MP09-21
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
May 12, 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, Brian & Celia Prigge, and approximately 16 residents from
Carnelian Lake Rd, and Cabana Circle.
Chair Loewen/Unterberger made a motion that #4-145th easements, #5-Comp
Growth Mtg-May 28th and #8-Town Officers Mtg report be deleted from the
agenda. Motion carried. Chair Loewen called for any additions or
corrections of the minutes. Supervisor Wicker stated that dust control
is Calcium Chloride not Magnesium Chloride. Supervisor
Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the corrected minutes.
Motion carried.
Chair Loewen called for treasurer’s report. Supervisors
Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to approve treasurer’s report. Motion
carried.
Mailbox swing posts – Supervisor Wicker contacted Spanier Welding in
Paynesville for pricing. They will do the swing posts for $35.00 each.
The support posts and placement are not included. Supervisors
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to purchase 25 swing posts. Motion
carried. The amount charged per residents will be decided later.
Post Office will need to be contacted to do a locate on each site.
Traffic Counters - Supervisor Wicker received two traffic counters and had
the bill put on his charge card.
Gravel Tax – Supervisor Loewen stated he talked with Lawyer Thede and we are
receiving the maximum gravel tax available to townships.
Dust Control – Letters have been sent to all residents dust guarding last
year. Rockville residents were sent a letter explaining why they would
be required to pay the full amount this year. Supervisors
Unterberger/Wicker made a motion to sign the contract with Tri City Paving.
Motion carried.
Prigge Public Hearing @ 7:15 p.m.
Road Variance
Chair Loewen opened the public hearing by calling for Clerk Harff to read
the legal, with no written correspondence received, Loewen called on Brian
Prigge to address the board. Prigge explained that he had been to the
county about adding an addition onto his cabin on Goodner Lake. The
county suggested he get a road variance from the township. He had
pictures of the location of the cabin in proximity to the location of the
road. The area was reviewed by the board.
The board felt this was not a township road because it is not maintained by
the township and it is just grass. But the plat shows 183rd street is
a 32’ wide platted road which puts it under township jurisdiction. If
the town accepts it as a 32’ wide road, it still would not need a variance
because the right of way would not be encroached upon in the building
process.
Supervisor Wicker explained he talked with David Knafla at Environmental
Services. The county determined that Ordinance 209.9.9.9 uses the
stricter rules to create a full size road of 66’ which requires a 63’
setback from the center of the road. The board discussed that it could
never be a full size road because it would take the neighboring house.
Wicker explained it was a dead end road and would never be able to be
extended because of the placing of the other homes and the lay of the land.
The only way to avoid this coming before the board
MP09-22
again was to vacate the road and go with an easement to property owners.
With the property to the West of Prigge’s for sale, it was decided to wait
to see who purchases the property. If the adjacent property owner
purchases the land to extend his property to the lake, it would make a road
go right through their land.
With everything explained to Brian Prigge, he chose to go through the
township to accept the rulings so that he could continue the process.
Prigge explained he would be raising his building and moving it to meet the
front and side setbacks, and add 2 bedrooms unto the 22’X30’ cabin.
Figuring it as a full size road, it would encroach onto the right of way by
approximately 14’.
Supervisor Wicker/Zoning Administrator Chuck Froehling made a motion to
allow the encroachment onto 183rd Street of approximately 14’.
Wicker-Yes, Loewen-Yes, Unterberger-Yes and Froehling-Yes, Motion carried.
Supervisors Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to close the public hearing.
Motion carried.
Road Bids opened at 7:30 p.m.
Bids for Powder Ridge Road:
Mid MN – 7200LF – reclaim, finish with 3” bituminous, 1 ½ class 5
shouldering - $158,100.00
Hardrives – Quantity 17,860 @ $10.47 – reclaim, finish with 3” bituminous
with 2’ class 5 shouldering - $186,994.20
Knife River – No quanity or footage listed – amount listed was as per bid -
$155,987.00
Bids for Carnelian Lake Road
Mid MN – 2575LF – reclaim, finish with 3” bituminous, haul away excess to
Cabana Circle, shouldering done by township - $50,900.00
Hardrives – Quantity 4902 @ $12.60 – reclaim, finish with 3” bituminous,
haul away excess - $61,765.20
Knife River – No quanity or footage listed – amount listed as per bid -
$41,200.00
Special notes: Mid MN added prices included 1’ bituminous aprons at
existing gravel driveways and prices include matching bituminous or concrete
driveways with new bituminous.
After reading the bids, Knife River representative was asked if they worked
on Maine Prairie Township 83rd Ave. After it was decided they did do
the job, they were questioned on workmanship on the North Bound Lane.
The Representative explained they do have a year warranty and it was never
brought to their attention. The board made the decision to table this
to review further.
Bids for Maintenance on Roads
Hendricks Sand & Gravel – Grading Rds $77.50, Grader (snow removal) $80.50,
Trucks (snow removal) $82.50, Pickup Truck (snow removal) $60.00, Bobcat
Blower (snow removal) $75.00, Tractor Blower (snow removal) $75.00, Rd ditch
mowing $85.00, Salt/Sand $45 per yd.
Krippner Trucking & Excavating – Looking at snow removal & maintenance for
northern portion of township.
MP09-23
Since the published bid was not split out, there was question as to
accepting a bid for part of the township. After reviewing the
published bid, the bid was asking for the whole township. Wicker made
a motion to publish a new bid, the motion died with no second.
Unterberger could not be a part of the discussion or voting because of
conflict of interest. Discussion was: bids run from June 1st to May
31st, it should be as published, next year look at a new way of requesting
bids and being more specific. It was also suggested to discuss it at
the annual meeting. Loewen made a motion to accept
Hendricks Sand and Gravel’s bid, with discussion Lonnie rescinded his bid
asking the township to publish a new bid notice. The discussion was if
the township wants to split the township maintenance, it should be stated in
the bid where the lines are and what is expected. Loewen restated his
motion to accept Hendricks bid for this year and review our bidding process
for next year. Seconded by Wicker, motion carried. Wicker felt
that Eden Road repair could be done by Krippner because they live out that
way and maybe the township should be getting bids on some of these type of
projects anyway. Hendricks felt the pick and choose of projects will
leave him with the worst jobs. Loewen made a motion not to take on any
projects until a lawyer is contacted for a legal opinion. John
seconded, motion carried.
Town Hall – Land was donated by the Dennis Kuseske family. The land
was surveyed and a request for it to be brought up for discussion. It
was published in the paper for two weeks to allow it known to residents it
would be on the agenda. The survey did create a line disagreement
because the lines went through the trailer house owned by Lloyd Scheeler.
It would cost Scheeler a little money to get the lines within the area he
now mows. Unterberger will speak with the Scheeler family and get it
straightened out.
There was a concern of the land becoming a park, adding onto the fire hall
(of which was discussed previously and the township was informed there would
not be enough land to do that), putting money into a city building was not
acceptable, and is townships becoming a thing of the past with counties
taking over. Money might be available in the form of a grant because
it is a historical site of where the previous township fort was established.
It was also noted that a donation of $500 was given from the Charles Craft
family to go towards the town hall.
Carnelian Lake Road meeting on May 2 – A letter from Gilkerson was read
concerning his views. He would like it repaved at present width, move
mailboxes, relocate two utilities, don’t move power lines but put lines
underground and relocate the stop sign on 163rd.
Unterberger felt the plowing problems need to be addressed, he suggested the
residents pay for the road and the township pay for the removal of the poles
and burying the lines, have a parking ordinance with cars parking on one
side of the road on gravel pads (if this is done, it needs enforcement). A
concern was access for emergency vehicles, if vehicles park on both sides of
the road; it becomes a safety issue if an emergency vehicle needs to get
through. Residents felt only 3 poles need removing, one by Leo Wirth’s
and 2 by Bill Capes. Not everyone wanted the cluster mailboxes but
felt the mailboxes could be put by the telephone poles. A resident
stated it is up to the post office to tell you where the mailbox goes.
Redo 163rd with excess material put onto Cabana Circle. It was
stated that a culvert needs repairing by David Smith’s on 163rd.
Unterberger stated that the residents will be expected to pay 1/3rd of the
project with an estimated cost of $75,000.00 which comes to approximately
$650 per parcel. It was also explained if it is assessed onto their
taxes, there is a county cost and interest that will be added to that
amount.
Discussion went to Cabana Circle, installing a water basin by Ron Winter,
drain tile some water into the low land by Tom Merten & Howard Bahn’s low
area, bring road up with ditches, and hire an engineer to get it right.
Wicker would like to see the township work with Stearns County Hwy Dept more
in getting their guidance on what roads need to be repaired. He also
suggested that the township use the Township Association for legal advice
since there is no cost to the township.
MP09-24
A concerned resident felt the township review not having Knife River do the
roads with the issues the township has had in the past. He stated that
sometimes the lowest bid is not always the best job. Loewen explained
we do not have to accept the lowest bid. Unterberger/Loewen made a
motion to issue the bid to Mid MN for Powder
Ridge Road. Wicker was concerned that the road was not bad enough to
resurface, that it could be repaired with seal coating, crack-filling and
filling in the holes. He suggested we have Jeff Miller, Stearns Co Hwy
Dept, give his opinion and ideas for township roads. Unterberger felt
that Powder Ridge Road should be extended to Caldron Road and Balkan Road
intersection. Unterberger/Loewen amended his motion to include
resurfacing up to the Caldron Road/Balkan Road intersection. Loewen
Yes, Unterberger Yes, Wicker No. Motion carried.
145th Street completion – The last coat of wear course will be put on after
Memorial Day. Bob Stein said he does not have a field approach to get
into his field. It was decided to put in a field approach with a
culvert.
Loewen/Wicker made a motion to seek out information from county
professionals concerning the road needs in the township. Motion
carried. It was decided to meet with Jeff Miller on Thur. May 14th at
8:00 a.m.
Comprehensive Growth Meeting confusion as to the starting time – it was
stated that the start time was set for later. Harff explained she went
onto their website and it stated the day and time was May 28th at 6:30.
Loewen asked that she verify the starting time because it was discussed that
the later start would work better for all the farmers.
Clerk Harff wanted verification for the road maintenance agreement with the
City of Rockville because we didn’t have any specific cost per hour listed.
She also did not know why they were asking for a signed fire allocation
agreement. She has checked into it and has not found that this has
been done in the past. Wicker said he would check into both issues.
With no other old business, Loewen called for new business.
Liquor License request for Powder Ridge. Supervisors
Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept a liquor License for Powder Ridge
Ski Area. Motion carried.
Letter received from Lawyer Thede concerning the road boundaries by Grand
Lake Road stating that Grand Lake Road and its right of way will remain with
the City of Rockville. Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion
that Wicker attends the next City of Rockville meeting to address all the
issues with the township.
Clerk Harff explained the Liability insurance will be combined as of July
1st. Not all townships will see a premium change but we will not know
where we stand until we receive the next billing.
Unterberger stated there was a complaint on the number of unlicensed cars
and refuse on Chris Hommerding’s farm right on Highway 15. Ordinance #
209.7.13.8 states: “Ag District – In areas zoned A-160, A80 and
A40, the storage of more than three (3) unlicensed motor vehicles shall be
permitted if all the unlicensed motor vehicles on the property are within a
fully enclosed structure.” Clerk Harff was asked to send a certified
letter as the 1st letter stating the ordinance and asking for his
cooperation in removal of the unlicensed vehicles to clean up the site.
Fuzzy Hinz has made a request to put “no parking” signs by Tom Sieben
because Sieben keeps his car on the road.
Kingston Township is requesting help in paying for repair of two culverts on
the east side of Hwy 15 on Kingston Street. They were told to come up
with a cost quote.
Charles Craft asked about the Equalization process and why his request was
denied by the board for no change on his appeal at the Board of Appeals. He
stated that he needs to appeal at the Board of Appeals on June 15th and
MP09-25
he really feels with the comparative sales, he should have proved his case.
Craft also is requesting a speed limit sign on 210th street and Tower Road.
He was asked if his neighbors feel the same way. Craft will do
some research to present a case since it is a shared road. He also
explained that a yellow sign is not enforceable but a white sign is.
Eden Road complaint – The road needs repair, work on a culvert and repair
washouts. It will be looked into.
Bills were presented along with additional bills from Community Growth
Institute for $2,000.00 and to John Wicker for traffic counters at $755.34.
Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to pay bills including the ones
presented at the meeting. Motion carried.
Balance Brought forth: $ 72,698.24
Money Received:
4,902.24
Total Expenses:
11,144.63
Balance in Ck Bk
$ 66,455.85
Total Investments
651,505.47
Total Value of Twsp $717,961.32
Wicker/Unterberger made a motion to accept the permit presented by the
planning and zoning board. Motion carried
Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer