MP09-26
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
June 9, 2009
Chair Loewen opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Board members present: Supervisors Dennis Loewen, John Wicker, & Jim
Unterberger, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff, Deputy Clerk Bev Adolph.
Others present Chuck Froehling, Ron Albers, Gene Merten, Charles Craft,
Lonnie Hendricks, Mr & Mrs Bublitz and Chris Hommerding.
Chair Loewen called for any additions or corrections of the minutes.
Supervisor Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the minutes presented.
Motion carried.
Chair Loewen called for treasurer’s report. Supervisors
Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to approve treasurer’s report. Motion
carried. Clerk explained the revenue check should be coming in June
but will need to transfer Money Market money over to pay this month.
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to move $50,000.00 out of Money Market to Road &
Bridge if the revenue money does not come in by June 15th. Motion
carried
Carnelian Lake Road – Supervisor Loewen explained to the residents that
letters did not go out because research needed to be completed so the
procedure is done properly. Once the information is received the
process will go forward with letters and notification of an assessment
hearing. Loewen made a motion to move forward with the hearing
on Carnelian Lake Road project, assess the residents for 1/3rd of the cost
including the removing of three telephone poles and award the road project
to Mid MN. After discussion, Loewen amended his motion to include “the
residents will be responsible for the shouldering with the township
providing the black dirt”. Wicker seconded, motion carried. Wicker
felt that a no parking ordinance needs to be passed concerning Carnelian
Lake Road. A suggestion the ordinance should be no parking from
November to March. Grouping the mailboxes will need to be checked into
further. Unterberger stated the cost to remove the three (3) telephone
poles is $1,400.00 each.
Bids on Powder Ridge Rd - Knife River presented the lowest bid, they
assumed they were given the bid. Loewen asked for information on the
previous work that was done by Knife River on 83rd Ave. After meeting
with them on site, they informed Loewen the work was done in 2002. The
work was done and paid out in August of 2007. With that work done only
two years ago, the board did not feel comfortable proceeding with Knife
River on either of the projects bid on. Unterberger was concerned that
Knife River never came out to view the roads in the bid. MN Township
Attorney, Eric Headley was contacted.
Powder Ridge Road Contract was awarded to Mid MN at the May 12th meeting.
Supervisors Wicker and Loewen drove around the township roads with two
county highway department men to help them understand when to repair,
reclaim and seal coat roads. The men felt that Powder Ridge Road was a
good road for repair, crack seal and seal coat; the road is only 11 year
old. The county representatives suggested that any tarred road should
be seal coated after 3-5 years, use a good crack seal that is rubberized not
heated crack fill, and not to apply crack seal in the heat of the year but
in the spring and early fall. Cost for seal coating runs about
$9,000.00 a mile for the county. The question was if the township
could do a rebid for seal coating once the township has already accepted by
motion to allow the reclaim & tarring bid to Mid MN. Wicker made a
motion to get quotes to patch, crack seal, and repair Powder Ridge Road.
Motion was denied with lack of second. Loewen made a motion to contact
Attorney Thede to get clarification to see if a bid can be rescinded once it
was accepted. If the bid acceptance can be rescinded, Loewen moved to
inform Mid MN of the change and then call for quotes for patch, crack seal
and seal coating. If quotes are over $100,000.00, bids would be called
for, seconded by Wicker. Unterberger voted no. Motion carried.
Planning and zoning meeting was reconvened. Chair called for
reconvening of Board meeting once planning and zoning was adjourned.
MP09-27
Town Hall land surveys were reviewed. The township will be accepting
the survey presented and Scheeler will deal with the line adjustment when he
sells his property. Loewen made a motion to have the surveyor
look at Danzig road to help settle the dispute. Discussion was that
both parties have had the land surveyed. Motion died with a lack of
second. The discussion was why are Tydach’s poles are in the right of
way. Wicker will contact Rohe’s to see if they have the previous
survey.
Traffic Counters – Wicker stated he has been putting counters out on Powder
Ridge Rd, 93rd St, 155th St, Cassion Rd, and 81st. He will bring the
tabulation schedule when he has all the information gathered. Charles
Craft asked why the township was doing these road counts. Wicker
explained the township wants to get a road plan, we need to know which roads
the most traffic.
Maintenance agreement with Meeker County on Kingston Street – After
reviewing the new contract with road description and liability issues
addressed, Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to accept the
revised contract. Motion carried.
Wicker explained he was on the agenda for the June 17th meeting with the
City of Rockville. He will address the fire appropriation contract,
road agreement and if their lawyer is present he will question the board on
the Grand Lake Road ownership which was changed after the detachment
judgment. Wicker asked the clerk to come up with a maintenance
agreement for approval. The cost of maintenance set at $85.00 an hour
and to follow the road descriptions approved at a previous meeting.
Chair called for any other old business. Chris Hommerding was present
to address the certified letter sent to his mother, Joan Hommerding,
concerning the cars on her property. He was concerned that he
would not be able to get them moved in 30 days as asked. He asked the
board for an extension. He also wanted to know who was the person that
complained, as the letter stated, he was told it could not be disclosed.
He felt he was being singled out and there were a lot of people that are
breaking the ordinance. He asked to see the whole ordinance book of
which Wicker gave him his book to be viewed at the meeting.
Wicker felt there would be no problem with an extension if he was showing
some type of progress. Hommerding was asked to come to the July 7th
meeting and at that time a decision would be made if any further action
needs to be taken.
New Business was called for.
Short Course – July 13th in St Cloud with agenda reviewed. Board of
Appeals recertification will require an early sign up. Unterberger and
Wicker are up for re-certification, they would go like to go at a different
time. Unterberger will check to see if the Assessor’s office will be
offering a class. Clerk Harff might take the class up at Fergus Falls where
their camper is. Loewen asked about charging for mileage, she
explained she would not charge for mileage up to the camper. It is
only 12 miles from their camper to Fergus Falls and she would only charge
for that mileage.
Noxious Weeds – Loewen asked if a ride around with John Waldorf, Stearns Co
Weed Inspector was needed this year. The board felt with all the
issues and the supervisors unable to attend the weed meeting because of bad
weather, it was best to have his input. Loewen will do a ride around
to the bad areas in the township. Unterberger asked a noxious weed
letter be sent to Don Heid/ CRP land where the tower is, Kevein and John
Donnay’s property, Ehlingers, and Jason Becks. Loewen will find out if
the county is going to check the Donnay’s this year.
Spraying – A legal will be put into the paper with Wicker and Unterberger
driving with the sprayers. Wicker will arrange a time with Cold Spring
Coop and let the clerk know to have it published. Discussion was the
township should go on a 3 year rotation. No post cards will be sent
out.
MP09-28
Gambling Permit – Holy Cross in Pearl Lake is requesting a permit for
gambling at the summer festival. Supervisor Unterberger/Loewen made a
motion to accept the permit application. Motion carried.
Safety issue on 163rd St by Carnelian Lake – Unterberger felt the big tree
on the corner of 163rd and 78th Street was a safety issue since you can’t
see when you turn onto 163rd. Loewen will call and talk with Howard
Bahn.
Fire Department Parking Lot – Fire Chief Gohmann is requesting help with
fixing up the fire hall parking area on the south side. The city has
put in some of the money but not enough. With the township using the
hall, the parking lot needs Class 5 gravel, especially in the spring or when
it rains. Lonnie explained he will be digging out the black dirt and
putting down Class 5 gravel. Discussion-if we don’t help with our
townships gravel we would have to pay it out in the fire contract next year.
Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to supply up to 100 yards Class 5 gravel
with hauling. Motion carried.
It was announced that Mid MN’s (Zutz’s) Gravel pit has been reclaimed.
Now they will be hauling out of their other pit. Deputy Clerk Adolph
felt that the county should be contacted and told they are hauling out of
the pit so they pay their portion of gravel tax.
Loewen called for any other new business. Charles Craft asked if the
board will address the issue he has with the Board of Appeal. He will
be appealing his case to the county on June 15th. Clerk Harff
stated that she sent the minutes of the Township Board of Appeals meeting to
Mr. Craft. His issue is they are looking at his home as a 5 bedroom
home; the township has a building code stating it can’t be a 5 bedroom home
because the building code requires him to have egress windows in the
basement. He stated his home is a 3 bedroom home. The board felt
he had a very good point. The board felt he needs to bring this issue
before the county board. With reviewing the minutes of the Board of
Appeals meeting, Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to approve the
minutes. Motion carried.
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to accept the permits presented at
the Planning meeting. Motion carried.
Clerk Harff presented a letter requesting cheese bi-products being spread on
Willard Flasherieum land.
Question as to if the township will be doing the road work for 163rd St by
Carnelian Lake Road. It was decided to get quotes from at least three
different contractors. A meeting of any interested contractors will
take place out on the road to explain the work that needs to be done.
The main job is to cut down the hill for safety reasons. Clerk Harff
asked what permits will be required. That will be checked into.
Bills were presented: Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to pay
the bills. Clerk Harff stated she will need to pay for the
Prigge Hearing recording. Loewen amended his motion to include paying
the Stearns Co Recorders office for the Prigge Hearing. Motion carried
Balance Brought forth: $ 66,455.85
Money Transferred
50,000.00
Revenue Money
192,232.19
Money received
3,813.37
Total Expenses:
59,567.48
Balance in Ck Bk
$ 252,933.93
Total Investments
602.125.06
Total Value of Twsp $ 855,058.99
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer