Unterberger.   New Ordinance pages stating the commissioners will be making final decisions for planning and zoning were given out. 
 
Township Day at the Capitol – Loewen, Wicker and Harff will be signed up to go on Feb 25th.    
 
With no other old business Chair Loewen called for new business.
 
Watkins Fire Meeting on Feb. 11th to begin at 8:00 p.m.  Supervisor Unterberger and Clerk Harff will attend.  Unterberger was asked to see who would be the contact person for burning permits for the Watkins Fire District. 
 
Spring Short Course is set for March 23rd in St Cloud and March 24th in Hutchinson. 
 
Newsletter for 2009 was reviewed.  With changes in burning permits, a few wording changes the clerk will make the changes and email them for approval.  Once approved, Harff will have Kinko’s copy and mail them out as last year.  The board is working at getting them out before the annual meeting and election.
 
Liquor License for Pearl Lake Recreation Club approved with motions by Wicker/Loewen.  Motion carried. 
 
Gambling License for Kimball Rod and Gun Club was approved previously but the club changed the date so they needed to reapply.  Motion to accept the change date gambling license was made by Loewen/Wicker.  Motion carried. 
 
A change of meeting for March needs to be set because of the March 10th annual meeting and election.  The board set March 3rd as the March regular meeting.  Clerk Harff did not know if she could get the financial reports done that soon because she doesn’t get the bank statements right away. 
 
Board of Appeals date is set for April 13th at 3:00 p.m.  The assessors will come into the March 3rd meeting. 
 
Annual Meeting Agenda:  City of Rockville Judgment, Fire contracts/Fire districts, Township Hall, Dust Guarding, Set Levy and Road projects.  Projects discussed were: Carnelian Lake road on the east side, 135th St. built up with snow and 88th St has the same issue.
 
Supervisor Wicker will check into purchasing Road counters.
 
With a snowmobile accident in a gravel pit in another township, Clerk Harff asked if our gravel pits are a safety issue.   It was stated signs are posted by the pits.
 
 
 
MP09-06
Supervisor Unterberger asked if the clerk received a bill from Kingston Township for gravel added to Kingston Street.  She received none.  Harff was asked to get the maintenance agreement on Kingston Street.
 
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the permits presented by the planning board.   
 
Bills were presented:
 
Disbursements                                                                                           Check #
Hendricks Sand & Gravel       Snow, Salt & Sand             $23,819.26           4431
DiversiCom                             January Bill                                 42.49          4432
Tri Co News                            Mtg Chg & Hearing notice          50.51           4433
Murnane & Brandt                  Attorneys a law                        585.35           4434
MN Township Asso                Day at Capitol for 3                     15.00           4435
 
            Receipts                                                                                              Receipt           
Interest Earned Checking                                                   $      85.01           Bank Statement
2006 CD Interest                                                                $      19.66           Bank Statement
2007 CD Interest                                                                $      35.25           Bank Statement
Money Market Interest                                                        $    617.38           Bank Statement
  
Supervisors Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to pay the bills presented. Motion carried
 
Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried. 
 
 
Terre Harff,
Clerk/Treasurer