CORINNA TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

 7 p.m., Town Hall

 

Present:  Bob Pawelk, Charlotte Quiggle, Dave Wagner and Town Board:  Chairman Alan Jude, Supervisor John Dearing, Supervisor Dick Naaktgeboren and Town Clerk/Treasurer Vi Novotne.  Tim Young, Township Attorney, arrived about 9:30 p.m.

 

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

With motion by John Dearing, seconded by Dick Naaktgeboren, the minutes of the September 4 meeting were approved with the following correction:  Other Business: Corinna Township Planning and Zoning.  Last sentence should read:  Neither Chuck Marohn of Community Growth, nor Charlotte Quiggle of Corinna Planning Commission, nor the Town Board has received a response from Mr. Salkowski.  

With motion by Dick Naaktgeboren, seconded by John Dearing, the agenda for this meeting was approved with the following additions:  Request to be on agenda:  Charlotte Quiggle to present Sugar Lake Shoreland Habitat Restoration Grant Proposal that includes township as a partner;  Other Business:  Corinna Township Planning and Zoning:  Buffalo Journal article covering Wright County Commissioner Closed Meeting; Letter dated 9/14/ 2007 from Tom Salkowski, Wright County Planning and Zoning and Letter 9/16/07 from Ed Beadle regarding 117th Street road conditions.

Copies of previous meeting minutes and this meeting’s agenda were available for those attending this meeting. 

 

Requests to be on the Agenda:

1.         Robert Pawelk, 10361 County Road 7 NW (PID 206-000-124103).  Mr. Pawelk presented a drawing and stated that he intends to replace the roof of his home and add an 8’ deck in same space as the present sidewalk and flower garden.  Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to approve the variance for a home with an added 8’ deck that would be 79’ from the centerline of the road   The present side walk, an impervious surface, and flower garden would be removed to build the deck.  John Dearing, second.  Motion carried.

2.         Charlotte Quiggle, Sugar Lake Association:  Charlotte stated that the Sugar Lake Association has submitted a proposal to DNR for a Shoreland Habitat Restoration Grant.

The restoration project which includes restoring aquatic and upland vegetation and buffers to decrease shoreline erosion, stormwater runoff  and sedimentation to lake will be as new construction on the Don Peterson property.  At least seven workshops may be offered to teach property owners how to prepare a restoration on their property and project reports will be in the association newsletter and website.  Charlotte continued that she would like to list Corinna Township as a partner as the project would be an educational opportunity that would be open to anyone in township that is interested in participating.  Partnership is consistent with Comprehensive Plan. DNR has $300,000 in grant money for shoreline projects and this proposal is for $14,000-$16,000.  Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to join in partnership for the Sugar Lake Shoreland Habitat Restoration Project with Sugar Lake Association, with no cost or construction or equipment input by township.  The Corinna website could provide progress reports or link to the Sugar Lake website.  The town hall could be available for the workshops.

3.         Jason Kolles, property at 10171 Ireland  Ave NW(continued from 9/4/07).  Request to open a gravel pit on 80 acres.  Town Board made a site visit.  A revised survey has been received and gravel to be removed changed from 300,000 to 223,000 cubic yards.  The pit area would not be as deep and slope has been fanned out.  The board noted that the township could bid for a season’s road gravel from this pit.  The Corinna Township Gravel Pit Ordinance allows a pit to be opened only for a specific project.

4.         Kevin Blohm-Veda Vargo, property location:  11708 Hollister Ave NW (PID 206-011-002070)  Lot line adjustment.  Received survey and town board will need to make another site visit.  

 

Other Business:

1.         Corinna Township Planning and Zoning.

            Buffalo Journal Press, article week of  September 10, 2007: “Wright County Board will conduct a closed session October 2, 2007, 10:30 a.m., to discuss potential litigation regarding township zoning.  County Attorney and Planning and Zoning staff and Administrator will update County Board and discuss strategy regarding possible litigation with one or more townships over zoning administration issues”.  A copy of article is to be forwarded to Chuck Marohn of Community Growth and Tim Young, Township Attorney.

            Wright County Planning and Zoning Letter, 9/14/2007:  Letter acknowledged receipt of township letter of August 23, 2007 and enclosures: Resolution 2007-3 adopting Corinna Township Plan and Policy 07-01 covering Intergovernmental Communication.  The Wright County Planning and Zoning letter enclosed a copy of a memo that was sent to all townships in Wright County on March 6, 2006 and had an attachment indicating official documents that are to be forwarded to Wright County.    Copies of the Wright County Planning and Zoning letter are to be forwarded to Chuck Marohn and Township Attorney Tim Young.

Charlotte Quiggle stated that town board needs a response from Chuck Marohn that all documentations requested in the March 6, 2006 letter from Wright County Planning and Zoning were forwarded to Wright County Planning and Zoning and if copies of ordinances have been forwarded to the Wright County Law Library. 

Town Board discussed the need for obtaining complete property record information and whether we should request records as needed or have all property records copied.  The managing of inquiries and requests for information, the process for obtaining approval of permits and variances, the need for office hours and staffing of an on-site clerk were also discussed.     Alan Jude expressed that the planning and zoning process has taken a long time and now the office procedures must have a “dry run” in order to know the forms and to train a person how to respond to questions.   John noted that Ben Oleson should be available using a definite time schedule at the township office to provide training.

Attorney Tim Young was asked to set up a meeting with Tom Salkowski and staff, Chuck Marohn and himself to organize the transfer of property record information. Tim Young responded that at least 8 messages have been sent and received from Chuck Marohn and no date for this meeting has been set.  Tim added that double permitting is not possible, there is no legal basis for Wright County additional requirements and concluded that an employee could be hired without advertising and the application test using the veteran preference point system might be useful.

Dave Wagner expressed a concern if township would be able to open its Planning and Zoning Office with quality work by October 15, 2007.    John Dearing offered to communicate with Chuck Marohn, the township planning and zoning administrator, regarding these needs and to request reassurance that October 15 is the date that the township can commence administration of local Planning and Zoning Regulations.

Charlotte Quiggle, Chairman of Corinna Planning Commission, stated that Community Growth has forwarded a copy of the postcard that will be mailed to each property owner within Corinna Township that local permitting will be effective October 15, 2007, and that the township has adopted and will be administering local land use controls (zoning permits, variances, conditional uses, subdivisions) beginning October 15, 2007.

Planning and Zoning will have a public hearing Tuesday, October 9, 2007 so that developers and landowners who intend to develop their property may attend and discuss the Corinna Township Subdivision Controls Ordinance.

Dave Wagner stated that he wished to comment that in his past work with contracts, it is not wise for the township to have an open ended hourly contract with a firm.   

Board and clerk discussed possible future office hours and division of office duties.  Board approved the purchase of a home office printer replacement.

2.         Elton and Gloria Schuette, portion of Hollister Road Vacation.  (Continued to October 2, 2007).   John Dearing stated that the County Board of Adjustments determined the plans for the rebuilt cabin do not meet the setbacks and the dimensions of the new cabin must be the same as original cabin.

3.         Robert Dahl, 6829 Ingram Ave NW  Engineer prepared drawing with right of way and corners marked for this property.  A site plan detailing the blacktop repair and control of water runoff will be ordered.

4.         Township Land and Cemetery at 108th Street.  Survey shows a portion of the cemetery on private land.  Township board will negotiate purchase of this private land.  An appraisal will be obtained for the land where the house had been demolished.

5.         Clearwater River Watershed District 8/27/07.  Posted 8/31/07 and requested information be given at town board meeting. 9/4 and 9/18/2007.

“Farmers who are willing to leave a buffer of untilled soybean stubble over winter along drainage ditches, streams, or other bodies of water in the Cedar Lake Drainage Area, should contact Administrator Merle Anderson of the Clearwater River Watershed District.  He can be reached at (320) 202-0554 or at merleanderson@cloudnet.com.  Incentive payment is $50 per acre.”

6.         Junk Violations:

            8111 Griffith Ave NW, property owner, Richard Smith.  Property has been cleaned up and is no longer in violation.                                                                                                        

            These properties have not been cleaned up, and a second letter was mailed to violator that in 20 days if property is not in compliance, the case will be forwarded to appropriate agency for criminal prosecution.  A copy of relevant Wright County Zoning Ordinance sections were enclosed with the letter.

            8611 Griffith Ave NW, property owner, Robert Balogh.

            9167 Kilbury Ave NW, property owner, Ron Worden.                 

7.         Audit for 2006.  Audit report was to be mailed by September 14.  John Dearing will call LarsonAllen.

8.         Permits issued:  8/6-9/6/07 (18)  4-new homes; 1-remodel home; 1-addition to home; 1-plumbing; 1-mechanical; 8-septic systems; and 2-agricultural buildings.   \

9.         Proposed Levy Certified to Wright County Auditor:  The levy to be raised by taxation for the payable year of 2008 is:  General Revenue, $187,000; Road and Bridge, $744,000 and Service Debt, $282,004.    

10.       AutoMark for Elections:  Mandated use of the automark equipment for township elections has been postponed until at least 2009.  Approved at 9/11/07 special session.

11.       Website Maintenance.  No report.

12.       Ed Beadle, letter 9/16/07.  Report of roadway condition on 117th.  Board noted letter and report was given to maintenance department.

13.       103rd Street Road Reconstruction:  John Dearing reported that engineering firm, Otto Associates, will submit a new survey as GPS directions do not match.                                                          

 

With no further business to come before this meeting, the board adjourned by motion of John Dearing and second by Dick Naaktgeboren.

 

Respectfully submitted,                                     Approved October 2, 2007

 

 

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