CORINNA
TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
7 p.m., Town Hall Unapproved
Present: Paul
Miezwa, Don Daluge, Mary Miezwa, Diane Duff, John Duff ,
Hal and Cheryl Biel, Town Attorney Tim Young, Chuck Marohn and Andrew Mack of
Growth Institute. Town Board: Chairman John Dearing, Supervisor Bill Lieb,
Supervisor Ken Jude and Town Clerk/Treasurer Vi
Novotne.
Meeting opened
with the Pledge of the Allegiance to the Flag.
Minutes were
approved as presented. Motion by Ken Jude and second by Bill
Lieb.
Agenda was
approved with the addition of Town Hall Rental Liability, Election Equipment,
and Dan Hinrichs request for sign installation. Bill Lieb motion and Ken Jude
second.
Requests to
be on the Agenda:
1. John Duff
and family representing property owned by Mary Miezwa, 11198 Hollister Ave NW, Sugar
Lake (206-056-005090)
Contractor Don Daluge. Plan to remove existing cabin and build a new cabin
on site. Discussed the need to have sewer and well certified and if new systems
are required, board stated the setback requirements. When the setbacks are
known and the sewer and well are inspected, the property owner plans to return
with a sketch to receive approval for variances. Construction plan is for late
summer
2. Town Hall
and 80th Street Road Construction Bond, Town Attorney, Tim Young.
Tim Young
reported that of the four banks who were offered the
sale of the $460,000 General Obligation Tax Exempt Certificate of Indebtedness
of 2006, the Annandale State Bank offered a 4% interest rate and State Bank of
Kimball offered a 4.58% interest rate. Mr. Young assured the board that the
bond rates are good and that the bond meets legal requirements of IRS
three-year limitation rule, and that previous borrowing on road construction
was $225,000 of the $380,000 assigned Bond money should he expected in two to
three weeks. With motion by Ken Jude, seconded by Bill Lieb, the Board
unanimously approved Resolution 1-2006 Awarding the Sale to the Annandale State
Bank for $460,000 General Obligation Certificates of Indebtedness of 2006;
Fixing its form and specifications; Directing its execution and delivery; and
Providing for its payment.
3. Corinna Township Planning and Zoning, Town Attorney, Tim Young, Chuck Marohn and
Andrew Mack of Community Growth Institute. Tim Young stated that at
the February 14th meeting with Tom Salkowski, Wright County Zoning
Administrator and Tom Zims, Assistant Wright County Attorney,
Corinna Townships’s
plans to take on its own planning were confirmed. Back and forth dialogue
produced the feeling that the County Board
will resist this step. Mr. Marohn expressed that if the Corinna Township Board
wishes to go forward, that the Board and the Wright County Officials will need
to work together in the right way, Political pressure
and the expectance of “doing the very best job at planning we can” will make
this test case be successful. Tim Young added that County feels they are in a
dilemma as they are uncomfortable with some other townships planning methods.
At this meeting, the County officials received reconfirmation that the
township’s desire to do its own planning and zoning came after large land
annexations near Monticello and
the City of Annandale recent
updated land use plan which included large land areas of Corinna
Township and the township desire to
provide service. Tim Young offered assurance to Salkowski and Zims that Corinna
Township Planning would be consistent with County
Rules. County stated that they
would not allow authority to control over rezoning. Tim added that if township
does a better job and follows the process and rules better, there will be no
reason for Wright County
resistance. Chuck Marohn continued that if the board wishes to continue, the
groundwork of a planning study and hearings are needed if we are going to show
that the township can function better and can follow good planning principles.
Ken Jude added that every township has the right to provide its own planning
and the county is reluctant to give our township a chance. The township needs
to take this step and do it right, and the county has
an obligation to allow us to try. Bill Lieb inquired of the possibility in the
future that Corinna Township
could become a city. Chuck Marohn replied that very good reasons are necessary
as Minnesota Planning resists incorporations that create more cities Bill Lieb
stated that he is a member of the Wright County Board of Adjustment, and a
report in response for a variance request needs to cite ordinances as reasons.
Township will need “top notch” staff to write these reports.
Chuck Marohn
replied that with this township’s population, this rural area should be able
obtain good competent staff to do the processing of variances and applications.
Com-munity Growth Institute has the staff to provide the training and has the
forms and legal information. With the firm’s high standards, the variances and
applications will be competently covered Chuck Marohn added that Wright County
should consider that Corinna Township Board is familiar with the land and it is
not the fact who has control but it is more important to have good planning for
the area. Dialogue with people in community will result in the feeling of
ownership and provide the best control of the land. Tim Young inserted that
township being consistent with the land use plan and providing reasoning is a
better process to assure Wright County
that Township is competent. John Dearing stated that Middleville has its own
Planning and follows the rules and twenty-two houses have been built in an area
that does not need variances for lake parcels. Bill Lieb added that if a Wright
County Board of Adjustment hearing has 15 on the adgenda, five are for Corinna
Township. Tim Young added that
marginal land needs the support of demonstrated facts to change land use. Chuck
Marohn stated soil analysis is very important in determing a land use plan. The
township plan should have a plan in place to justify what is being done. The
training process takes about six month’s time, meetings and money. The plan
isn’t just written, there is a need for public political support. Ken Jude
stated that he believes township has support of the people and the township
will do “it right” and provide quality service. There will always be people who
will wish township to fail but township will provide a good service to our
township people.
In order to set
a budget and provide a declaration, Chuck Marohn offered a comprehensive plan,
similar as provided for Crow Wing and Long
Lake, at a cost of $9,000. and entire process would cost about $13,000. If another
township wishes go into a partnership, the plan will be more efficient.
Tim Young
stated that when he moved here in 1978 the county and city wished to control
growth as they did not wish to provide the services. Ken replied that county
cannot control growth but county needs “to deal with it”. In answer to Bill
Lieb’s question if work will be from existing land use map, Cbuck Marohn
replied that a series of meetings will bring out ideas of the community’s goals
and concerns. If board authorizes a basic research of data for groundwork, a
presentation could be offered at the annual meeting.
Township needs
a good plan to be adopted that spells out the strategy and controls that are
consistent to county practices. Before adoption, each ordinance will be
available to the public to read. If reference is made to soils to make land use
changes, if we educate ourselves, and if we do our homework, we will make good
decisions. A planning committee should have at least 3-5 people and the
committee should be empowered to make recommendations to the town board that
will do the adoption. Chuck Marohn continued that the firm will provide the
educational process for the planning committee. A part-time zoning clerk should
be hired to take care of the procedural work and as this person is the first
line of contact for the public, this person should have good quality people
skills. Ken Jude presented motion that Community Research Institute is to
prepare a preliminary planning report at a cost of up to $2,500 and to make a
presentation at the Corinna Town Annual Meeting, March 14, 2005. Bill Lieb, second. Motion approved. Chuck
Marohn added that he would be consulting with Tim Young for some language
processing. Tim Young added that presenting the issue at the Annual Meeting
will draw interest to the township planning service
Other Items:
1. Town Hall
Construction. A building inspection will be this week. Final measurements
for furniture installation will be Friday and furniture will arrive next
Tuesday. New election voting booths will be built.
2.. Town Hall Rental Policy. Two hall rental
applications have been requested for the dates of April 29 and May 13. With
motion by Bill Lieb, Ken Jude second, the rental policy was adopted. Township
Association forwarded loss control recommendations when liquor is served John
Dearing is obtaining additional insurance information Board will obtain a
cleaning service and will purchase a 100-cup and a 30-cup coffee maker.
3. Election
and Annual Meeting, Tuesday,
March 14, 2006. Bill Lieb motion second by Ken Jude, was
approved to accept judges: Mari Arfsten, Lorraine Miller, Theresa Pearson,
Karen Mol, Pearl Lieb, Andrea Juetten, Leland Novotne and Letitia Peterson.:
One additional judge is to be selected.
4. Election
Equipment. Wright County
revised HAVA Equipment Plan will be presented to County
Board for adoption at a Public
Hearing, Tuesday, February 28, 9:15 a.m.
A special trade-in offer on a Optech II-P Eagle for a
M100 was noted.
5. Annandale
Area Fire Commission Meeting, February
16, 2006. John Dearing reported that the Fire Department
2007 budget covers $175,569.93 as revenue and Fire Operations expenses as
$102,995.00. Corinna Township
share of revenue is $39,593.40 for a 2007 fire contract rate of $46.00 per
unit. The contract was approved and signed for a term of one year beginning
January 1, 2006 and shall be automatically renewed from year to year thereafter
with revised compensation from township to city as agreed to on an annual
basis.
6. CenterPoint Energy Agreement to relocate natural gas
pipeline on Gulden Avenue. John Dearing asked that a letter be sent to CenterPoint
Energy that the reason the township reconstructed the road at 110th
and Gulden was to correct a safety hazard. The road now has an improved
sightline to the West and drivers on the hill will not slide out before making
the turn. The land owner had agreed to allow the road to go through the middle
of his lot. The land allowed the Gulden Avenue Intersection to be moved 300’
further West.
7. Junk
Violation: Piles of Junk in Yard: Steve Leinonen, 11718
Kramer Avenue
February 15,
John Dearing made a site inspection and the property appears to be cleaned up
Court Services and property owner will be notified that property is in
compliance.
8. Corinna
News. Bill Lieb intends to have articles in final draft form by Wednesday,
Feb. 22. Newsletter is to be in the mail March 1.
9. Dan
Hinrichs, member of TAMS,(Association of Mink/Somers).Email
request, 2/21/06 for five
Neighborhood Crimewatch Signs provided by TAMS to be installed. The signs
replace missing and damaged signs that lead to residential areas around the
lake. Board approved request.
10. Tractor
Purchase: John presented quotations from Ziegler, Mies Outland,
Schlauderaff Implement and Arnold’s. The lowest quotation with a trade in of
tractor was Arnold’s of Kimball for
a Case International MXU115 with trade in of CX90 Tractor. With motion by Ken
Jude, Bill Lieb, second, the motion was approved to purchase the Case
International MXU115 , allowing trade in of CX90
Tractor for $18,850, and using a four-year payment contract. Mower equipment
will be purchased separately using monies from the equipment fund.
11. Next
Meeting: Monday, March 6, 2006.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 is Minnesota’s
Precinct Caucuses date. Meeting date change notice will be posted and
advertised in the Maple Lake Messenger and Annandale Advocate.
As there was no
further business to be covered at this meeting, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
After the
meeting, the board continued the review of the budget totals for 2006 and
proposed for 2007.
Respectfully
submitted, Approved, March 6, 2006
____________________________
____________________________
Viola M . Novotne, Clerk/Treasurer John Dearing, Chairman