MP10-05                                                        
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
February 9, 2010
 
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. 
 
Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Dennis Loewen, & Jim Unterberger, and Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff.  Others present Chuck Froehling, Lonnie Hendricks, Ron Albers, Charles Craft.  Gene Mertens, Tina Dietrich, Glen Schindele, Lori Doering, Robin Salmala, Mark Schindele, and Randy Johannas.  Bev Adolph was absent.
 
Chair Wicker called for any additions or corrections of the minutes.  Changes to information concerning the website were brought forth.    Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept the corrected minutes.  Motion carried.
 
Chair Wicker called for the treasurer’s report.  Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the treasurers’ report. 
 
Old Business:  Randy Johannas came before the board concerning the street sign that was removed from 126th Ave and 185th Street on the North side of Goodner Lake.  Randy felt the previous township board put the sign there because it deterred people from cutting the corner and going over his land.  He stated that his land is already part of the road because of the people cutting the corner short.  Johannas stated the pole is still buried in the ground where the other sign was.    Supervisor Unterberger said it was always sideways because the ground could not support it.  Lonnie, from the township maintenance company, explained it might be a little harder to plow snow around.  Wicker made a motion to move it back to where the previous board had it, with discussion Wicker amended his motion to include reworking the corner, Loewen seconded.  Unterberger voted nay, Motion carried. 
 
Gravel crushing – Knife River quoted $3.00 a yard including tax with their first quote of $3.75 a yard.  Mid MN was $2.75 a yard and Stommes crushing is $2.20 a yard to crush and $.40 a yard to Rod and Gun Club for the gravel.  An advantage for using the Knife River pit is it is on the Northern part of the township so the hauling would be cheaper.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to have Stommes Construction crush 20,000 yards from the Rod & Gun Club pit and purchase as needed from the Mid MN pit for the Northern part of the township.  Motion carried.  Supervisor Unterberger will contact them to make sure the price is honored for 2010. 
 
Fire Districts – Clerk Harff spoke with Jerry Roering at the county auditor’s office.  He explained the process for setting up fire districts.  The clerk would need to present all the parcels in each fire district along with the amount owed.  Roering explained that 4 districts would need to be set up since the MP North already has their assessments set up for the Fire Hall Debt and City Hall Debt so they would only be assessed for the servicing.  The other MP residents that would use the Rockville Fire would need to be assessed for the servicing plus the Fire Hall Debt, which the township paid previously.  The other two fire districts would be Kimball and Watkins Fire Departments.  Supervisor Loewen asked the clerk to have Jerry Roering email them with an explaination.
 
City of Kimball joint meeting with the township was discussed.  Clerk Harff presented each supervisor with a copy of the minutes.  Orderly annexation was discussed; Supervisor Loewen will contact Community Growth Institute.  Elm Street road addition will be added to the Annual meeting agenda to see what interest there is in the community.  Clerk Harff was asked to get information as to the new road process from the township association.
 
The County Comprehensive Plan update was discussed with Supervisor Wicker, Clerk Harff and Zoning Administrator Chuck Froehling attending. 
 
Clerk Harff was asked to present a draft copy of the Annual Meeting Agenda at the next meeting.   
 
MP10-06
Clerk Harff reported that all the 145th Street Easements have been recorded at the County Recorder’s Office.
 
Day at the Capitol is set for Feb. 24th.  Clerk Harff will be the only one attending at a cost of $5.00 for transportation. 
 
Supervisor Wicker called for other old business, with none he called for new business:
 
Clerk Harff stated the date for Spring Short Course is March 22nd at the Holiday Inn. 
 
Hands Across the World requested a gambling permit for their fishing contest on Pearl Lake.  Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept their request.  Motion carried.
 
It was suggested each supervisor come to the March 4th meeting with a list of roads from their road tour that needs to be reviewed for work.   
 
Powder Ridge Road and 93rd Ave were discussed.  Powder Ridge is asking for more salt & sand for their road.  Lonnie explained his company services the road 3 to 1 compared to other township roads.  Lane Anderson was asked to come into the next township meeting to discuss their request.
 
Charles Craft asked questions about fencing issues, fire contract with City of Rockville and he preferred the detachment area be named Maine Prairie North. 
 
Snow across the road is a real problem.  Our maintenance company drew up a list of about 15 people they are having problems with.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to send certified letters to everyone on the list along with the statutes of law stated. 
 
Clerk Harff asked for approval of the next newsletter.  She will check to see if Kuseske’s want their name in for donating the land for the future town hall.     
 
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to approve the bills presented.  Motion carried
 
Balance Brought forth:     $  87,050.58
Money received             +       1,364.93
Balance total                    $  88,415.51      
Expenses:                    -       14,283.70
Balance in Ck Bk                $ 74,131.81   
Total Investments        +    677,088.16
Total Value of Twsp          $751,219.97
 
Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.   
 
 
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer