April 15, 2008

Lent Township Board Meeting

Official Minutes

The Township Board meeting was called to order by Chair Gene Olson at 7:00 pm.

In attendance were Supervisors Gene Olson - Chair, Lyle Johnson, Dave Milles, Treasurer Pam Olson, and Clerk Roxanne Kahler.

Public in attendance were: John Stewart, Troy Nelson, Don Mudrick, Norm Kahler, Bernice Woods, John & Janine Schweitzer, Tim Serpico, Joe Meyer, Hanley Meyer, Kim Marie Granger, John Granger, Bea McKusick, Annette Olson, Susan & Ed Hoffman, Mike Olson, Mike Willcoxen, Steve Dammann, Nate Perrin, Carolyn Cagle, Dawn Applequist, Ron Chelberg, Joan Milles, Heidi Kroschel, Karen Swanstrom, Anne Thom, Jim Berneche, and Bruce Hoppe.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

G. Olson gave introductions of the Supervisors, Clerk, and Treasurer to the public in attendance.

G. Olson requested a review of the meeting agenda presented by the clerk. Dawn Applequist requested to speak on road conditions. G. Olson requested to add Conditions of Roads at the end of the agenda.

D. Milles made a motion to approve the agenda as presented with changes, L. Johnson seconded. Discussion: D. Milles requested under New Business, item L be removed and under Planning Commission between items four (4) and five (5), add item: “Request for quote on the Rural Transit Center”. G. Olson requested the agenda be accepted with changes. Motion passed.

G. Olson brought the consent agenda to the floor for approval:

G. Olson requested approval of the following items:

   1. Net Pay for Payroll Period ending 3/22/2008 for 4 items in the amount of $5150.74

   2. Net Pay for Payroll Period ending 4/5/2008 for 3 items in the amount of $3641.70

   3. Claims List for Approval for 43 items in the amount of $23,239.59

   4. Net Pay for Regular April Payroll for 5 items in the amount of $2,004.88

L. Johnson made a motion to approve the consent agenda, D. Milles seconded. Discussion: L. Johnson requested an explanation of Kramer Mechanical located on page 3 of the Claims List. G. Olson reported that a valve for the well and pumping is serviced yearly. D. Milles questioned the Contract for services line items, one (1) line related to the printing of the Lent Township newsletter, and one (1) line item for Surplus Services. G. Olson reported that the Surplus Services items were purchased for the Township maintenance use. Motion passed.

G. Olson requested a motion for approval of the minutes of March 18, 2008 board meeting. D. Milles made a motion to approve and accept the minutes, L. Johnson seconded. Discussion: L. Johnson requested on page 2 under Organization of the Township – Appointments in item B, change the wording of “that a Doctor on call” to “that the Chief Doctor on call”. G. Olson requested in item A, change “can pay gopher feet” to “can pay gopher bounty”. Pam Olson, Treasurer,  requested item G be changed from “Lent Township Planning Commission” to “Lent Township Park Commission” as item F reads Lent Township Planning Commission. Motion passed with changes.

G. Olson presented the minutes from the April 7, 2008 staff meeting for review.

D. Milles made a motion to approve and accept the minutes, L. Johnson seconded. Discussion: Pam Olson requested under Lyle Johnson, the corrected spelling of “Bernie Rauen” from “Bernie Rowan”. P. Olson requested under Dave Milles, change the line “for printing and not use photo copies from computer as reproduction would be easily done” to “as quoted price for photo copies is high”. D. Milles requested the corrected spelling of “Michael Jinks” from “Michael Jinx”. P .Olson requested correction in the sentence “will send an administrated” to “will send an administrative”. Motion passed with corrections.

Old Business

Fire Dept

G. Olson reported that Lent Township requested gambling funds in the amount of $5,000.00 towards the training simulator from the Stacy/Lent Fire Department Relief Association.

G. Olson made a motion to submit the request for the gambling funds in the amount of $5,000, D. Milles seconded. Motion passed.

G. Olson requested the appointment of Lyle Johnson to be the Lent Township liaison at the Stacy/Lent Fire Department Relief Association. L. Johnson accepted the request of liaison. G. Olson made a motion for Lyle Johnson to be the Lent Township liaison at the Stacy/Lent Fire Department Relief Association,

D. Milles seconded. Motion passed.

Planning Commission

John Stewart, Secretary of Planning and Zoning Commission, reported a May 14^th meeting will have a public hearing to present amendments to Chapters of the Lent Township Land Use Regulations for adoption.

J. Stewart reported that inspections for unresolved Certificates of Land Use Compliances would take place in spring.

J. Stewart presented a revised administrative operations manual for approval by the Board.

D. Milles made a motion to adopt the administrative operations manual. G. Olson seconded. Motion passed.

J. Stewart reported that a letter of interest was presented to the Planning Commission by Jim Berneche and requested a motion to appoint Mr. Berneche to the Planning Commission Board.

D. Milles made a motion to appoint Jim Berneche to the Planning Commission Board. L. Johnson seconded. Motion passed.

J. Stewart reported that Dave Milles is stepping aside from the Board of Adjustment as he is on the Township board. To fill the vacancy, two (2) letters of interest were presented, one by KimMarie Granger and one by Mike Willcoxen. G. Olson questioned why both applicants could not be on the Board of Adjustment board. D. Milles responded by saying that he believed under Minnesota statue only three (3) members can be on the Board of Adjustment because if there were an even number, a vote could become deadlocked.

D. Milles stated that research will be done on whether there can be more than three (3) members can be on the Board of Adjustment.

D. Milles made a motion to appoint KimMarie Granger to the Board of Adjustment and research the Minnesota Statutes to have five (5) members on the board and then appoint Mike Willcoxen to the board. G. Olson seconded. Discussion: L. Johnson reported that he would like to have Mr. Willcoxen appointed to the board, do the research, and then appoint Ms. Granger. G. Olson asked for a vote for the motion made. Dave Milles, Aye        Gene Olson, Aye       Lyle Johnson, Nay      Motion passed.

D. Milles reported that the Rural Transit Center Development Plan was adopted.  Changes to the zoning ordinances are necessary to bring the zoning ordinance into accordance with the Plan. The Town Board has already requested a quote from the Lent Township attorney, Peter Tiede, for revising the zoning ordinance.

D. Milles gave the residents a brief explanation on the possibility of an Xcel Energy Peaker Generator being located in Lent Township. Ordinances need to be amended to allow a peaker generator into the township.

D. Milles made a motion for the Planning Commission to amend ordinances as needed, to allow for a possible peaker plant. L. Johnson seconded. Motion passed.

R. Kahler reported that 10 building permits have been applied for from the first of the year.

Park Commission

D. Milles reported that the Park Plan was delivered to Chisago County Park Board for approval. G. Olson reported that the plan is in progress with the Chisago County Park Board.

Jim Berneche, Park Commission Board member, reported that the Stacy Lions Club donated $1000.00 to the Park Commission for park equipment.

Road Report

G. Olson gave a report on the regular monthly road report. Roads are in poor condition. The removal of the gravel in the ditches is being handled.

Treasurers Comments

P. Olson reported the funds from Associated Bank have been moved into the First State Bank of Wyoming.

Clerk’s Comments

R. Kahler reported there is a very positive response to the Evergreen Recycling day that will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008. The recycling day volunteers are Dave Milles, Joan Milles, Kerry Olson, R. Kahler, Norm Kahler, and Bernice Woods. Residents, John Granger and KimMarie Granger, volunteered to help as well. This recycle day is for residents of Lent Township only and identification will be checked.

R. Kahler reported that the Boards of Appeal and Equalization would be convened on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

R. Kahler reported thank you cards have been received from Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Chisago County Senior Center, and The Refuge Network, for service contracts donations. A thank you card from Vikinaire Girl Scouts was received for allowing the girl scouts to use the Lent Township hall for their Giving Event on Thursday, March 13, 2008.

R. Kahler presented information about the service contract from South Chisago County Meals on Wheels. They serve City of Wyoming, City of Shafer, Center City, Chisago City, and City of Stacy. Residents north of the City of Stacy trailer court are referred to North Branch for meals on wheels as they were asking for $2000.00.

D. Milles made a motion not to donate to the South Chisago County Meals on Wheels, L. Johnson seconded. Motion passed.

R. Kahler reported a handicap-accessible satellite toilet would be ordered for the Gordon Swanberg Park at the end of April as We R Able will be using the park.

Supervisors Comments

G. Olson reported that he would be meeting with the Township engineer, Brad Wilkening with Hakanson Anderson Assoc., on finalizing Erie Lane’s construction project on Thursday, April 17, 2008.

G. Olson reported that the Lent Township park and recreation surveys that were in the newsletter are coming in.

D. Milles had no comment.

L. Johnson had no comment.

New Business

G. Olson reported that the Urban Town Short Course would be Thursday, April 24, 2008, in Maplewood and all of the supervisors, clerk, and treasurer will be attending. D. Milles reported that KimMarie Granger, a member of the Planning Commission Board, would also be attending and would be financing her own way to the course. R. Kahler reported that the township hall would be closed that day.

Orderly Annexation

G. Olson reported that a draft copy of the Orderly Annexation Agreement with the City of Stacy has been received from Lent Township attorney, Peter Tiede of Murnane Brandt.  This OAA involves eight parcels of land east of I-35 and south of the City of Stacy.  The clerk will add property map and identification descriptions before forwarding this draft to the City of Stacy.  G. Olson reported that the orderly annexation is being very productive.

Truth in Government

D. Milles presented a resolution as follows:

Motion for Consideration and Approval by the Town Board

Offered by: David Milles, Township Supervisor

“Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 13D.01, subdivisions 2 and 3, I make a motion that a “closed” meeting of the Lent Town Board be convened at a time, date, and place to be determined by the Town Board for the specific purpose of discussing potential legal or disciplinary proceedings involving Township officials. The persons attending this meeting should be limited to the Town Board members, Township Clerk, Township Treasurer, and Township Attorney. Public Notice of this meeting shall be posted at those locations normally used for such purposes by the Township and within the time limitations prescribed by Minnesota Statutes.”

L. Johnson seconded.  Discussion: L. Johnson questioned if this is under litigation by someone, yes or no? D. Milles replied not yet but there is a possibility of one. L. Johnson responded saying that if there is a threat of litigation that a closed meeting can be held without a resolution by the Township board. If this is a personnel issue, an attorney does not have to be involved. If there is a law suit involved then attorney will be contacted.

D. Milles responded that if any disciplinary issues towards an employee of the Township, needs to be taken, it would be held at a close meeting. If this can not be resolved then there will be an open meeting.

G. Olson called for a vote for a closed meeting with the attorney to discuss disciplinary proceedings involving Township officials.

Dave Milles, Aye   Gene Olson, Aye   Lyle Johnson, Nay       Motion passed.

Conditions of Roads

Dawn Applequist, Lent Township resident residing at 4457 Echo Lane, appeared and presented photos of gravel in ditches and asked how the gravel would be removed.

G. Olson responded saying that the township does not have equipment to pull the gravel out of the ditch and there are no plans to clean ditches. A reclaimer was built with a disc that would pull some of the gravel out of the ditches but not all of it. Ms. Applequist stated that about Lyons Street was very dangerous to drive on and asked if any gravel would be put on the street. G. Olson responded by saying that bituminous would be placed on Lyons Street in 2009 jointly by the City of Linwood and Lent Township and any good gravel would be wasted if laid down this year as the road would be reshaped with the project in 2009.

Carolyn Cagle, a Lent Township resident residing at 4460 Echo Lane, enquired when the roads are pave will there be a posted speed limit on Lyons Street. G. Olson responded by saying that there are no posted speed limits in the Lent Township, as there is no police enforcement. The speed limit of 55 miles per hour or existing conditions will be for Lyons Street.

D. Milles made a motion to adjourn, L. Johnson seconded. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

___________________________                              ___________________________

Board Chair Signature