CORINNA TOWNSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
7 p.m., Town Hall Unapproved
Present: Charlotte Quiggle, Ruth, Rick and Jeff Seidenkranz, Larry Smith, Chuck Carlson, Mona Steinhaus, Kevin Blohm, Veda Vargo, Bruce Prevost and Town Board: Chairman, Alan Jude, Supervisor John Dearing and Supervisor Richard Naaktgeboren.
The regular meeting date of Tuesday, March 4, 2008 was rescheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Notices were placed in the township newspapers of Maple Lake Messenger and Annandale Advocate and were posted on website and town hall bulletin board.
The meeting opened at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
With motion by John Dearing, Alan Jude second, the minutes of the previous meeting, February 19, 2008 were approved as presented.
With motion by Dick Naaktegeborn, seconded by John Dearing, the agenda was approved with the following additions: Other Business: Add: 15. Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District, letter of 3/3/08; 16. Highway 55 Corridor Coalition; and 17. Township Assessor, Ken Yager.
Requests to be on the agenda:
1. Kevin Blohm and Veda Vargo, 11708 Hollister Ave NW, Sugar Lake, PID 206-011-002070 (continued from November, 2007). Kevin Blohm stated that when drawings were prepared for installation of a septic system, part of the installation would extend onto the township road. Town board has made site visit. Kevin Blohm presented survey of the land purchased on the opposite side of road and requests approval for 33’ land exchange and road moved. No road reconstruction is required. Discussion. Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to approve the preliminary description of the land exchange and township would assume $300-$400 of the legal fees. Second by John Dearing. Motion carried. John Dearing will present documents to town attorney for the necessary actions.
2. Dick and Ruth Seidenkranz, and Bruce Prevost, contractor, Lot 18 and portion of Lot 17, Bass-Clearwater Shores, PID 206-014-001080. Request for a variance for the construction of a new home that meets all setbacks except road setback. Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to approve the variance for construction of a new home that would be 54’8” from the town road. Motion seconded by John Dearing. Motion carried.
Other Business:
1. Corinna Township Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting: Thursday, March 13, 2008, 7 p.m. at town hall. Chairman Charlotte Quiggle reported that the meeting will be a training session covering – “What is a hardship”.
In response to Charlotte’s inquiry if a second meeting has been scheduled between the Wright County Commissioners and the Corinna Township Board, John Dearing responded that Commissioner’s stated another meeting will be scheduled. Town Board has not been informed of the date. John Dearing offered to make inquiries.
2. Maintenance Building Lunchroom Bid. Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion to accept Dearing Construction, Inc. bid for materials and labor to construct a lunchroom-shop-office in the maintenance building for $7451.12. Alan Jude seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
3. Northwest Quadrant Comprehensive Plan. Charlotte Quiggle attended the Water Quality/Natural Resource Committee Meeting. The first meeting was today, March 5, 2008. Tom Salkowski presented the NE Quarter plan history and the committee’s role in the NW process. Monthly meetings will be the first Monday at the Government Center. Dave Wagner, Heart of the Lakes Coalition, is a committee member and Corinna Township resident. Charlottee also reported that the first NWQ Aggregate Committee Meeting will be Thursday, March 6 at the Government Center. Brad Arntson, Knife River Corporation, is a committee member and Corinna Township resident. Wright County website does not list meetings for the Annandale Transition District Committee or the Maple Lake Transition District Committee. Dick Naaktgeboren and John Dearing have submitted interest as committee members.
4. Ross Danielson Rolling Ridge Acres. Dick Naaktgeboren presented motion for Resolution 2008-6 that would allow boring and digging of a force main for the Annandale/Maple Lake Wastewater Treatment System in Township Road at 67th St NW near Trunk Highway 55 and 60th Street NW and County Road 6. John Dearing, second.
Motion was carried unanimously.
John Dearing stated that as the road is now owned jointly with the City of Annandale, a road maintenance agreement should be prepared.
5. Truck Purchase. Township Liability Insurance covers the 2007 Sterling Truck.
6. Request to MNDOT for reimbursement for Road Maintenance Expense, Hwy 24 Reconstruction. 2/21, Mark Miller forwarded to MNDOT 2006 and 2005 road expenses for comparison to expenses for 2007.
7. Wright County Hazard Mitigation Project Status Report, 2/27/08: As of 1/31/08 all townships and cities initiated the planning project. Phase 2: Review Hazard Assessment/Construction Plan has target date of 1/31/09 and Phase 3: Complete Hazard Mitigation Plan, a target date of 12/31/09. Part of the project is for an organized plan in order to work with FEMA for funding assistance after disasters such as tornado and flooding, etc.
8. Maintenance Men Meeting: Mark Miller
A. Discussed reconstructing 67th Street as a 9-ton town road. With motion by John Dearing, second by Dick Naaktgeboren, the board approved bid for soil borings by Independent Testing Technology at a cost of $1260. For the road work to be done this summer, clearing of the right-of-way should be done this spring. Mark Miller will obtain house numbers for the area so that property owners may be informed of the road work.
B. Discussed road work: 91st Street; paving patch at Imhoff, off Ireland and filling “hole” on 80th Street near Conservation Club Road
9. Fire Departments:
Annandale Fire Department Commission Meeting, 2/21/08. Alan Jude reported that five townships and City of Annandale share the budget. Twenty-six firefighters as manpower are about normal. Fire Department has concern for expense for the coming radio frequency change. 2009 fire assessment will increase to $50.00 per parcel.
Maple Lake Fire Department Commission Meeting, 2/25/08. John Dearing reported that fire department has concern for expenses involved for the radio frequency change and in 2009 a new tanker will be purchased. 2009 fire assessment will increase to $45 per parcel.
10.. Schuette/Ramme/Township Easements, 11341 Hollister Ave NW: Township Attorney forwarded draft copies of the proposed Deed Easement from Schuettes to Rammes; proposed easement deed from Schuettes to Corinna Township and survey that defines the portion of Hollister Avenue to be vacated and describing the additional easements required by the township for the turn around. Board has not heard objections and noted that attorney will forward easements for Schuette’s signature if no objections are presented by March 15, 2008.
11. Cleaning Service: A replacement for cleaning service is needed as Mary Fobbe has resigned as of end of February. Board members mentioned two possible replacements.
12. Schlenner Wenner and Co, ltr 2/23/08. Submission of information about audit plan and overall approach of Corinna Township.
Township Attorney Tim Young forwarded a copy of his assessment of Pending or Threatened Litigation that he submitted to the auditor. A portion of Mr. Young’s statement was that he is not aware of unasserted claims and assessments against Corinna Township except for possible challenges by Wright County to thwart Corinna Township’s efforts to exercise its statutory authority to conduct its own planning. Impossible to say whether the County will litigate this dispute. Corinna believes that most, if not all, of its legal expenses would be covered by insurance through the Minnesota Association of townships. The Association has been following this matter and has solicited submission of the claim if the County does file suite.
13. Annual Meeting and Election. Election hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with Annual Meeting following at 8:15 p.m. Clerk will be available for absentee ballots and Saturday, March 8, the clerk’s home office at 9214 Kilbury Ave NW will be open for absentee voting. In case of inclement weather, the election and town meeting will be the following Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
Board discussed the meeting agenda and the budget information leaflet.
14. Township Officers 2008 Spring Short Course, St. Cloud, Monday, March 24, 2008. Registration fee is $40 per person.
15. Wright Soil and Water Conservation District, letter 3/3/08. The district is pursuing a grant from the Board of Water and Soil Resources to initiate a Comprehensive Weed Management Area in Wright County. Objective is to locate and eliminate wild parsnip before if becomes so invaded in areas that a spraying project is not feasible.
Dick Naaktgeboren stated that he has noted the parsnip in an area at County Road 123 and Hwy 7. Clerk was instructed to write a letter of support for the grant for weed management.
16. Highway 55 Corridor: Commissioner Karla Heeter forwarded the new brochure that provides updated information on the status of current studies and projects along the Hwy 55 Corridor. Copies of the brochure will be available at the annual meeting. Alan Jude placed on file a copy of MNDOT Proposed Highway 55 Official Map of Annandale to Rockford.
17. Township Assessor, Ken Yager: Forwarded Assessment Area Map. Copies will be available as a hand out for the Annual Meeting
18. Use of Hall for March:
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Township Meeting
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Annual Meeting and Election
Thursday, March 13, 2008 Planning Commission
Tuesday, March 18 2008 Township Meeting
19. Payment of Claims: Claims covered by Check Numbers 14261-14298 and EFT 12-15 for a total amount of $41,394.72 were approved for payment.
With motion from Dick Naaktgeboren, second John Dearing, the meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Approved March 18, 2008
Viola K. Novotne John Dearing,
Clerk Chairman