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Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
May 10, 2011
 
Chair Loewen opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag. 
 
Board members present: Supervisors Dennis Loewen, Ron Kuechle, John Wicker and Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff.  Others present Chuck Froehling, Lonnie Hendricks, Gene Merten, Ann Craft, residents from Eclipse, Eldorado and 98th Ave and residents from Evergreen, Edom and 202nd St. 
 
Chair Loewen called for any additions or corrections with none, Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to accept the minutes.  Motion carried.
 
Chair Loewen called for the treasurer’s report.   Clerk Harff explained that the Town Hall CD is coming due.  She presented the options with different interest rates.  Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to put it into the Money Market account.  The amount moved was $5577.88 plus $21.09 interest.  Motion carried.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.
 
Old Business:
MN Township Association meeting for April 28th; Supervisor Kuechle, Clerk Harff and her husband attended.    It was reported that the lawyers from Douri, MacArthur & Ruppe were present to explain the changes in the variance ordinance passed by the Legislature.  They announced their legal seminar is pretty full for June but still has room for the September meeting.  There was a real good turnout for this meeting. 
 
Eldorado, Eclipse and 98th Ave residents were sent a letter requesting them to come into the meeting.  The board explained the concern for the condition of these roads.  The discussion of options: to retar, abandon a portion or to put it back to gravel.  If the township would abandon a portion of Eclipse Rd it would affect 4 homes.  This portion is from Eldorado and 98th St.  The option of retar was to have the residents pay 1/3rd and the township pays 2/3rd of the cost.  An approximate amount would be $127,000 for 1 mile of road.  The cost would be by unit of benefit so each buildable lot would be considered a unit.  Concern was: septics that are under the road, lower value of land if not done, Ross was concerned that water would go into his garage if raised by tarring, and bare land being considered a unit of benefit. Discussion:  Is water and sewer coming out to the lake shore people (answer was not in the plans), Septic go under the roads on Carnelian Lake (this would be no problem but if dug up by resident, it would be their cost to repair), and board explained if tarred, it would be two lifts at 1 ½ inch each lift about 18’ wide.   The residents were asked how many were in favor of retarring.  Out of 18 residents present, 14 wanted tar and 4 were against.  Clerk Harff reported that 23 letters were sent out with one returned because of address change and one sent back stating he feels it unnecessary to tar.  The board will check with the township engineer, check for quotes on this project, have an on-site meeting and do a follow-up letter informing the residents of the next meeting.
 
Evergreen, Edom & 202nd St residents were asked to come into the meeting for concerns on their roads.  Question was to retar or turn back into gravel and use dust control.  The approximate cost is $127,000 per mile with their three roads coming to approximately 1.7 miles.  The approx. cost would be $230,000
 
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Plus the approx cost of $20,000 to fix the frost boils.  Voigt’s asked if the bad area could be patched, board explained the concern was for the condition of the whole road, it would not pay to just patch one area.  Hiltner wanted to know if it would be milled, would class 5 be added for dust control to work.  Lonnie, from township maintenance company, explained if milled they would have to mill down deeper to grind class 5 up with tar.  The board explained that road counters were put out and 504 cars went through in a 4 day period and 25 cars a day went through on Edom alone.  With letters sent to 15 residents, 7 residents were present.  It was announced to the residents that the total tax levy for the residents on these roads come to $10,633.28 dollars a year.  There is a concern that something should be done as soon as possible.  The board announced that they will have a contractor look it over to see if it can be blow patched.  Supervisor Loewen made a motion to do repairs right away.  Discussion from Wicker was if blow patching works temporarily it would give the board more time.  Loewen amended his motion to if blow patching would work and it cost less than $10,000, then move forward on the patching.  Seconded by Kuechle, motion carried.  Supervisor Loewen will have Glieden Enterprises look at the road.  This subject will be tabled for the June 14th meeting at 7:30 p.m.
 
Bids were called for:  Hendricks Sand & Gravel was the only bid presented.
 
                                            Hendricks Sand & Gravel Bid
 
        Equipment and cost for use of: 
        Grader – Grading Roads   $77.50 per hour,
        Grader – Snow Removal    $80.50 per hour, 
        Trucks –Plowing Snow/Sanding   $82.50 per hour,
        Pickup Truck –Snow Plow   $60.00 per hour,
        Bobcat with Blower –Snow Removal    $75.00 per hour,
        Tractor w/Blower –Snow Removal   $75.00 per hour,
        Tractor –Road Ditch Mowing,   $85.00 per hour,
        Salt/Sand   $45.00 per yard. 
        Gravel Hauling is as per attached map with $3.80 for Southern portions, $4.10 for Central, $4.55 for North East section and $4.75 for North West section.
 
Discussion was about the increase cost for gravel hauling.  Lonnie explained he needed to cover costs for the increase in fuel costs.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the bid, motion carried.  Discussion was the road restrictions are on yet so can’t haul a lot of gravel yet.
 
Kingston Street – Supervisor Kuechle spoke with Ned Root (from Kingston Township) concerning the replacement of a 36’ culvert on the line road.  Kuechle met on site with Root and Hendricks, the culvert replacement can be done by our maintenance company which would save both townships.  It was also discussed that Kingston Street needs gravel badly.  Kingston Township has Meeker Co haul their gravel.  With hauling cost at $4.80 and $5.525 for gravel, it will be cheaper for Maine Prairie to do the work.  It was suggested not to exceed 1,000 yards.  Kuechle will contact Ned Root on the townships decision.
 
Dust Guard – Harff reported all but two residents responded for dust control along with a few new ones.  Wicker asked Harff to call the two whom did not respond.  Harff had all roads marked on a map for Tri City Paving. 
 
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Ditch work – Lonnie said that he has looked at the roads and he should be able to repair the roads listed:  portions of 145th   St , 135th   St, 140th   St & Balsam Rd, 123rd   Ave, and Cobblecrest Rd.  Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to move forward and have Hendricks Sand and Gravel do the ditch work, with more discussion Loewen amended his motion to include that each project be billed separately.  Motion seconded by Kuechle, motion carried.   Clerk Harff was asked to contact Dennis Kuseske, Kevin Libbesmeier and John Donnay to explain that work is going to be done and that they might have to work out of the right of way.  They will be asked to sign an easement to protect the township. 
 
Crack Sealing/Seal Coating – Supervisor Loewen checked further into Aztech after viewing work done in Fair Haven Township which did not hold up.  Loewen presented the information to the board and it was decided not go with Aztech as decided in the April meeting.   Loewen presented other bids from Glieden Enterprises for $134.9 per lb, Pro Ashpalt for $2.28 and Parking Lot Maintenance for $1.29(but could not get it done in a timely manner).  Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to move forward with Glieden to apply 70,000 lbs not to exceed a total cost of $94,430.00.  Motion carried.  Roads listed are 73rd Ave, 83rd Ave, 103rd Ave, 145th St by School Section Lake, and 121st Ave by Goodner Lake area.   Clerk Harff was directed to draw up a contract. 
 
Sign Reflectivity – Clerk Harff explained that the township needs to have a plan in place.  She reviewed the information presented but now need to put down the order of when and what signs are replaced first.  Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to have the clerk contact Brent at RSmS to see if they have a draft to go by or if it was included in the contract.  Motion carried.  Tabled for the next meeting. 
 
Update MOU(Memorandum of Understanding) – With the changes in ordinances at the county, the township was asked to review their MOU with the county to see if the township wants to do any updating.  The decision was to do that at separate meetings.  The first meeting is set for May 17th.  It was decided that the meetings should take place on the 4th Tue of the month until the MOU and 5 year road plan is completed.  Clerk Harff will put the legal in the paper. 
 
Supervisors Loewen, Wicker and Kuechle had intended to go to the legal seminar but Clerk Harff gave them the date of June 15th and it should have been the 16th.  Wicker was then the only one that could go so Clerk Harff was directed to check into Sept 8th legal seminar.  This is tabled to the next meeting.
 
Town Hall – The flyer was presented for the board’s approval.   Ann Craft did the flyer for the committee and asked if there were any changes.  It was to show a need and get the info to all the people in the township.  The board gave their approval to include this in the newsletter.  The board suggested a meeting with the residents on Thur, September 22, at 7:00 p.m.  This will be to present more information about different options.  Some of which are to rent the old Theisen building with 1500 sq ft meeting area, 12X12 office area, 10x10 file area, 32X32 cold storage area w/10 year lease at a cost of $9,000 a year including utilities.  With the storage area it would be $11,100.  Dave Lochen also is showing interest in building a hall for rent in his storage unit area, exploring the old swan’s café building in Kimball or adding onto the fire hall were some of the options discussed.  Gene Merten asked what would happen to the land donated to the township and what the cost would be per year to operate a new building.  The board suggested the committee meet again to review different options and come up with a
 
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more accurate cost to build the building.  It was also suggested that Dennis meet with the city to get more information about adding onto the Fire Hall.
 
Liquor License for Holy Cross – Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle moved to approve.  Motion carried.
 
Liquor License for Powder Ridge – Supervisors Kuechle/Wicker moved to approve.  Motion carried.
 
Liquor License for Kimball Golf Course – Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle moved to approve.  Motion carried.
 
Culvert thawed on 135th but the inlet can’t be seen, so needs repair.  By Tom Donnay’s on 140th a culvert is partially blocked.  Tom also asked if it was possible to put tile under the road from his place to Yozamps.
 
Gale Pope spoke with Jim Unterberger requesting gravel on 200th Street.  Pope asked if he supplied the gravel, could our maintenance company put it on.  Supervisors Wicker/Loewen authorized the work done not to exceed $1,000.00.  Clerk Harff was asked to contact Pope and explain the board’s decision.
 
Supervisors Kuechle/Wicker made a motion to accept the permits presented by the Planning board.  Motion carried.
 
Clerk Harff will be working with Kinko’s in getting the newsletter ready for print.  They should be ready to go in a week or so. 
 
Bills were presented.  Supervisors Kuechle/Loewen made a motion to approve the bills presented along with the cost of mailing out the newsletters and the cost of $35.00 for the recycled tires added onto Hendricks Sand & Gravel bill.  Motion carried. 
 
Balance Brought forth:     $   63,056.44
Money received                 +    2,986.57
Hall CD moved to MM         +   5,598.97   
Balance total                   $    71,641.98 
Expenses:                          -  22,449.85     
Balance in Ck Bk               $   49,192.13 
Total Investments           +  882,520.70
Total Value of Twsp        $   931,712.83    
 
Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m.  Motion carried. 
 
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer