Gary Anderson of the Briggs Lake Chain Association (BLCA) gave an update to the Clear Lake Twp. Board Tuesday on one of three projects his committee is working on involving water drainage to area lakes.

 

Anderson said he recently received the latest design by a landscape engineer along a boat access property on Big Elk Lake. The project would also involve the participation of two adjoining properties which would divert rain water before it travels to the lake down the boat access.

 

Anderson assured the board there would be no cost to the township for the project, as funding would generally come from the SWCD or from grants applied for.

 

Anderson said he has talked with Twp. Engineer Terrance VanderEyk about the designs and they have consulted with the adjoining property owners about the catch basins, rock formations, trench drains and swales.

 

Anderson’s other two projects involve working and consulting with Palmer Township.

 

Nancy Riddle of Sherburne County gave comments on a draft amendment to the county zoning ordinance in regards to higher density of development allowed under the state shoreland rules.

 

Riddle pointed out the majority of land surrounding the lakes in the area is zoned either general rural or agricultural, requiring a lot size of 2.5 to five acres each.

 

The board took no action and did not comment any further.

 

Chairman Gary Gray discussed the recent insurance appraisal on the township hall in which the building was appraised at $828,900 in comparison to the previous appraisal of around $400,000. The whopping increase in valuation is different due to what is deemed the replacement cost of the building, appliances, electrical, structure and parking changes needed to make it all up to date.

 

For insurance purposes, Gray said there would be a premium increase of $500 more to insure the property at the $828,900 price as compared to the previous appraisal.

 

The board approved the new coverage and signed the necessary documents.

 

Patty Glendenning of Clear Lake asked the board to consider her and her family moving their driveway from one area of their 5.5 acre property to another due to road changes.

 

Glendenning said her driveway currently runs to Hwy. 24 and because of construction and the highway closing in on them, she suggested her driveway be moved to the opposite side of the property — off 106th Street.

 

Eyk said he didn’t see any issues by suggested the Glendennings visit Denny Pederson of Bogart/Pederson to get the project off the ground.

 

The board agreed with Eyk and said they will work with the Glendennings to ensure the driveway project be successful.

 

Member Bud Stimmler gave an update on the progression of the history book project.

 

Stimmler said he and the writer — Mike Keigan — are still gathering and organizing information and writing and editing is being done. Verifications are being authorized, making sure all the information published will be accurate.

 

Stimmler also showed the earliest timeline identifying a John Henry Stevenson as being one of the first settlers in the area in 1850. Stevenson and another trio from Illinois appeared in the area and their history can be traced to include the Goenners, Kiffmeyers, and several other family names through marriages and births.

 

Eyk said sealcoating is starting with the county June 24 and the township’s projects will follow that probably in later June or early July.

 

A partial pay request for the Long Lake sediment control project in the amount of $9,015.03 was asked to be approved. Eyk said eventually the SWCD will reimburse the township for the cost.

 

Eyk mentioned another possible sediment control project is being considered at 41st Avenue on Long Lake.

 

Residents along Sherwood Shores are requesting “children” signs to be installed such as, “watch for children” and slow down, children playing in area”. Eyk said such signs had already been installed there years ago but were removed because it proved to be useless.

 

Chairman Gray said the township is not willing to pay to have new signs put up at a cost of around $250 each, but suggested the residents could pay for the signs themselves if they are still inclined to do so.Gray said he would talk to the property owners to see if they wanted to handle it themselves.

 

Gray authorized Jeff Rhodes to do $8,000 worth of more crack sealing.

 

Stimmler said the trees and shrubs at the park are doing well and he is planning on having members of the sentence-to-serve group come out and do mulching at the park.

 

Stimmler also said it was determined a five-year controlled burn is being proposed for parts of the park but Stimmler said the costs to do that is very spendy. Stimmler suggested he talk to the Clear Lake Fire Chief Ron Koren to see if his department would be willing to do the burn for training purposes.

 

Deputy Chris Aleshire said 91 calls for service came into the county for the month of May — 43 were traffic stops, one was a DWI, one was trespassing, six were medicals, five alarms, three suspicious vehicles and two parking complaints.

 

The next Clear Lake Township Board meeting is July 21 at 7 p.m.