During their meeting Monday night, Dennis Leitha approached the Palmer Twp. Board of Supervisors to explain his reasoning for disking over 113th Ave., a minimum maintenance road he owns land along.

 

After Leitha disked the road on Nov. 4, a report was made to Sherburne Co. by the township and investigated by a deputy. The board has discussed whether destruction of public property charges would be made as they’ve incurred costs to survey and repair the road back to the way it was.

 

Leitha explained he felt he was improving the road by doing what he did, he hadn’t meant to cause any problems. 

 

“I agree with you the road needs some work,” said Supervisor Mike Ganz. “But it would have been nice to discuss it beforehand.”

 

He told Leitha the township has been in contact with an attorney and was going through options to determine what they were going to do about the issue. 

 

A second discussion was held between the board and members of the audience concerning the location of Leitha’s irrigation pivot point and whether or not it was located in the road’s right-of-way. Leitha informed the board he had photographs that show it isn’t.

 

Ganz informed the group the township was still gathering information and it would take time to resolve the issues.

 

 

A discussion was held on rentals of the township hall and park pavilion. Both have become increasingly popular to rent, especially during holidays. Jan. 1 of each year reservations for both open and can be made by calling or emailing the township.

 

Exceptions to this policy are weddings, reservations for which can be made up to two years in advance due to their long planning timeframe.

 

For fairness to all township residents, a new rental policy was created that states the same families cannot reserve the buildings for two consecutive years on holidays. A motion carried approving the update.

 

 

Treasurer Roger Johnson informed the board their capital improvement plan bonds will be paid off in 2020; once this has occurred they will no longer have debt on the fire hall. The township can save $2,400 if they pay off the bonds in April instead; a motion carried approving the early payment.

 

In 2003 residents voted $40,000 a year be put into a fund towards the new fire hall. A discussion was held on whether that money can still be put away each year, and what that money can be used for once the bonds have been paid off. 

 

The issue will be included on the agenda for the annual meeting.

 

 

The Clear Lake Lions have offered to donate $20,000 for the construction of a new building at the township park. A discussion was held on potential spots for a building as well as whether one is actually needed. The board decided to table the issue for the present time.

 

A motion carried approving the Tri-County Humane Society contract after cats were removed from the document; the township only takes responsibility for dogs.

 

Cleanup day will be on May 4 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

 

The sheriff reported 68 calls for service for December, including 15 traffic, two property damage, six medical and two fraud, one of a man asking for police fund donations and one of a priest asking for iTunes cards for sick patients.

 

The fire department reported nine calls for December, three of which were in Palmer Twp.

 

The truth and taxation meeting will be April 16 at 9 a.m.

 

The next Palmer Twp. meeting will be Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.