MP11-07                                                        
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
Special Meeting with Road Company
February 21, 2011
 
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. 
 
Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Dennis Loewen, & Ron Kuechle, Randy Sabart from SEH and Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff. 
 
Road Policy – Discussion was to create a policy as to what it would take before the township could tar a road.  Another separate policy what it would take before the township would dust guard an entire road.  Included in the policy would be road specifications.   The board felt the road standards approved back in 1987 were not something that would work today.  Especially with the legislators placing 10 ton status on all tarred roads unless posted.  It was discussed to place standards on each road according to the type of traffic use on the roads.  Identify the use and build the road accordingly. 
 
Sabart explained that a 5 year road plan can be mapped out, used as a budget tool, set priority, and should be updated every year.  Sabart felt a township should have 3 maps, one for crack sealing, for seal-coating and one for over-lay.
 
Sabart felt a new road should last for 25-30 years.  Once a new road is done, it should be down to do crack sealing in 5-7 years, surfacing-sealing every 10-12 years and in 15 years it should have an over-lay.  
 
Discussion was to reclaim gravel from the shoulders and in 1-2 years resurfacing the gravel.
 
It was asked if it is a law once a road is tarred that the township can’t reclaim the road and bring it back to gravel?  Sabart didn’t think there was but once the people have a tarred road, it might be hard to bring it back to gravel. 
 
Sabart said that some cities and counties are going to concrete because of the cost and it lasts longer. 
 
If the township is looking at assessing the residents, MN Statute 429 states you can’t increase the market value of their property more than 20-25%.  It was explained that Maine Prairie usually works with the residents where they pay 1/3rd and township pays 2/3rds by unit of benefit.  Lineal footage is capped and the law states it needs to be uniform.   If the township does a road with assessments it can be started by petition from the residents or initiation from the board, than requires a public hearing and all costs need to be divulged. 
 
Supervisor Loewen explained the Powder Ridge Estates plat has two sediment ponds that were to be under the care of the township according to the develop agreement.  Loewen wanted to know if the township could assess the people that would purchase the lots for a set amount to pay for cleaning out the sediment ponds.  Sabart felt it is a legal question but there would be some risk to pursue something like that. 
 
MP11-08
 
There was an agreement that bore samples need to be taken on the tar roads.  It appeared in the past that roads only have 2 inches of tar on.  Since the use has changed on some roads, the need to have the road usage in a higher tonnage is important.  The board also felt the watching of the process and finalizing the process is a key to having it done as quoted. 
 
The question was what to do before the next meeting with Mr Sabart.  Sabart suggested to have supervisor’s record their roads and the needs of those roads.   He said that color coding each road in the plan is helpful.  
 
Sabart was asked about the Adolph boring under the road.  Sabart read the contract but he prefers to have a permit in situations such as with Adolph.  Loewen asked about an easement, Sabart felt that if you go with an easement, it locks you in and if there are problems, it is harder to get out of it.  The use of a permit, it can be pulled if problems are not addressed.  Clerk Harff asked if a contract or a permit is more protective according to the law.  Sabart did not know, he felt it was a question for a lawyer. 
 
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.  Motion carried.  
 
 
 
 
Terre Harff
Clerk