An easement vacation, resident road and property concerns, CUPs and numerous road updates were some of the items discussed at Monday’s Becker Twp. Board meeting.

 

Attorney Kelli Bourgeois presented information regarding the request for vacation of drainage and utility easements on Lots 1 & 2, Block 4, Snake River Estates, Third Addition.   The update was followed by a public hearing.

 

Bourgeois said the owners have requested vacation of certain drainage and utility easements after the consolidation of two lots to allow an out-building on the easement location.

 

Chairman Gary Hammer  asked for public comments.  Hearing none, the public hearing was closed.

 

Bourgeois said the joint planning board and planning commission have approved the joining of the lots and the engineer sees no issues with vacating the proposed easements.

 

A motion was made to approve the easement vacation and all parties involved approved.

 

Clerk Lucinda Messman advised the board that some residents had concerns for road projects including the shoulder repair at 17301 87th Street SE. The board had been advised the repairs are on schedule, but not yet completed.

 

According to another complaint from a resident, after grading work had been completed at 150th Ave., the road is  in worse shape due to recent bridge work.  Messman said the county, city and township have worked together and had more gravel to put down.  County has advised they will continue to blade during the bridge project.

 

John Basol  of 175th Ave. SE in the Bridgeview Development talked to the board about the drainage situation. He said he understands that this was a problem for the county back in 1997/98, but Basol says when the township took over as the road authority, it became a township issue.  Basol referred to Statute 160.201 that states the road authority is responsible for the roads.  

 

He went on to say many lots in the development are not able to be sold – some have been for sale for 10-15 years.  Water in the basements occurs when there is a fast melt or torrential rains.

 

Basol mentioned the date of July 21, 2014 where he knows that plans for the surface water issue were drawn up. He said since there is nowhere for the water to go and the residents cannot dig a ditch themselves, he wants to get this problem solved.  He even said the homeowners are willing to help foot the bill to get this done.

 

Basol pointed out he does not care who is responsible, he just wants to know how to move forward and fix this problem.  He said homeowners are staying in their houses and that leaving them is not an option.  He hoped that with Rep. Jim Newberger’s help the drain tile planned could be installed to fix this.

 

Township Engineer Terrance VanderEyk said that the plan is done and a permit from the county is necessary.  At this time, nobody from the town board has not been notified that any permit is approved.

 

A question arose about who has control of the parkland in the area?  The answer given was the DNR gave money to the county to dedicate the land as a park

The board mentioned Roger Stradal, who is a DNR official who overseas culvert installs and the county may require someone like Stradal with higher authority to approve this project.

 

Basol asked, “Is there a permit name I can help ask for?”  

 

The board said a permit to excavate through the parkland is needed.  Also a permit to discharge may be required.  A permit is also  required to get into or by the park.

 

Basol offered to do what he can to help facilitate communications and said he appreciates the efforts of the board.  

 

The members of the board asked Eyk to do a side view/profile showing elevations  so everyone fully understands how to get water from one location to the other.

 

A public hearing was held last week for Cox Plumbing because the business has been operating out of an accessory structure prior to the township taking over planning and zoning. However, no Conditional Use Permit (CUP) was ever filed.  

 

Neighbors attending the public hearing were in favor of the CUP’s issue.  Items addressed included the number of employees, hours, future plans and storage.  The largest issue was the fact Cox has two employees and only one is allowed on-site in addition to the owner.

 

Cox said he is altering the business so that one employee will go to the property each day.  The other will leave from his house.  

 

The planning commission recommended approval with some amendments to the CUP  as presented.  This issue goes before the joint planning board next week (Tuesday) for final action.  

 

Eyk said there was a large washout at 92nd Street on July 28 due to a branch in the ditch.  He suggests someone check on this area for obstruction occasionally.  He said the problem has been repaired and crushed asphalt has been used in the ditch to shore up the washout.

 

An Orrock Town Board member asked if Becker Township was doing any work in the area of 109th Street since this is a shared road? (The road is called 243rd Ave. in Orrock).

 

Eyk said 109th Street was overlaid in 2001 and a seal coat applied in 2014.  Becker Twp.’s portion of the road is in good shape right now, he said.  No work has been planned at this time.

 

Eyk said tracked equipment from a local builder in Snake River Estates is not allowed on township roads due to damage created and the builder has been informed.  Sub-contractors have also been informed and agreed to offload on lots rather than on the township roads.

 

Two sink holes were discovered on 102nd Street east of Co. Rd. 67  due to slope failure.   A quote was presented to the board by M. L.  Schendzielos for $2,880. 

 

Eyk said there is an artificial pond on the north side of this road.  He also said 102nd Street was rebuilt in about 2001.  He said there is not much space with  severe slopes and erosion/potholes.  In-slopes are failing.  Eyk said fabric repairs would probably not help and recommends riprap armor. 

 

A town board member asked, “Is this the only repair?”  Eyk answered, “Yes, it should be.”

 

Eyk was asked if the quote included material over the top for growth?  He answered, “No, it would most likely all wash away.”

 

The $2,880 quote was for 60 cubic yards of C1 III riprap.  A board member motioned to accept quote for work as proposed and the project was endorsed.

 

A revised right-of-way work permit and a revised driveway permit was presented to the board.  The changes to them reflect updates that match the fee schedule and revise typographical errors.

 

A final payment was presented to the board in the amount of $12,649.58 for the shouldering of the two portions of 137th Street, 102nd Street and a mile west of 87th Street completed in 2014.

 

A final payment of $626.75 for Garbrain Woods was presented to the board.  Eyk said it is doing much better and the swale is stabilized.  

 

Supervisor Brian Kolbinger proposed a budget scheduled for final approval on Sept. 9to the fire board. The FD is moving forward on the grass truck. Kolbinger also presented an invoice from the relief association for  $6,000 to be paid next month.

 

Supervisor Brad Wilkening said ponds within the newer developments are not being mowed and many of them are starting to have a large amount of trees and brush in them.  He asked would it be worth it for the township to consider mowing the pond areas to prevent the trees and brush from getting too large?  

 

He noted there could be implications to the township if they are going to maintain these ponds on a regular basis and this is something that needs to be thought about a bit before proceeding.

 

One pond he mentioned  on 91st Street has a riser that is damaged. It is in an easement and the county never inferred to the township that the drainage would be township issues.  Discussion ensued of clearing once per year versus once every few years.

 

Wilkening said the board needs to figure out where the ponds are and look at them this fall to figure out solution.  The board asked Eyk to locate ponds in easements. 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Treasurer Tanya Danielson gave an audit update  and the final reports were presented to the board Monday.

 

Danielson said in review of building inspections, five turned up $1,400 in errors (not in township favor).  She said a review of the inspection methodology took place a few days after this came to light and errors have been addressed.  Danielson said  the city is experiencing the same errors. She said city and township staff met with building inspectors to review procedures/fee schedules and now all issues are corrected.  Staff will check permits with new spreadsheet to stay on top of this in future.

 

Danielson said overall the audit was positive.  She and Clerk Messman were glad to know they are tracking all funds appropriately.  

 

There was only one issue mentioned on the final page of the report, for one of the contracts last year that exceeded $25,000 and only one quote was obtained.  

(Due to timing and urgency of project, just the one quote was possible at the time.)  

 

Clerk Messman was tasked to verify multiple project quotes or track detailed reasons for lack of quotes, for future projects of this size.

 

Danielson said some policies need to be written out regarding investments and such; and a line item budget was suggested.  Messman and Danielson plan to meet and get these ready for presentation to the board.  At this time, these documents are being reviewed and samples gathered.  

 

Danielson pointed out that the permit fee fund (it is an internal breakout from General Funds) has been updated to more accurately reflect how that portion of the budget is doing.  

 

Messman presented the levy as voted on in March and asked if there were any changes or alterations.  One resident asked if the numbers were corrected as they were presented backwards for road and bridge versus the fire fund at the annual meeting.  

 

Messman said, “Yes, they have been corrected.”  

 

A final certification to the county auditor/treasurer was due prior to the next township board meeting. 

 

The board approved submission of the levy as follows:

• Town Revenue/General Fund - $40,000; • Road and Bridge Fund - $750,000; • Fire Fund - $75,000; • Town Hall Fund -  $15,000; • New Fire Hall Fund - $30,000; • Total Township Levy for 2016 taxation year - $910,000.

 

Danielson presented a revised fee schedule and four main changes were noted:  

• State surcharge fee changed to $1 in July; •  Driveway access permits require construction bond of $500 (ordinance); • $100 soil verification fee had been left off; • Edited fee under permit fees to correctly state how they are currently calculated.  

 

Attorney Bourgeois discussed inspection fee valuation and how they are handled for a contract in Mille Lacs County.  Inspection Services of Minnesota, LLC uses a DOL schedule with the inclusion in the contract.  Their fee structure is much higher than Beckers.  Bourgeois says they have the same issues with valuations.

 

One good idea from theirs, Bourgeois noted, is to have in writing what Metro West does for Becker by practice now, using the DOL valuation table.

 

A board member asked, “Is their higher fee structure due to lower building activity than we have?”  

 

Discussion ensued regarding amounts for plan reviews that goes to Metro West and what staff does at plan review stage.  Discussion continued regarding different valuations the state uses and what the township can/should/or would like to do.  No final decisions were made at this time.

 

The next Becker Township Board meeting is Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.