Princeton Township, Minnesota
Board of Supervisors Minutes
On Tuesday; September 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 Moosbrugger to approve the minutes of August 15,
2006 with the letter written by Jack Edmonds which he asked be attached to
the minutes regarding an error in a statement he had made at the previous
meeting. The motion was seconded by John Roxbury, Jr. Motion Carried.
Approve January Financial Report
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by Dan Minks to approve
the Financial Report for August 2006 as submitted. Beginning Balance of Township
funds was $203,406.28; total receipts of $6,989.60; total disbursements of
$8,242.91; leaving a balance of $202,152.97. Motion Carried.
Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Department
There was a representative of the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office present
but had no reports to give. The Town Board or the residents present had to
concerns they wished to express.
Old Business
There was no Old Business to address.
New Business
Jack Edmonds was present at the August Town Board Meeting and invited a member
of the Township to join the Airport Advisory Committee. He stated that there
were members from other Townships and he thought it would be a good idea
if someone from Princeton Township was involved as well. The Town Board asked
the Clerk to add the discussion to the October Planning Commission Agenda
to find out if a PC Member would be interested in being appointed to the
Committee and then bring it back to the October Town Board Meeting. The Airport
Advisory Committee meets at the Airport Admin Building on the 2nd Monday
of every month at 5:30 p.m.
Jeff Carling, Section 27, was present on behalf of his parents Ken &
Carol Carling to discuss the issue of the road Mille Lacs County is building
through their property. Mr. Carling reviewed a Certificate of Survey of his
parent's property with the Town Board. After discussing the survey he asked
the Town Board if his parents were a candidate for two variances to split
the parcels which are just under the minimum requirement. The Town Board
felt that their request was a perfect example of a variance request. The
Carlings will need to attend the staff meeting on October 5, 2006 and will
need to get together the required paperwork and fees and present it to the
Clerk to be placed on the November meeting agendas.
John Roxbury, Jr. was on the agenda with the subject of TBA. He requested
that the Town Board move his discussion to the end of the agenda and then
closing the regular meeting and then holding a Closed Meeting to discuss
possible litigation. All Town Board members agreed.
Engineers Report
Todd McLouth had nothing to report.
Zoning Administrators Report
Loren Kohnen briefed the Town Board on the Staff Meeting of September 7,
2006.
Loren also informed the Town Board that he is waiting for information on
the soil for Tim Wilhelm's Conditional Use Permit for Bio-solids. The Clerk
stated that letters have been sent and phone calls have been to Mr. Wilhelm
regarding this issue. Mr. Wilhelm has not responded. Loren stated that the
MPCA requires this information before the bio-solids can be spread and it
is a condition on his CUP. Loren stated that he will visit him on Thursday.
Open Forum
There were no residents present who wished to speak.
Supervisors Reports
John Moosbrugger reported that the Planning Commission has decided to start
going through the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that at this time they are
only making small changes to it and then the second time around they will
start addressing major concerns with it.
Greg Anderson stated that Richard Rieman's (45th Street) road is a mess.
He stated that Mr. Rieman has hired someone to go in and reshape the road
at his own expense and now it needs gravel added to it. The Clerk had obtained
a bid of $756.00 for gravel and the spreading from West Branch Construction.
A motion was made by Dan Minks and seconded by John Roxbury, Jr. to approve
West Branch Construction to go ahead and add gravel to the road. Motion Carried.
John Roxbury, Jr. stated that he had attended the Fire Advisory Board. He
stated the Santiago Township has elected to go with Becker for Fire Service.
He also stated that the City and Fire Department are looking at ways to figure
out how to put money aside for replacing fire trucks. He stated that the
police department and fire department are looking at possibly building a
joint facility.
John Moosbrugger asked when Santiago Township goes with Becker for Fire Service
when does that part of the money hit our budget. Mr. Roxbury wasn't sure
if they were contracted out to the end of this year or next year but they
are supposed to give a years notice before they pull out. John said he would
find out.
John Roxbury, Jr. gave each Town Board member and the Clerk a copy of the
State Auditors Report from Baldwin Township. He handed it out for the purpose
of budget and accounting information. He stated after briefly reading through
it he thought the Clerk/Treasurer had Princeton Township in really good shape.
He asked members to read through it and see if they have any concerns.
Greg Anderson stated that he had a complaint of some shooting going on east
of town on Volker's road. Dan Minks stated that he didn't hear it as being
a complaint but rather it being in support of the issue. Greg stated that
the neighbors are doing some shooting but it wasn't a safety issue. He stated
they are target practicing. The Town Board stated that there really isn't
anything they can do about it. They said if it were a safety issue then they
would have to do something but at this point they wouldn't do anything.
Stephanie Johnston gave her report on the weed issues she had been dealing
with. She stated that the yards that needed to be mowed at Preserve at Princeton
had been done but there were three she was unable to get in contact with.
She stated that she didn't think anyone was living in them. The resident
that had the poison ivy she is waiting on them to spray. John Moosbrugger
stated that he didn't believe it could be sprayed now because it is bright
red and dormant. He thought it would have to be sprayed next spring. Stephanie
handed out an information page from Otsego. She stated that she thought the
Town Board should consider adding a paragraph into the Ordinance regarding
noxious and invasive weeds so if the Township needs to enforce a complaint
it is in the Ordinance.
Clerks Business
The Clerk informed the Town Board that she had gotten an e-mail from the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Watershed District requesting input
if interested. The e-mail stated that the DNR applied for a permit to install
Dry Hydrants in remote areas. The e-mail stated if the Town Board wanted
to make comments or had concerns they must respond within 30 days of the
date on the DNR's application.
Approve Payment of the Bills
The Clerk informed the Town Board that at the last Town Board meeting they
had approved payment to West Branch Construction for $79,516.71 for work
on the 40th Street Project. She informed the Town Board that after paying
this claim the Road Repair Fund in the Budget is at a ($63,810.72). She reminded
the Town Board that there will be a tax settlement coming yet this year and
so this number won't be quite that bad but it will still be negative. She
stated that next
year they will be playing catch up. She reminded the Town Board that the
Township in February of 2006 paid for road repair that was done in 2005 and
now they will have more money for road repair somewhere in the vicinity of
$56,000 that will be paid in 2007 for the black topping of 40th street that
will be done this fall.
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by Dan Minks to approve
payment of the bills, Check numbers 7133 — 7181. Motion Carried.
Adjourn
A motion was made by John Roxbury, Jr. and seconded by John Moosbrugger to
adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Connie L. Heinks
Clerk/Treasurer
Attendees: Loren Kohnen, Todd McLouth, Jack Edmonds, Jeff Carling