Princeton Township, Minnesota
Board of Supervisors Minutes

On Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Town Board Chairperson Greg Anderson called the Regular Monthly Town Board Meeting to order.  Other members present were Dan Minks, John Roxbury, Jr., Stephanie Johnston and John Moosbrugger.

Approve Minutes
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by Dan Minks to approve the minutes of November 21, 2006 as printed.  Motion Carried

Approve Financial Report
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by Stephanie Johnston to approve the Financial Report for November 2006 as submitted.  Beginning Balance of Township funds was $113,945.17; total receipts of $17,765.28; total disbursements of $10,362.61; leaving a balance of $121,347.84. Motion Carried.

Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Department
A representative of the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office was not present.

Old Business
Larry Doose was present to continue discussion of a Township park on the property of New Life Christian Center.  Greg Anderson stated the Township
Attorney had responded to the questions they asked the Clerk to get answers to.  The questions were:
1.    Can the City come in and annex the property once the Township acquires the property and gets the park done?
And
2.    Can the City use Eminent Domain to take portions of the property (Township Park) for City use?
Basically, the attorney stated he was awaiting further information but it seemed that the City of Princeton could indeed annex the property and yes, they could use eminent domain.  After some discussion, the Town Board asked the Clerk to contact the attorney and get the awaited information and ask him to attend the Town Board Meeting on January 16, 2007 for further discussion on this topic.

New Business
Marie Porter, Section 36, requested a Conditional Use Permit to operate a Floral & Fashion Design Business from her home.  She was unable to attend the meeting.  John Moosbrugger stated that she had attended the Planning Commission meeting and there were no concerns.  He also stated that her business was an ideal example of a home occupation.  A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by Dan Minks to approve the Conditional Use Permit with no conditions and no review date.  Motion Carried.

Jamie Andrews, Section 25, was present to request a Conditional Use Permit to operate a Sports Bar by the name of “Shooters” (former MacDaddy’s). A motion was made by John Moosbrugger and seconded by Dan Minks to approve the Conditional Use Permit with the following conditions:
1.    The dumpster be screened
2.    All paper, cans, bottles, trash, etc be picked up daiiy
3.    Any new exterior lighting be downcast
4.    The septic system be pumped a minimum of once per year
5.    Any events that take place outside be approved by the Town Board a minimum of fourteen (14) days before said event.
6.    Noise and dust to be kept at a minimum
7.    Conditional Use Permit to be reviewed in one year
Motion Carried.

The Town Board discussed the Planning Commission position currently held by Eric Minks that expires in January of 2007.  The Town Board asked the Clerk to publish the open position in the paper and then place the discussion back on the agenda for the February 2007 Town Board Meeting with any letters of interest.

Margarette Dufner was present on behalf of the Princeton Youth Hockey Association. Ms. Dufner was requesting permission from the Town Board to allow her organization to sell pull tabs at Shooters in Section 25.  A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by John Moosbrugger to approve Resolution #2006-1.  Motion Carried.

The Town Board discussed the letter from the attorney regarding IT Construction and their Ordinance Violation.  The Clerk stated that she had received a request from the attorney to sign an Amended Summons to proceed with legal action against the company.  A motion was made by John Moosbrugger and seconded by John Roxbury, Jr. to sign the Amended Summons and continue with legal action.  Motion Carried.

The next item of business was to discuss employee wages and yearly raises.  John Moosbrugger stated he seemed to remember last year he requested that this topic be discussed in a closed meeting.  The Clerk stated that discussion of wages and raises must be discussed at an open meeting but she thought that employee evaluations could be discussed at a closed meeting.  Mr. Moosbrugger stated he would like a couple of Town Board Supervisors to meet with the Clerks at the Staff Meeting on January 4, 2007 and discuss this topic.  Greg Anderson and Dan Minks are the two Supervisors who will meet with the Clerks.  The Town Board decided to go by their judgment on the topic and present the remaining Town Board Supervisors with the information at the Town Board meeting in January 2007.  John Moosbrugger stated that he didn’t have a problem with whatever raises take place is retroactive to the December 19, 2006 meeting.

Engineers Report
Todd McLouth had nothing to report.

Zoning Administrators Report
Loren Kohnen briefed the Town Board on a of issue that have been brought to his attention He stated that David Zablel of A-Z Restraint is building a small addition onto his business without a building permit or site plan.  Loren stated that Mr. Label was on the schedule for the Staff Meeting on December 7, 2006 but did not show up.  Loren will be looking into this issue further.

Loren also reported to the Town Board that he had received a call from someone wanting to put a mobile home on a piece of property.  He also stated that he has received several calls from people inquiring about buying Bud’s Place.

Open Forum
Larry Doose asked the Town Board about road work on 35th Street.  He asked for an update.  He thought that 36th Street was one of the roads that would be paved in 2006 but instead 40th Street was done.  The Town Board stated that 40th Street was done because Greenbush Township was going to pave their part of it and it was more of a through road. The Town Board stated that next year in 2007 there will not be much for road work so the Township could catch up budget wise but they will look at it in 2008.

Supervisors Reports
Dan Minks stated that he went to the City of Princeton Planning Commission meeting and the Township can expect to get some type of communication from them regarding the west end of the City and what they want to do.  There is a lot of interest in commercial growth in that area and he said the City is interested in what the Townships have to say about it.  They want to get a better line of communication between the City and the surrounding Townships.

John Roxbury, Jr. stated that the Fire Advisory Board Meeting worked on fire equipment details.

Mr. Roxbury also stated at the County they are working on the revised County Sign Ordinance.  It is stated that the County will be holding a Public Hearing on it and thought it would be a good idea for the Planning Commission to look at it and compare it to the Townships Ordinance because the Township has to stay at least as restrictive as the County.

Stephanie Johnston briefed the Town Board on the Road Sign Program meeting she attended at the Mille Lacs County Hwy Department.  The Town Board discussed the information.  John Moosbrugger motioned and John Roxbury Jr. seconded to make the phase one payment to the County Hwy Department to move on with the program.  Motion Carried.  The Town Board asked the Clerk to look at the 2007 Budget and see where they could take the money out of.

Clerks Business
The Clerk asked for permission to purchase a new paper shredder.  The current
one quit working.  A motion was made by John Moosbrugger and seconded by John Roxbury, Jr. to approve the Clerks request.  Motion Carried.

The Clerk stated that Duane Baker asked her to talk to the Town Board regarding the Grader.  He would like CAT to come out and do a complete service repair on the Grader. He stated that the last time it had been done was 6 years ago. The Town Board asked the Clerk to contact CAT and get an estimate from them and put the discussion back on the Town Board Agenda for the January 16, 2007 meeting.

The Clerk stated that at the last Town Board meeting John Roxbury, Jr. had stated that Tom Braun would only be available to plow snow in emergency cases or on the weekends.  He asked the Clerk to contact Brian Dahlheimer and see if he knew of anyone who might be able help him if he needed help.  The Clerk talked to Brian and his friend Clarence was interested. The Clerk stated that Clarence would need to come in and see her to fill out paperwork.

The Clerk asked Brian Dahlheimer to discuss the culvert issue on 65th and County Road 4 that was discussed at the last Town Board Meeting.  Brian told the Town Board that he will go out and take care of it or remove it whatever needed to be done.

The Clerk also discussed a receipt that had been turned into her by John Roxbury, Jr. for reimbursement of flowers that were purchased for the funeral of Roger Neske.  The Clerk stated that she had talked to Greg Anderson the previous week regarding it and Greg asked her to contact the MN Association of Township. The Clerk stated that she had contacted them and the Township cannot reimburse the amount out of Township funds but the Town Board members could split the cost amongst themselves.

Approve Payment of the Bills
A motion was made by Dan Minks and seconded by Stephanie Johnston to approve payment of the bills, Check numbers 7271 —7311.  Motion Carried.

Adjourn
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by John Moosbrugger to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Motion Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Connie L. Heinks
Clerk/Treasurer

Attendees:    Ken Henchen, Jarnie Andrews, Brian Dahlheimer, Connie Wubben, Margarette Dufner, Larry Doose, Todd McLouth, Loren Kohnen