CORINNA TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES

June 5, 2007

7 p.m., Town Hall                                                                                  Unapproved

 

Present:  38 property owners, Township Attorney Tim Young and Town Board:  Chairman Alan Jude, Supervisor John Dearing, Supervisor Richard Naaktgeboren and Clerk/Treasurer Vi Novotne

The meeting opened at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

With motion by Dick Naaktgeboren, seconded by John Dearing, the minutes of the May 15 meeting were approved as presented.

The agenda for this meeting with the addition of Mona Steinhaus request for Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Knife River Gravel and Asphalt Pit were approved with motions by John Dearing and Dick Naaktgeboren.

Copies of minutes, agenda and claims to be paid were available for those who attended this meeting.

 

Requests to be on the agenda:

1.         Knife River Corporation, gravel pit site location:  Land North of Cy Rd 39 and West of Ireland Avenue, owned by John Dearing.  Knife River represented by Brad Arnston,  Troy Forcier, Ron Hall and Ron Klinker, hydrologist.  Supervisor John Dearing did not vote or participate in the discussion.  Request for Conditional Use Permit for temporary gravel pit and asphalt operations for Highway 24 Project.  May 24, 2007, the Town Board received additional information on this request and Knife River representatives asked to be present this information. 

Brad Arnston stated that the asphalt plant that was proposed near Ireland Avenue has been changed to a distance further from property owner homes to an area on the west side of the site.  For this short term project, gravel work will begin 2nd week of July for one month and the asphalt plant will be in operation the end of August for 18 working days.

 

In reply to Town board and property owners questions, Brad Arnston stated that the  petition includes better runoff protection surrounding the site, with not only a berm but a  a silt fence dug in and reinforced outside the berm .  Hours of work will be 6am-8pm for mining and asphalt plant operation with an equipment startup time of 5:30am for the plant.  Drilling 50’ in depth did not reveal groundwater.  The maximum 1040’  elevation at the hill will be lowered  15’ to 20’ which would not be  as low as at the corner of CyRd39 which is 1010’,  The retention pond will be at 992’.   The plant exhaust stack will be raised for better disbursement of emissions.  A “bag house” captures particles of pollutants from the asphalt plant.  The emissions would be similar to the fumes of any petroleum burning engine.    Hauling bins are double lined and a biodegradable product is sprayed on inside of the bin to cause the asphalt to slide out easier.   Knife River has the equipment for clean up of spills and follows current MPCA regulations. Brad Arnston agreed to Supervisor Alan Jude’s request to allow Town Board to make inspections of the pit area before and at closing.    

Dick Naaktgeboren added that he did some calculating and if the hauling is from the Silver Creek Pit (Naaktgeboren Pit), there would be a tremendous  impact for neighbors along County Road 39.  Hauling the amount of gravel needed for the Highway 24 project could mean 355 trucks hauling gravel per day and two trucks every minute hauling tar.  The intersection at Ireland (cemetery) and Hwy 39 is a dangerous blind intersection.  

Alan Jude presented motion to grant the petition for gravel mining and an asphalt plant with the following conditions:

            1.         Site must be cleaned and plant removed by the winter of 2007 or at the close of the construction season.  If the road is not done, the millings and plant is to be moved to a different existing pit.

            2.         For better visibility, the driveways are to be moved to the crest of County Road 39 for the trucks to enter and exit, then removed and replaced to county approval after final closing.

            3.         The board prefers that barriers be placed at County Road 39 and just West of Ireland Avenue.

            4.         Town Board insists that trucks, loaded or empty, do not drive on township roads to and from the pits.

            5.         No water or fluids will be allowed to flow East from within pit area, rain or no rain.

            6.         If there is a funeral at the Corinna Cemetery, we expect reverence shown and the operations cease during this time.  Contractor is to work together with the church and the funeral director.

            7.         We expect reasonable dust control.

            8.         Town Board wishes to inspect area before and during closure

Comment 1:  Hauling and safety on County Road 39 are the overall major negative concerns.  The amount of hauling from the Silver Creek Pit and the safety for the neighborhood and the rest of County Road 39 East as the intersection at County Road 39 and Ireland (in front of cemetery) is a blind intersection.

Comment 2:  Knife River Corporation has agreed to raise the plant stack for better disbursement of emissions.

Dick Naaktgeboren seconded the motion.

The Board approved the motion.

 

2.         Mona Steinhaus, resident near Highway 39, Petition: Request for  Environmental Assessment Worksheet, covering Mining Project at land North of Ireland Avenue and County Road 39.   The concerns for air emissions, water runoff control, and ground water separation were discussed at this meeting and the board was assured that these areas meet environmental standards.  Mona Steinhaus agreed that an EAW would not give additional information.  The Town Board will not request an EAW for this project.  Wright County Planning and Zoning will be informed that Corinna Township will not be requesting a EAW for this project.

3.         Midwest Construction, Dennis Anderson, Project Manager.  Request Conditional Use Permit for temporary use permit to mine approximately 60,000 cubic yards of granular material to be used for State Highway 24 project.  Section 20 (Milton Ransom land)  Sandy Ransom, the property owner, stated that the site is at their dairy farm just off Highway 24 and excavation area is behind the dairy calves building.  No pesticides or chemicals have been placed on the land in ten years. The feedlot soil, about 1’ will be removed and stockpiled at the edges of the site.

Dennis Anderson stated that the area of excavation is approximately 600x600’ and be 5’ deep.  No processing will be on site.  Current drainage will stay the same and erosion control will be monitored by Minnesota Department of Transportation inspection personnel. If water could leave the area, a silt fence will be placed.  Borings indicated that the water table will not be encountered.  Approximately 60,000 cubic yards of material will be moved with 4,000 cubic yards per day of 140 loads for 18 days of hauling.  Operation hours will be from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  The area will be returned to pasture land with stockpiled topsoil spread over the area and seeded.  Work is scheduled only for the 2007 construction season and to begin June 18th, approximately.  Mr. Anderson agreed that Town Board may review site during operation and at closing.

Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to accept the request for Conditional Use Permit to Midwest Construction at the Ransom property for the construction on the Highway 24 Project.  Alan Jude second.  Motion approved.

And

Midwest Construction, Dennis Anderson, Project Manager

Request Conditional Use Permit for a temporary use permit to mine approximately 30,000 cubic yards of granular material to be used for the State Highway 24 Project.  Section 9, (Val and Joan Lawler land).  Board was informed that Mr. Lawler was ill and could not attend this meeting.  Dennis Anderson stated that the excavation area adjacent to Highway 24 is 430’x1300’ cut to a depth of 20’.  Several hills will be removed.  No manufacturing on site.  30,000 cubic yards of material will be removed at 4,000 cubic yards per day for 8 days.  Hauling may not be consecutive days.  Any drainage will be directed to the excavation pit areas and by the installation of silt fence.  Erosion control will be monitored by Minnesota Department of Transportation inspection personnel.  Operation will be 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Area will be returned to agricultural type cover such as alfalfa.  Work will end at the close of 2007 construction season.  Mr. Anderson agreed to town board inspections during excavation and at closing.

Alan Jude presented motion to accept the request for Conditional Use Permit to Midwest Construction at the Lawler property site for the construction on the Highway 24 Project.

Dick Naaktgeboren second.  Motion approved.

Alan Jude commented that the township men see snow traps; and shoulders are added and roads are raised.  This means excavated and construction areas.  Then when work is done, we can’t see these construction conditions.   103rd Street has a turn around added and much dirt was removed, today these construction changes cuts can’t be seen.  Mr. Smith added that the heavily traveled Hart Avenue Road was a water-lapped road that was raised  5’ and dirt was borrowed from a nearby hill.  Today no one can see where the dirt was removed.  Alan continued that when the Highway 24 road project is completed and area cleaned up and driveways are usable and approaches are seeded, property owners will wonder why this was not done before as we will have a much safer road.  Sandy Ransom added that saving the farm was important to them and the house because of its historic significance. The delivery or pick up of milk, feed, and hay deliveries will need to be rerouted during Highway 24 construction, but they are happy the road will be rebuilt as a much safer road.

Dennis Anderson responded to Dick Naaktgeboren’s question that another gravel pit being used for construction will be the Ronald Brouwer pit along Highway 24 in Section 27, South of 140th Street in Clearwater Township.

4.         Ken Yager, Township Assessor.  Area to be reviewed for 2008 will be the southern part of township including Pleasant Lake, Hemlock Street and South and Cedar Lake.  Ken commented that of the 12 sales in this area, 93% were slightly above his value.  Home sales are leveling off.  Ken intends to evaluate more home interiors.  With motion by John Dearing, seconded by Dick Naaktgeboren, the board approved the two-year assessor contract, with 2008 remaining at $10.65 per property and 2009 at $10.85 per property.

5.         Tim Gettler, contractor, representing Ron Klein, 11770 Hollister Ave NW. PID 206-011-002040.Request for variance for residence too close to road.  Tim Gettler stated that the residence is 4’ above flood plain. A swail area and a sediment basin needs to be created for water runoff.  He also had culvert size issues.  Town Board offered to make a site visit.

6.         Gordon Smith of Brooklyn Center, request for Transient Merchant’s License .  Mr. Smith stated that he has had a fireworks business at the Lampi area and at the Buffalo Super America for several years and has complied with state requirements.   The Wright County Fire Marshall asks that township review and make decision for a license.  Alan Jude responded that township does not license nor does township require a license for the sale of fireworks.  Gordon Smith will receive a letter confirming this fact.

7.         Robert Klinker, 6277 80th Street NW, Somers Lake, PID 206-017-003150.  Absent

 

Other Business:

1.         Planning and Zoning Administration:

      A.        Letter, 6/1/07, Wright County Planning and Zoning, Tom Salkowski, Administrator            Subject:   Knife River application for mining.  Board was E-mailed a copy 6/1/07.  Letter, 6/1/07, Wright County Planning and Zoning, Tom Salkowski, Administrator, Subject:  Board position regarding Township Zoning.  Board was E-mailed a copy 6/1/07.

      B.         June 14, 1:30 p.m., Meeting with P&Z Administrator Tom Salkowski, Assistant County Attorney Tom Zims and Commissioner Karla Heeter, township officers and Township Attorney Tim Young. Board confirmed that township wishes to pursue the township’s legal authority for own planning and zoning.

      C.         June 14, 7:00 p.m., Corinna Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting and Public Hearings covering Amendments to the Corinna Township Comprehensive Plan and Corinna Township Land Use Ordinance.    

      D.        Gravel Moratorium Date extension:  Town Board received copy of letter from David Youngquist, 5/17/07.  Letter was a protest against gravel pit location on John Dearing property at Cy Rd 39 near Highway 24.

2.         Jeff Essen, property address:  11358 90th St NW.  Board made a site visit and determined there was room for a turn around and road access to landlocked property.

3.         NW Quadrant Land Use Review.  All board members will attend the informal meeting June 20, 2007, 7 p.m. at Silver Creek Township.  Silver Creek Township will be notified of those persons attending.

4.         103rd Street Road Reconstruction.  Letter 5/22/07, Wright Soil and Water stated that Wetland Credit approval is on hold until road slopes are corrected and cul-de-sac change of location is approved.  John Dearing said that he is working with Kjolhaug Environmental Services for a permit and to change the slopes.

5.         Pleasant Lake Association Visioning Session, May 19, 2007.  Dick Naaktgeboren reported that the session covered improvement of lakes and locating pollution sources.  Vision was to have all community and lake organizations work together.  Dick asked that Southside Township Board be included in these meetings.

6.         Land Title Registration, Property Gov. Lot 2, Lot 10, Block 1, part of recorded plat of Addison Bay, Sugar Lake.  Define property line that would have effect of locating a Corinna Town public road.  Legal description of parcels when conveyed were ambiguous as relied on the location of the shoreline of Sugar Lake.  Acknowledgment of receipt of document was noted and returned to the law office of Steven Mackey.       

7.         Recycling Bons:  Bins are ordered and are to arrive in a few days.  Alan Jude is preparing a decal for the bins.

8.         Hall rental for June:  Saturday, June 16, 2007, Sugar Lake Association.

9.         Township Quarterly Association Meeting.  Date change to Wednesday, July 11, 2007.  Corinna Township is the host site.  Karen McDougall, Township Association Secretary is to be notified that Highway 24 will be under construction and closed and details of alternate routes for those coming to this meeting.  Ten persons from Corinna Township will attend.

10.        Wright County Commissioner Communication Meeting:  Thursday, June 21, 2007, 8 p.m., Wright County Government Center, County Commissioner’s Room.  Suggested topics were forwarded to Commissioner Dick Mattson.  Corinna Board members will attend.

11.        Highway 55 Coalition Meeting, Friday, June 15, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at Hennepin County Medina Office. John Dearing plans to attend.

12.        Automark Legislation.  Gary Poser, Director of Elections, State of Minnesota 5/24/07:

“Current law requiring towns to use the AutoMarks in elections held after December 31, 2007 is still in effect.  We are looking for options for this situation, but wanted you to be aware of the issue”.

13.        State Demographer 2006 Population and Household Estimates:

                        April 1, 2006 population estimate 2,402.

                        April 1, 2006 household estimate is 985.

14.        Payment of Claims:  Claims covered by Check Numbers 13837-13892 and EFT 23-26 for the total amount of $130,224.52 were approved for payment.

 

With no further business to come before the board, the meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,                                                  Approved June 19, 2007

 

 

 

Viola M. Novotne, Clerk/Treasurer                                            Alan Jude, Chairman