Minutes: August 12, 2020 Regular Board Meeting

Presented for approval at the September 8, 2020 Board Meeting

     

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

Agenda (Additions or Changes)

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

Approve Minutes

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve July Minutes. Approved.

Special Minutes (Anchor Avenue SSD)

Motion by Rising seconded by Meis to approve the Special Minutes. Approved

                                                                          

Treasurer’s Report

  • Deposited $120,000 into the Anchor checking account from the bond received
  • Received a bill for $7,500 that is not on the report from Ehlers that needs to be paid

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

Bills

  • Add an additional $30.00 to the total (2-hours for election judge)

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

Variance

  • Mike Osbeck – 51360 Berry Avenue – Requesting a variance to build a home that will encroach 11-feet closer to the road than the required set-back. The drawing did not provide sufficient detail for a decision to be made. There was not anyone at the meeting representing this variance so the Board was not able to get clarification on the information that was provided.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to deny the variance due to lack of information and there was no representative at the meeting to give clarification on the variance. Denied.

  • Dennis Frandsen – Lot 1, Block 1, Lois Acres – Requesting a variance to build closer to County Road 1, with a 90’ setback from the centerline of the road.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve building with a 90-foot setback from the center of the road. Approved.

Preliminary Plat

  • Shaun Fiedler – 7M Lakes LLC-Crest way – Requesting two preliminary plats on 7M Lakes property. Shaun Fiedler agreed to build a new cul-de-sac with a minimum of a 40-ft radius and a minimum of 8-inches of gravel on the road.

Motion by Rising seconded by Meis that the Township does not have any objections to the preliminary plat as written with the turn-around to go where it is shown on the drawing which is attached to the variance. Because Mell owns an adjoining parcel, he abstained from voting, so the Township did not have enough board members to vote on this but they do not have any objections. Approved.

Open Forum

  • Phou Sivilay- 373-Acacia Way – Phou Sivilay wants to add more concrete to his current driveway. There was not a representative at the meeting to discuss options for this driveway. Being there was not a representative at the meeting, no further discussion is needed regarding the driveway. One of the “No Parking” signs is missing from in front of this residence. Iskierka will write a letter to the resident in regards to the “No Parking” sign stating that the sign needs to be replaced where the Township had originally placed it.

Maintenance Report

  • Installed culverts on 525th and also on Arbor Avenue
  • General maintenance
  • Skid Steer/ Loader work
  • Graded roads
  • Fixed several washouts
  • Took care of approximately 40-trees that were down in the township

Road Committee

  • Acacia Way – A resident mentioned to Rising that there is no ditch left in front of his residence because of the Grumpy Minnow. Rising took photos and stated that she thinks it is from the big delivery trucks going to and from the Grumpy Minnow that have pushed the road over and eventually washed it out. We are not sure what we can do at this point.
  • Anchor Avenue – Mell sent an email to Greg Anderson regarding a start date on the Anchor Avenue project. Mell had not heard back as of yet. Mell recommends that Sutcliff fill the potholes on Anchor Avenue.

Policy Committee

  • Agenda Topics for Future Meetings – Once the new Board is sworn-in, which will be January 2021, Mell wants to get chloride put on the January agenda so that we can focus on that before next Spring.

Old Business

  • Broadband-CenturyLink Bonding – Dillner received advice from a couple of financial people in regards if we should take out a bond two years earlier than we need to. She stated that the if we take the bond at 1.75% compared to if we waited one year, and if the percent went up 1%, it would be $100,854.00 more in interest that we would have to pay. The estimated tax increase at 1.75% would be 4.053%, and with a 2.75% interest rate, the estimated tax increase would be 4.296%. If we let an investor invest the money, our net profit for one year should be between $4,000- $5,000.  Mell stated that it is all subjected, and that the rate could also go down. Mell would like to wait to see if COVID will affect our funding. He stated that if we already bonded the money, then we would not be eligible for any possible funding that may become available. Mell stated that we could possibly ask the State to increase their portion of the funding due to financial hardships to the residents from COVID-19. Meis stated that the financial experts are saying that we may hit a recession, which could drive interest rates up. Rising stated that she would like for all four board members to be present at the meeting and discuss and make a decision. Mell stated he would like for the Budget Committee to get together and to put together a recommendation and then have the Board vote on it. Meis will discuss with Paitl before the next meeting and we will discuss again at our next meeting.
  • Broadband-CenturyLink Letter -Mell received a draft letter from CenturyLink asking for approval of the letter from the Board, and then they would like to send the letter to the residents in Nessel Township. The letter is in regards to when Broadband will be available to the Nessel Township residents. The Board gave approval for CenturyLink to mail the letter to the residents.
  • Anchor Avenue SSD Bonds – The financing has been received and closed for Anchor Avenue.
  • Blue Heron Road Grant – Fish Lake wants to proceed with paving for 482nd/Blue Heron. Because it has DNR access to the landing, they want to apply for a grant for access connecting to DNR property. Fish Lake thinks that they can get all of it paved with the grant money. Meis explained that Fish Lake wants Nessel Township to pay one-half of $2,500 for the engineering studies. Mell will email Fish Lake and let them know that the Board approves to only pay for one-half of the study if Fish Lake receives the grant, otherwise, we will not pay for any of the engineering studies.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising that Nessel will pay for one-half of the study, but only if Fish Lake receives the grant, otherwise Fish Lake will have to cover the full cost of the study. Approved.

New Business

  • Dennis Frandsen- Rush Lake Estates – Does the Township want Rush Lake Way right-of-way to be dedicated to the Township or to remain under ownership of the landowner as described through an easement. The part of road that would be dedicated to the township is a deteriorated asphalt road about 20-feet wide and has sewer lines under the road. The Board wants to leave it as a private road as part of the Sanitation District.
  • Clover Trail/No Parking Signs – Speed Trailers were put up and the Sheriff’s Office parked nearby and enforced periodically.
  • Federal Cares Act Resolution – A resolution (12-2020) regarding how this money will be spent and also stating that all unused funds from the $49,750 that was allotted to Nessel Township, will be returned to Chisago County Auditor-Treasurer’s office, was signed and adopted.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve Resolution 12-2020. Approved.

  • Federal Cares Act – A motion is needed to apply for the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Some items that may be able to be purchased with these funds are pens for voting, plexi-glass sneeze shields for the election judges at the cost of $150 to $200 each, a laptop for our teleconference calls, a desk computer and the cost for a teleconference service charge. The Board wants Storck to research laptops and All-in-One desktop computers and present some options at the next meeting.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve applying for the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Approved.

  • Storm Damage Townhall Garage – Rising received two quotes from Lonsky Construction, LLC to repair the roof and garage door damage to the Township’s garage and to the soffits on the Township’s pavilion. One bid was to install a 26g steel roof, and the other was to install a 29g roof. After discussion, the Board determined that they would like a new quote that would remove the two skylights. Rising will request a new quote from Lonsky.

Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to accept the quote that included the installation and materials for a 26g steel roof, with the two skylights removed from the quote. Approved.

Motion by Rising seconded by Mell to adjourn at 9:20 pm.   Approved.