The Becker Twp. Board met Monday to discuss road issues, plowing and grading issues, winter parking and tree trimming.

 

Donna Jackson, a resident along 122nd Street, complained to the board about plowing and grading problems she has noticed along her road.

 

Jackson said she has noticed the driver of the plow truck digs their truck blade in deep and tears up sod along the road. She told the board the driver is making the road wider and wider and she wondered if it ever will stop.

 

Jackson provided photos as proof and told the board she has even talked to the driver of the truck, but the problem persists.

 

Board Member Gary Gilbert viewed the photos and told her he did see some grass and dirt on the snow but told Jackson, “We need room on both sides of the road to push snow into the ditch.”

 

More discussion took place on the responsibilities of the driver, property owner and the township and when all was said and one, Gilbert agreed to visit Jackson to view the issue and report back to the board.

 

Sgt. Franks said his department received 243 calls for service in the month of January for the township. One hundred and fifteen of those calls were for traffic situations.

 

Franks warned people about the ongoing “IRS Scam” where people are receiving calls from people claiming to be from the IRS, trying to scam people out of money. He reminded everyone the IRS does not make those types of calls and will not ask you over the phone to give out personal information or send them money.

 

Franks also addressed the situation where people are blocking the right-of-ways where snowmobilers pass.

 

A new winter parking ordinance was discussed as well as a public hearing to hear from residents following issues with parking on township roads, especially in subdivisions.

 

An ordinance drafted was modeled after Big Lake Township’s ordinance, though Becker’s dates for the parking ban were listed as Nov. 1 through May 1, as opposed the Big Lake’s Nov. 1 to April 15.

 

More discussion ensued about how to deal with violators and what calendar dates were best and times during the day. Finally the board decided to table the subject and discuss some more and possibly bring the topic back to the agenda for March’s meeting.

 

Wes Davis said the standard update is still being worked on to simplify things and to have it reflect the township’s reconstructs and rehab measures.

 

For the CIP, Davis said he is working on a spreadsheet to have it read road history and make it more understandable, benefitting future road tours.

 

Davis discussed monuments and mapping and said  a letter was sent to the county for the township’s projects to help preserve monuments used to designate property lines.

 

Davis said the 2018 striping project is identified as being jointly shared with the county at four cents a linear foot. Three roads (82nd, 87th and 185th) were identified for the project and Joe Danielson pointed out the roads will also get fog lines.

 

Davis concluded his report by saying the paving projects for 2018 have been submitted to the county and told the board the projects will include curb and gutter and a 26-foot mat — contingent on prices received. Bids are expected to come in to the township by the end of March.

 

Danielson said lots of people have been pushing large amounts of snow from their sidewalks and driveways into the streets, which is a problem. Danielson asked the board if a letter needs to be sent out or communique to let people know that is not accepted.

 

Clerk Lucinda Messman said she could post something on the township website and Gilbert mentioned he plans to produce a type of newsletter that could include this information as well as other things he has a long list for.

 

Complaints came in to the township about some deplorable tree trimming in recent weeks. Photos of a couple of the tree trimming projects were displayed on a screen at the meeting showing bad trimming of branches on at least two trees. Some confusion on how much of the tree and/or branches should be cut when the tree appears to be right on property lines.

 

After a lengthy discussion, the board agreed that property owners need to be notified prior to any tree trimming or brush clearing regardless of where the tree or branches sit. Also, the tree trimmers will take better care in tree and branch trimming to ensure it is properly done will no ill effects to the tree.

 

The next Becker Twp. Board meeting will be the annual meeting March 13  8:01 p.m. Election for three supervisor seats will be conducted that day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.