CORINNA TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

7 p.m., Town Hall Unapproved

Present: Richard Naaktgebhoren, Jim Wurm, Town Board: Chairman John Dearing, Supervisor Bill Lieb, Supervisor Ken Jude and Town Clerk/Treasurer Vi Novotne

Meeting opened at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of the Allegiance to the Flag.

With motion by Ken Jude, second by Bill Lieb, the minutes of December 6, 2005 board meeting were approved.

With motion by Ken Jude, second by Bill Lieb, and with the addition of five items: Filing Notice, Clerk Vacation, Snow on Roads, Junk Amnesty, and Highway 55 Corridor, the December 20 Agenda was approved.

Requests to be on the agenda:

1. Dick Naaktgeboren, 10422 Gulden Avenue NW. Dick Naaktgeboren stated that he has sold property in the Sugar Highland Second Addition, the township has moved the road and has vacated a portion of the road. As the natural gas main is in the right-of-way of the original portion of Gulden Avenue lying south of 110^th Street, an easement will need to be created and the gas main moved. John Dearing stated that the road has a 66’ right of way to allow adequate room for an easement on either side of the road. John Dearing offered to make arrangements with CenterPoint Energy and investigate if telephone lines and overhead power lines need to be moved. As the new property owner plans to build, the utilities will need to be moved this coming spring. Future road vacations will require notifications to utilities companies.

Other Items:

1. Trace Development Annexation to City of Annandale. State Chief Administrative Law Judge reviewed and accepted the resolutions for an orderly annexation. A forwarded memorandum stated that the agreement imposes a financial obligation on the developers of the subject property to reimburse the Township for five year’s of lost tax revenue. Minnesota Statutes contains no authority for the Township, or the City, to obligate the property owner in any way as part of the boundary adjustment. Ken Jude stated that the township made the agreement with the City of Annandale and the City is the one that should be responsible for reimbursing the Township for lost tax revenue. A letter stating this information will be mailed to Mark Casey, the City Administrator.

2. City of Annandale Land Use Plan. Board discussed the need for an annexation agreement with the City of Annandale.

3. Community Growth Institute. Ken Jude stated that he has contacted the League of Cities and was informed that there are fourteen steps to follow in order to become a city. Establishing the township with its own planning and zoning department is one of the fourteen steps. Ken continued that Corinna Township should take on its own planning as the township has the authority and should take the responsibility as one day the township could loose the right. If the township does not, the city could take another two miles of township land. The Community Growth Institute in their recent presentation to the township board showed that they can provide the service to set up the department and train the administrative people. Ken continued that the township board should take a hard look at the responsibility and the township people would be supportive. Bill Lieb stated he had two concerns in that some people will think a local planning board would make it easier to go around issues and the town board should not be the Planning Board. Ken added that the township would follow the same guidelines as the county and township planning and zoning board would treat people with respect, with fairness and be consistent. Two townships now have a planning and zoning board covering basically lake areas. Ken added that the township board will need to include training in the budget preparation process and will need to find qualified people. Bill Lieb continued that he would be more comfortable if this decision was presented at the annual meeting for more discussion. Ken added that the township would loose one-half of a year of fees if town board waited. Ken Jude offered motion that town board move forward to procure a Planning and Zoning Board.. John Dearing, second to the motion. Motion was approved with Ken Jude and John Dearing for the motion and Bill Lieb opposed. Ken Jude presented motion to hire Community Growth Institute. John Dearing seconded the motion and motion was approved. The board reviewed and approved Ken Jude’s drafted letter that would officially notify Wright County of the township’s intentions to officially take on the responsibility of Planning and Zoning and adopting all the Wright County Rules and Regulations as of December 20, 2005. The turnover date will be decided when the administrative plans are in order.

4. Town Hall Construction. The building is ready for insulation to be blown in, ceiling to be sheetrocked and textured and taping to follow. Several electrical add ons were necessary such as more plug ins in the kitchen area. The building should be nearly completed by February 1.

5. HAVA Mandate that all elections have compatible ballots and programming for assisted voter machines. The voter machines programming, the costs to operate, store, maintain, and the additional costs in publishing notice of and holding accuracy tests and purchasing expensive ballots for the electronic machines would be costly for a local election. The town board with motion by Ken Jude, Bill Lieb second, approved Resolution 21-2005 to request the state to exempt local elections from HAVA Requirements unless state provides the funding. If 70 requests have been received under the Mandate Reform Initiative, Rep. Mark Olson of the House Local Government Committee will author legislation for change or repeal.

6. Federal Funding Candidate Project Solicitation Notice, Wright County Department of Highways. Township does not have a candidate project.

7. 103^rd Street Road Project. Army Corps of Engineers authorized fill over wetlands adjacent to Clearwater Lake. Documents were placed on file.

8. Market Retreat revised Preliminary Plat. Additional copies of the revised preliminary plat were received.

9. Thank You Note: Nancy Dunn, 11046 Hoyer. Note expressed appreciation for the work done on the turnaround at the end of Hoyer Avenue and appreciated the prompt plowing of the roads. Card forwarded to Maintenance Men.

10. Holiday Greetings on Website. Brian Munsterteiger, Webmaster, added holiday greetings and a wreath with twinkling lights on the home page.

11. Clerk Vacation: December 21-28

12. Snow Pushed onto Roads. Mark Miller, maintenance man, reported that many property owners are pushing snow onto roads, leaving ridges that become a road hazard such as a slippery area, a frozen rut or bump which could cause a traffic accident. Depositing snow onto or across a public road is illegal and the liability can extend to both the property owner and the person who actually placed the snow onto the roadway. A legal notice will be placed in the Maple Lake Messenger and Annandale Advocate and copies of the notice will be given to offending property owners.

13. JunkAmnesty, July 29, the last Saturday of July, 2006. J. R. Appliance will receive contract to handle the appliances and Waste Management will be receive a request to recycle the electronic waste items.

14. TH 55 Corridor. Minnesota Department of Transportation forwarded copies of the official map showing the right-of-way limits for the future expansion of Trunk Highway 55 in Corinna Township. The maps will be useful when the township works with property owners and locates new developments.

15. Filing Notice and Annual Meeting Date. The annual meeting and election will be Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at the Corinna Township Hall. The officer to be elected is one supervisor for three years, the term of John Dearing expiring. Filing dates are Tuesday, January 3, 2006 to Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 5 p.m. Candidates may file at the Clerk’s home, 9214 Kilbury Ave NW, Annandale. Filing fee is $2.

The last date for a candidate to withdraw from the election is Thursday, January 19, 2006, until 5 p.m. The legal notices will be published in the Annandale Advocate and Maple Lake Messenger and posted at the town hall.

16. Budget Review.

General Fund: Reviewed line item expenditures of 2005 and proposed budget for 2006. The balances in training, cemetery, office equipment, fire and building improvement were approved to be placed into funds. Offering the Township Audit for bids is to be discussed at the January 3 town board meeting.

Road and Bridge Fund: Reviewed line item expenditures of 2005 and noted that expenses were held close to actual budget. Property owners petitioned for two roads to be improved which added considerable engineering costs to budget. Contract renewals dates were noted. Health Insurance Premium will increase $50 per month per employee in 2006. The balances in gravel, transportation and snow removal(lime chips) accounts are to cover some of the 103^rd Street reconstruction expenses. In 2006, the grader contract will be paid and budgeted balance is to be placed in the vehicle fund. Procuring a bond for the construction of the new town hall, and a Debt Service Fund clarification is to be discussed at next budget meeting. Bill Lieb proposed that town attorney should be invited to attend one of the budget meetings. Additional budget meeting dates are to be set.

As there was no further business to come before the board, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Approved, January 3, 2006

_________________________ ______________________

Viola M. Novotne, Clerk John Dearing, Chairman