Minutes: January 14, 2020 Regular Board Meeting

Presented for approval at the February 11, 2020 Board Meeting

                                 

January meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Michelle Meis with the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisors present included, Brandon Mell, Betsy Rising, John Paitl and Jared Landon. Clerk Stan Iskierka, Treasurer Mary Dillner and Deputy Clerk Kelli Storck were also present.

 

Agenda (Additions or Changes)

Additions to New Business:

  • Annual Newsletter
  • Burning trees

 

Additions to Old Business:

  • QuickBooks Program

 

Motion by Paitl seconded by Rising to approve Agenda. Approved.

 

Approve Minutes

 

Motion by Landon seconded by Mell to approve December Minutes. Approved.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Motion by Paitl seconded by Rising to approve Treasurer’s Report. Approved.

 

Bills

 

Motion by Rising seconded by Paitl to approve paying bills. Approved.

 

Conditional Use Permit

 

  • Twin Barns RV Park-Shorewood Sanitary – Iskierka presented some information to the Board regarding the RV park adding trailers to the resort in regards to a Conditional Use Permit, which might be presented at the February meeting. Iskierka has some concerns regarding the plowing of the roads in this area. A resident stated that a meeting will be held on site on February 4, 2020 at 9:00 am and also on February 6, 2020 at 7:00 pm at the County Planning Commission’s Office. Mell would like for the Board to see documentation that Shorewood Sanitary District has agreed to connect 54 trailers.

 

Open Forum

 

  • Acacia Way – A resident asked if the “No Parking” signs that the Township is going to install on Acacia Way are going to be on both sides of the road. The Road Committee will meet with the contractor to determine where to place the signs. We have 5 signs on hand. Iskierka will order more signs.

 

  • Cracks on Blacktop – A resident is concerned about the cracks on the blacktop road on Alpine Avenue. The resident wants it noted that he asked the Township if what we are doing to the roads (Not maintaining the roads properly) is driving the frost down further.

 

  • Speed Limit on Anchor Avenue – A resident on Anchor Avenue asked who is responsible for speed limits on this road. The resident stated that vehicles and 4-wheelers are driving at a high rate of speed on this road. Iskierka said that the State would have to do a study on the road in order to change the speed limit. Iskierka mentioned that it took 1-1/2 years to complete the last speed study. The police will not enforce a speed limit sign unless a speed study was approved and completed by the State. The Road Committee will take a look at the road and determine what options are available.

Maintenance Report

 

  • Snowplowed
  • Graded ice off of the dirt roads
  • Cleared paved roads
  • Stan will order more salt
  • Contractor was given the ok to plow tomorrow (January 15, 2020)

 

Road Committee

 

  • Sign on Bayview – There was a sign on Bayview that Meis had burned.

 

  • Snow Piles – Landon stated that a resident South of County Road 7, is pushing snow across the road. Rising stated that a resident on Basswood is also pushing snow across the road. Landon will get the address of the residence on County Road 7 and give it to Iskierka so that he can send a warning letter to the resident, and if it continues, the resident will be fined.

 

Budget Committee

 

  • 2021 Budget – Approval is needed for the proposed 2021 budget. Changes to the proposed 2021 budget are as follows:

 

  1. Contract Grading from $70,000 to $75,000
  2. Blacktop Projects and Asphalt Sealing, move $20,000 of the $85,000 and make the $20,000 a line item-Blacktop Roads Anchor Avenue
  3. Sand Mix/Trap Rock from $10,825 to $16,000
  4. Contract Snowplowing from $60,000 to $65,000
  5. City of Braham from $18,000 to $19,000

 

Motion by Rising seconded by Paitl to approve the amended 2021 budget for presentation at the Annual Meeting. Approved.

 

  1. Building Maintenance & repair from $400 in the budget to $1,000

 

Motion by Rising seconded by Paitl to approve changing the General Building Maintenance from $400 in the budget to $1,000. Approved.

 

Old Business

 

  • Annual Meeting Broadband – Meis will update the residents that are at the Annual Meeting regarding the Broadband funding/grant program. This information is also in the annual newsletter. No voting in regards to Broadband will take place at this meeting being that funding has not yet been approved.

 

  • Annual Meeting Salt Shed – Mell will present information to the residents that are at the Annual Meeting regarding a salt shed.

 

Option 1: A new salt shed (We have an estimated cost to include in the budget).

Option 2: A divider wall and shed repair to the existing salt shed.

 

  • Anchor Road Avenue – The Board and the residents that were at the meeting, discussed how to proceed with fixing the road on Anchor Avenue. Mell asked if the residents want to pursue a Subordinate Service District (SSD). Because of circumstances (The road was forced onto the residents), the Board made the decision that if an SSD is approved, that the Township will pay for the engineering, cover the maintenance of the road from the day one, and that each parcel/property on Anchor Avenue would pay a maximum of $5000. The residents can pay a lump sum or they can pay it over a 10-year span. The repair option that was decided on, is to remove the otto-seal off the road, grind it up and put in a lift of base course and a lift of wear course. Mell will provide Randy Chilson-who will be the SSD representative with a petition for him to present to the residents on Anchor Avenue regarding starting an SSD.

 

See below for questions, comments, suggestions and concerns that were discussed at          this meeting:

 

  1. The residents could start an SSD and pay the full amount plus 10-years maintenance
  2. The Township could cover the maintenance if a new road is installed
  3. Options to consider for the road, are to install a new road; pave the existing road; grind the road surface back to gravel; or continue the maintenance on the current otto-seal surface
  4. Have the residents pay a similar amount as other SSD’s of approximately $4,600 for a new road
  5. The road was forced on the residents due to the County giving it back to the Township
  6. Minnesota Statute 429 Assessment option allows the Township to assess the parcels
  7. A commitment of 51% of the residents are needed to start an SSD
  8. Randy Chilson volunteered to be the SSD Representative
  9. If the Township is paying for a portion of the Anchor Avenue SSD, Paitl is concerned of the backlash from other residents with previous SSD’s
  10. There are 25 parcels/vacant lots
  11. The road is highly traveled by vehicles that do not have parcels or live on the road
  12. We have a bid from Knife River of $271,000, to grind, reshape and put in 2 new lifts for Anchor Avenue. An alternate bid of $224,000, to put a 2” lift over the existing road
  13. Other SSD’s paid the full amount, which included the engineering cost, and they also covered 10-years maintenance
  14. The current bids are good until April

 

  • QuickBooks Program – Our Treasurer, Mary Dillner, presented the Board with some prices for purchasing an accounting program. Dillner stated she is currently using Excel for her reports and that at this time, she is ok with using Excel. Dillner stated that she would like to print checks at Townhall and that she would need the Board’s hours worked (for payroll) before the monthly meeting. Another option is to do the payroll in arrears. The Board stated that they approve for the Treasurer to purchase a QuickBooks Program whenever she is ready to purchase one.

 

Motion by Landon seconded by Rising to approve the Treasurer to purchase a payroll accounting system of her choice, up to the amount of $300 plus tax and license. Approved.

 

New Business

 

  • Braham Contract – Motion needed to accept the 2020 Braham Fire Contract.

 

Motion by Paitl seconded by Rising to accept the 2020 Braham Fire Contract in the amount of $17,358.27. Approved.

 

  • Annual Newsletter – Motion needed to approve sending out the Annual Newsletter after February’s meeting. The newsletter may be posted on the website sooner. The Board discussed and decided against adding a note in the newsletter regarding who to call for road maintenance.

 

Motion by Landon seconded by Rising to approve sending out the Annual Newsletter after February’s meeting. Approved.

 

  • Burning Trees – The Board gave our contractor permission to burn the tree piles/brush that are on the Township Hall property.

 

Motion by Landon seconded by Rising to adjourn at 8:57 pm. Approved.