Minutes: March 11, 2020 Regular Board Meeting

Presented for approval at the April 14, 2020 Board Meeting

     

March meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Michelle Meis with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Supervisors present included, Branden Mell, John Paitl and Jared Landon. Treasurer Mary Dillner and Deputy Clerk Kelli Storck were also present. Not present included, Supervisor Betsy Rising and Clerk Stan Iskierka.

Agenda (Additions or Changes)

  • Additions to New Business:

A. Road Tour       B. Shed

  • Additions:

     Add Plat Signature for Pfieffers Ridge before Preliminary Plat

  • Changes:    

    Switch VII-A CUP STU-MAC with VIII-A Variance STU-MAC (Discuss Variance before CUP)

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

Approve Minutes

Motion by Landon seconded by Paitl to approve February Minutes. Approved.

                                                                          

Treasurer’s Report

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

Bills

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

Plat

  • Pfieffers Ridge – Plat signatures needed. Plats signed by Meis and Storck.

Preliminary Plat

  • Steven & Patricia Hudak – Seeking approval of a Preliminary Plat of one five-acre lot out of a 30-acre tract.

Motion by Landon seconded by Mell to approve the preliminary plat. Approved.

Variance

  • STU-MAC Properties-Twin Barns RV Park – Seeking a variance for a reduction to open space criteria in the Shorewood District and for adding 42-sites. There was no one at the meeting to represent this variance.

Motion by Mell seconded by Paitl to Deny the variance due to lack of information. Approved.

Conditional Use Permit

  • STU-MAC Properties-Twin Barns RV Park – An amendment of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a planned unit development with increased density to expand an existing recreational campground.  Nessel Township needs all current codes/statutes that need to be addressed and arrangements with STU-MAC and Shorewood Sanitary District will need to be reviewed. Package submitted to Nessel Township was not complete, it is missing sewer information and there were not any representatives here to discuss this conditional use permit.

Motion by Landon seconded by Mell to Deny the CUP request due to lack of information. Approved

Open Forum

  • Use of Salt on the Roads – A resident asked if we are getting salt being that a vote was approved at the annual meeting to put a divider in the current shed. The resident asked how do we get it put into policy the use of just salt on the roads. The Board would have to address this and vote on it to change the policy.
  • Cleaning up Salt/Sand Chips at Intersections – A resident asked how we can go about getting the salt/chip mixture cleaned up in the intersections and stated that it is a safety issue. The resident suggested that we use straight salt on the tar roads and the road approaches. Mell stated that we would have to look at the cost impact. Landon stated that he could not find a statute regarding cleaning up intersections. Mell asked if Landon would talk with Iskierka and get the annual average usage of sand, and of salt, and also get the cost of both products. Mary stated that so far this year (Since January), we spent $4,600 on salt/sand mixture. In 2019 we spent $11,000 on salt/sand mixture. After we get the numbers, the Board can do a comparison on what salt cost are and what sand cost are. At that point the Board can discuss what the impacts would be and decide if this should be discussed even further with doing policy changes. We would also need to look into the cost of sweeping the tar road intersections in the Spring. Storck will ask what other Townships are doing and what their cost are.
  • Street Sign on Alpine Avenue N. – A resident asked if a new sign can be put up that says “Alpine Avenue N.” instead of just “Alpine Avenue.” Stan can order a sign.
  • Requesting Copy of Midcontinent Shorewood Contract – Gary Riley asked for a copy of the Midcontinent contract with Shorewood Sanitary District.
  • Salt/Sand Mixture – A resident stated that the salt/sand mixture does not work and is wondering why the Township is wasting money using it.
  • Resident Comments from Annual Meeting – A resident stated that at meetings and specifically the annual meeting (held last night), that the Board is representing all of the residents and not one group of residents. The resident stated that the Board was unprofessional at certain times at the annual meeting and that the Board should never heckle and that the way that they vote was very unprofessional. The resident also stated that when someone brings up things for example compensation, that they are comparing to other townships, but each township has a different list of duties and different budgets and the resident does not want to see anyone thrown under the bus.

Maintenance Report

  • Salting and Snowplowing
  • “No Parking” signs are up on Acacia Way
  • Looked at Anchor issues regarding road busting up-Real soft at this time
  • Posted the 5-tons signs

Contract Committee

  • Muddy Gap Contract – Mell stated that a new contract will need to be signed by May 1, 2020 if extending the contract or if we will put it out for bid. This needs to be discussed at the April meeting which goes into effect in August. Mell suggested to Sutcliff to bring up comments or questions if needed.

   Old Business

  • Anchor Avenue – An email was forwarded to the board from SEH that said it is completely acceptable to Knife River that we put out the notice to proceed on the actual work which will be well into the summer. Mell is recommending that at the April meeting that we sign the contract documents with Knife River and that we give them a notice to proceed date of not sooner than June 29 and that we add the condition that prior to starting any work, that the certification of the Anchor Avenue Subordinate District must be complete. So therefore, they are on notice that yes, we signed a contract, and yes, we intend to move forward, but they cannot start work before June 29, and that if for whatever reason Anchor Avenue SSD does not get certified that they cannot proceed. Iskierka had our Attorney put together a checklist for Anchor Avenue SSD. If we have the hearing on April 14, 2020, then if we were to advertise that again, that 60-days would run from April 14-June 14. The actual start date of the SSD, if there was not an appeal would be June 15. Meis read Resolution 01-2020 which needs approval. A “Resolution Declaring a “Hearing” on Establishing a Subordinate Service District,” which needs to be approved.

Motion by Landon seconded by Paitl to approve Resolution 01-2020. Approved.

  • Anchor Avenue – Meis read Resolution 02-2020 which needs approval. “Declaring the Official Intent of Nessel Township to Reimburse Certain Expenditures from the Proceeds of Bonds to be Issued by the Town.” Mell gave an explanation of the SSD process. Approval was given for Stan to schedule our Financial Representative and our Lawyer to be at the April 14 meeting. The public hearing will be at 7:00 at Nessel Township Hall and will be in the agenda as part of the regular scheduled Township meeting. Discussion will be needed as to the best way to finance the $175,000 Township’s portion as far as if we want to use CD’s for some of it to save on paying interest.

Motion by Mell seconded by Paitl to approve Resolution 02-2020. Approved.

  • Annual Meeting – Approval is needed to approve the Supervisors Report 2021 Levy that was approved by the residents at the annual meeting.

Motion by Landon seconded by Paitl to approve the 2021 levy for $550, 617 which is listed on the Supervisors Report that was presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Approved.

  • Broadband – A summary of what was discussed was distributed to the Board members that contained highlights from the meeting that Mell, Iskierka and Storck had with CenturyLink. CenturyLink is drafting the Business Subsidy Agreement and will give us a copy to review. CenturyLink said they would be at the public hearing to answer questions. Mell asked the Board when do they want to have this public meeting. After some discussion, it was decided to have the public hearing on April 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm and have the voting on June 2, 2020 at 7:00 pm. Put on the agenda for April to discuss that the Board agrees to the voting procedure to be followed. Storck will discuss with Iskierka as to the voting process for Broadband and to see what we need from the County. The Township’s Financial Representative and Lawyer will need to be scheduled to be at the public hearing.

New Business

  • Blue Heron/482 St. – Mell created a chart that contains a list of the paved roads in the Township and when the last repair was completed on each road. He also put together a chart that contains an estimated cost per lineal foot for a full reconstruct of the road and the actual cost for each paved road. Mell asked the Road Committee to work with our Maintenance Contractor and put together in order by priority what they believe would be a reasonable repair and reconstruct plan over the next 20-years on all of the 11-roads based on their condition today, heavy use or light use, etc. Have Iskierka get in touch with Fish Lake Township to set up a date (set it out to May or June due to Anchor and Broadband) to discuss Blue Heron/482 Street. The Road Committee and Maintenance Contractor will put together a road maintenance schedule when they do their Road Tour (Date to be determined).
  • Board of Appeal – A reminder that the Board of Appeal meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2020 at 9:30 am at Nessel Town Hall.
  • Road Tour – A road tour date will be set-up between Meis, Rising and Sutcliff in the near future.
  • Shed Wall – Landon will contact Pat Mattson from Nicholas Construction and let him know that we have accepted his bid to install a dividing wall for the salt/sand shed and to let him know that we also need some repairs done to the shed. Landon will put together a timeline and will also be in touch with Sutcliff so that Sutcliff can also meet with Pat Mattson to discuss the repairs that are needed.

Motion by Paitl seconded by Landon to adjourn at 9:15 pm.   Approved.