During the recent Big Lake Twp. meeting, one township resident approached the board hoping to annex his property on Hwy. 25 to the city. He wanted to do this since he was hoping to construct a solar farm on the property, and, according to county ordinances, solar farms are only allowed within city limits, not in the townships.

The board was unanimously adamant in their refusal to allow the annexation. The city and the township have a joint resolution that no property is to be annexed to the city unless that property borders the city proper. This way, the city cannot grow from islands such as the wastewater treatment plant, or, in this case, from the city’s solar field which borders the concerned patry’s property. 

The resident, and a representative of US Solar, who hopes to construct the solar field, asked the board to consider making an exception this time, but, again, the board refused, not wanting to set a precedent of bending the rules. Instead, Supervisor Larry Alfords suggested that one or two members of the board, the resident, the US Solar representative, and representatives of the county all sit down and find a solution that would allow the resident to construct the solar farm without annexing the property to the city.

Cartway Public Hearing

The public hearing for the Westholter cartway was reconvened, then immediately closed. The landowners had worked out a compromise with their neighbors and withdrew their petition.

Sheriff’s Report

Sgt. Luke McLean gave the sheriff’s report to the town board. The department has seen an increase in security checks and requests for extra patrol so far this year, and have been having issues with local storage facilities along Hwy. 10. Most of these facilities are not secured with a fence, but do have adequate lighting and cameras. McLean believes that the extra officer presence is helping to solve the issue.

He asked the township to let the county attorney know if they had updated their ordinances recently, especially if those ordinances included any fines.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate fraud in which unemployment checks in county residents’ names are being collected by individuals overseas. 

In Other Business, the Board:

• Gave positive comments on a septic variance, which will ultimately be approved by the county;

• Discussed the purchase of the new BLFD Brush Rig;

• Heard the treasurer’s report;

• Discussed the recent road tour and township roads in need of maintenance;

• And announced there will be a public hearing at the next regular meeting regarding entering into a franchise agreement.