MP11-32                                                        
Maine Prairie Special Meeting
June 28, 2011
7:00 p.m.
 
Chair Loewen opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. 
 
Members present: Dennis Loewen, Ron Kuechle, Chuck Froehling, and Clerk Terre Harff.
 
Item of business that needed immediate action; a letter was received from Joanie Rossman complaining about spray doing damage to her garden and her one tree.  Rossman lives on 205th Street.  Supervisor Kuechle went out to look at it and the spraying was done by REA Electric.  She was told to turn her complaint over to them.
 
MOU Discussion:  The board reviewed the permits the county issues and what ones the township issues.
 
Permitted uses in A80:   (Red - the township wants to permit or already is permitting)
    A)    Agriculture – the board felt all Agriculture permits need to be controlled by the county since they are the ones that issue the feedlot permits and they are more knowledgeable with experts to help make the decision.   
    B)    Antennas – Township wants to have some say in issuing this permit.  With the understanding the board will need the county experts to help.  The antennas by Fischer’s were passed and the township would have done things different or added conditions on the use of prime farmland for antennas and would have addressed a weed problem.   
    C)    Essential Services, Transmission Services and utility substations.
    D)    Family Day Care ((Done now))
    E)    Group Family Day Care ((Done now))
    F)    Licensed nonresidential programs – Board felt they did not have enough expertise and most of this type is governed by the state.
    G)    Licensed residential programs – Board felt they did not have enough expertise.
    H)    Public and private forest and game  management areas
    I)     Public parks and trails – Board wanted a say as to where to put parks or trails to protect farm land.
    J)     Signs – non-commercial, on premise – ((Done now))
    K)    Single family residential dwelling unit.
    L)    Wind Energy Conversions System (less than or equal to 40 KW)

Provisional Uses for A80:   
    A)    Animal feedlots
    B)    Bed and Breakfast Inns
    C)    Cemeteries
    D)    Greenhouses and nurseries ((Done now))
    E)     Government administrative and service buildings
    F)     Home extended businesses ((Done now))
    G)    Home occupations
    H)    Outdoor recreational facilities ((Done now))
    I)     Storage facilities, accessory agricultural building (with the exception of in shoreland area)

MP11-33
    J)     Temporary use sites of licensed resorts and campgrounds
    K)    Temporary uses/special events:  discussion was the outdoor music events or bike marathon on township roads.
 
Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures A80:
    A)    Accessory agricultural buildings ((Done now))
    B)    Residential accessory building ((Done now))
    C)    In-Vessel composting facility or mortality incinerator
    D)    Kennels – Private (4-10 animals)  ((Done now))
    E)     Outdoor sales lot – accessory to motor vehicle repair ((Done now))
    F)     Seasonal produce sales stands ((Done now))
    G)    Solar energy systems
    H)    Structures related to public airports
    I)     Swimming pools
 
Conditional Uses A80:
 
    A)    Accessory structures ((Done now))
    B)    Agriculturally oriented businesses ((Done now))

    C)    Animal feedlots
    D)    Antennae – AM radio transmitting
    E)    Antennae – personal wireless service and microwave
    F)    Aquaculture
    G)    Bio fuels plants
    H)    Churches ((Done now))
    I)     Community buildings ((Done now))
    J)     Concrete (ready mix) or asphalt missing facility, permanent
    K)    Hunting clubs and shooting preserves ((Done now))
    L)    Kennels- commercial, breeding, boarding
    M)   Kennels – private (more than 10 animals)
    N)    Limited rural businesses ((Done now))
    O)    Limited rural businesses ((Done now))
    P)    Outdoor paintball courses
    Q)    Private airstrips
    R)    Schools – private or public ((Done now))
    S)    Single family residential dwelling unit
    T)    Solar farms
    U)    Truck terminal – small
    V)    Transmission Services - ???  (Ask Heidi if the township can issue the permit and required the county to issue the Condition Use requirements) (Ask Heidi for more of a definition of “Transmission Services”)
    W)  Waste Water Treatment facilities
    X)    Wind Energy Conversions Systems (greater than 40 KW)
 
 
MP11-35
Interim Uses A80:
    A)    Concrete (ready mix) or asphalt mixing facility, temporary ((Done now))
    B)    One temporary single family dwelling unit that is located in the existing farmyard ((Done now))
    C)    One temporary single family residential dwelling unit for supportive care
    D)    Meteorological towers – board feels they don’t have enough knowledge
    E)     Migrant and/or seasonal worker housing
    F)     Mining ((Done now))
    G)    Vacation/private home rental
 
The board decided to move into the A40 at the next special meeting on July 26th.
 
Road Issues discussed:  123rd by Dale Leither’s has a frost boil the needs to be watched.  It was decided to wait and see if it dries out by the next meeting. 
 
Supervisor Wicker has asked to have Randy Sabart come into the July meeting to speak with residents about what can be done on the Eclipse, 98th, Eldorado roads and the Evergreen, Eden, 202nd and Edom Roads.  Clerk Harff was asked to contact the residents that left their email addresses with the clerk.
 
Pictures were reviewed on the culvert work done on 83rd by 135th intersection.  There was minimal damage to the hay field by John Adolph’s land. 
 
Patching is needed on 83rd Ave, north and south of 135th street and on 137th Street.  Supervisor Loewen will get quotes for the next meeting.
 
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to change township attorneys from Thiede’s law firm to McCourie/Rupp law firm in Ostego.  Motion carried.  Clerk Harff was asked to speak with them to see if they would consider taking on Maine Prairie Township.   Supervisor Wicker and Loewen asked to be signed up for the legal seminar on Thursday, September 8th.   The board wants to know who is responsible for a culvert in the right of way in a driveway.  That question can be answered at the legal seminar.
 
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer

Maine Prairie Township
12670 Co Rd 149   Watkins, MN 55389
Phone:   320.398.2905  Fax:   320.398.2906
clerk.mpt@meltel.net
Copyright (c) 2008