CORINNA TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

7 p.m., Town Hall        

                                                                                                            Unapproved

 

Present:  Jerry Pitra, Tom Pitra, Tim Young and 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 Bill Lieb, Ken Jude second, the minutes of the January 3 meeting were approved.

With motion by Ken Jude, second by Bill Lieb, the agenda was approved as presented.

 

Requests to be on the agenda.

1.         Township Bond for New Town Hall and Road Construction Costs – Tim Young, Town Attorney.  Tim Young stated that the town hall Certificate of Indebtedness will not change the cost of the town hall as it only saves issue costs of a separate supplemental certificate.  Supplemental Construction costs for 80th Street of $43,115 and 80th Street Collectible 2005 Levy of $98,770 will be included in the certificate.   Ken Jude stated that besides the cost of construction of the building, expenses such as blacktopping parking area, curb, and sidewalk should be included.  Ken will obtain estimates.  .  Tim Young will meet with the board the second town board meeting of February to obtain final amounts to be included in the certificate. The bond money should be available three weeks after that meeting. 

2.         Jerry and Tom Pitra, 11102 Hoyer Ae NW.   Request for gravel mining permit for proposed pit located on Ireland Avenue, 1000’ north of 105th Street.  Mining area is approximately 5 acres of the total 32 acre property area.  Approximately 100,000 yards of gravel is expected to be removed during the planned one year of operation. Upon completing the mining operation, grading of the site will not change drainage and topsoil will be added and seeded to prevent soil erosion.  Adjacent properties are used for agriculture and there are no existing homesteaded dwellings nearby.  Bill Lieb asked that Jerry Pitra obtain letters stating no opposition to the mining operation from at least two or three neighbors.  Mining Operation Plan was submitted.  A copy of the drawings is to be forwarded for office files.  Ken Jude presented motion to approve the mining operation subject to environmental issues of Wright County.  Bill Lieb, second.  Motion was approved.

 

Other Items:

1.         Trace Development Annexation to City of Annandale.  City of Annandale forwarded payment of $410 to cover the predetermined lost tax dollars

2.         Corinna Township Planning and Zoning.  Board received a copy of the 1/11/06, letter from Tom Salkowski, Wright County Planning and Zoning Administrator.  The  letter urged the town board to seek legal counsel regarding planning and zoning and if in future incorporating as a city.  He added that the town board will have state law requirements and agency rules to follow for a township to adopt and administer its own planning and zoning.  He stated that he found it difficult to understand why township would want to have the planning and zoning function as the main reason to protect Corinna from City of Annandale and that it is the first step toward turning Corinna into a city. He concluded that Wright County and he personally stand ready to assist Corinna Township in maintaining itself as a township for agriculture and rural living.     

Community Growth Institute. Board reviewed proposal for the Planning and Zoning Work Plan.  In the proposal, Mr. Marohn stated that this is an important undertaking for the town board and that Community Growth will take the commitment to this task very seriously and promise the highest degree of professionalism during their involvement.  The path to proceed is: evaluation of options; negotiation with Wright County; establishment of policies and procedures and ongoing planning and zoning administration.  To begin, Community Growth will research the precedents that have been set in the County, and encouraged Board to discuss what land use issues the township would address locally.  The Township will need to enter into discussions with Wright County to understand the desires, authorities and limitations.

Town Attorney, Tim Young, suggested that he will set up a meeting with Mr. Salkowski, Mr. Marohn and himself this coming week.  In this meeting, Mr. Young will seek the ordinances that the township will need.  Public hearings will be necessary before the ordinances are adopted.   

Ken Jude affirmed that Corinna having its own Planning and Zoning is a matter of township survival.  John Dearing added that the township could work with the Watershed and its plan for septic systems.

Bill Lieb stated that taking on Planning and Zoning will require some budget juggling.  Ken Jude presented motion to accept Community Growth Proposal for Evaluation of Options; Negotiation with Wright County; Establishment of Policies and Procedures and Ongoing Planning and Zoning Administration at the proposed estimated cost of $2,000 for negotiations; $1,300 for evaluation of options and $3,500 for establishment of policies and procedures.  John Dearing, second.  Motion carried.

3.         Town Hall Construction.  Dry wall done, applying primer and final coat and ceiling tile in hall this coming week.  Town board received bid for 24 rectangular folding tables, 200 chairs, 2 table dollies and 20 chair dollies for $12,186.60.  These items were included in the construction bid.

4.         Election and Annual Meeting, Tuesday, March 14, 2006.   John Dearing filed for the position as Supervisor.  The voting hours set by State Auditor are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the Annual Meeting to begin at 8:15 p.m.

Absentee voting hours are Saturday, March 11, 10a.m. to 12 noon and Monday, March 13, until 5 p.m.  Request for an absentee ballot for mailing begin February 10.

In case of inclement weather, the Election and Town Meeting will be the following Tuesday, March 21, 2006.

5.         Junk Amnesty, Saturday, July 29, 2006.  Board approved Greenman Technology proposal for the tire recycling.  The Junk Amnesty Date  will be placed on the website.

6.         Audit for 2005.  Larson Allen presented audit quotation not to exceed a fee of $5,000 and a fee of $350 for preparation of the annual state reporting form. A quote from Schlenner, Wenner and Co has not been received.

7.         Annandale Fire Commission.  Ken Jude volunteered to be the Corinna Township Board representative.

8.         2006 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2006, beginning at 3 p.m.

9.         Building Permits 10/1/05-12/28/05:  (30)  17-sewage disposal systems; 6-new homes; 2-additions; 1-2nd story; 1-three season porch; 2-decks and 1-shed.

10.       Monday, March 6 is the rescheduled township meeting for the first meeting of March.  Tuesday, March 7 is Precinct Caucus Meeting date,

11.       Board approved scheduled payment of  Bobcat Contract.

12.       Township Officer’s Association Quarterly Meeting:  Thursday, January 26, 2006, at 8 p.m.  Board members plan to attend.

 

As there was no further business to be covered at this meeting, the meeting adjourned to discuss and review the budgets for 2006 and 2007.

 

Respectfully submitted,                                                 Approved, February 7, 2006

 

 

_______________________              `           `                                   _______________________

Viola M. Novotne, Clerk/Treasurer                                          John Dearing, Chairman