County Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski visited the meeting in order to gather feedback on the parking ordinance. This proposed ordinance recently failed as members of the township spoke out against their disapproval of the restrictive nature of the ordinance. The planning and zoning commission asked staff to find a new solution for dealing with township lots which contained a lot of vehicles.

County staff responded by reaching out to the townships for feedback, asking what the board members thought would be appropriate for their residents. Danielowski came to hear those comments personally.

Township board and staff could not agree on a solution that would make all township residents happy. Clerk Brenda Kimberly-Maas recommended citizens who often complained about their neighbors’ lots look into a solution that didn’t involve the government: filing a civil lawsuit. Many HOAs and platted lots have rules attached that disallow keeping an excess of items on the lot. She was unsure whether this was a solution that could work, but it was a possibility for neighbors with complaints to find a resolution without the county needing to restrict everyone in the township. It was, in Kimberly-Maas’s opinion, worth investigating at the very least.

Sheriff’s Report 

Sgt. Luke McLean of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) reported that fewer traffic stops had been made over last month. An individual posing as a contractor stole from a resident’s home, and a lawn mower was stolen in another case of theft. An ATV accident involving an intoxicated driver resulted in the individual needing to be airlifted to the hospital, and McLean reminded everyone to be safe, slow down, and drive sober.

Roads

The board decided to patch up 167th St. for this year and work a more thorough maintenance into the plan for next year. A thin protective layer will be added to 205th Ave. by Liberty Elementary, also to get by until next year. The board felt the road needed some maintenance due to the high volume of traffic during the school year. It will also give them a chance to look at the protective layer and see if the technology could be useful in the future for extending the life of the roads, kind of like a test strip.

The road committee will be reviewing and recommending contractors for winter maintenance at the next regular meeting, this coming Wednesday.

ARPA

Treasurer Ken Warneke discussed the township’s plans for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds so far. Warneke was surprised that no businesses, as of the meeting, had asked for any grants from the township’s ARPA allotment.

Warneke was still waiting on guidance for how to spend the money, but suggested the board make sure the money is spent locally, or possibly be given to local organizations such as the food shelf.

The township was given $424,000 this year, and will receive the same amount next year. Warneke said he thought the township was entitled to more, and wasn’t sure why they received what they did, but he was not overly concerned about the situation.

Treasurer’s Report

Warneke reported being over budget in mowing, with more needing to be done yet this year. There was still a little money left over for road maintenance this year.

Warneke again noted that the levy will go up this year for the fire budget, as the department hopes to buy a new ladder truck in 2026. The increase now will eliminate the need for a more drastic increase later on. The levy will be presented to township citizens on Wednesday, September 8. Township citizens have the right to approve or deny the levy directly.

Warneke finished by saying spending was higher than budgeted lately - not enough so that the overages couldn’t be covered in the general fund, but enough that he wanted to keep an eye on future spending.

Announcements

A joint powers meeting will take place September 8 at 4 p.m. at city hall regarding an applicant to the industrial park.

Household and hazardous waste events will be held September 14 at KJ’s Refuge Bar and Grill, and October 8 and 9 at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds. More information is available at DontTossDropOff.com.

The annual dog vaccination clinic will take place September 25 at Lions Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Nitrate testing will take place at the same place, same time. Township residents can vaccinate their pets and test their well water in one trip. To test water, let water run for 5-10 minutes and then fill a container with at least ½ a cup of water for testing. Homeowners should bring multiple samples, and keep the samples cold.