Engineer Terrance Vander Eyk presented the Clear Lake Township Board with a new estimate for the 71st street project at their meeting Tuesday. The total came in at $115,137; his original rough estimate was for $46,000. 

 

Vander Eyk explained he had originally thought they would just be repairing 250 feet of the road, however due to its numerous failures the project was extended out to 800 feet. 

 

He reminded the board the project would cause some wetland impact, so permits from the DNR, the county and the corps of engineers would need to be obtained. 

 

“I’m not convinced we need to do this,” said Supervisor Bud Stimmler. “What do we gain?”

 

Vander Eyk explained they would be stabilizing the embankment with a geogrid, which would keep the road from any further failures. 

 

Stimmler stated he felt they should wait and see if the road continues to fail.

 

“Eventually it’s going to fail,” said Vander Eyk. “But how quick, I can’t predict that.”

 

“I think we’re fine waiting a year,” said Chairman Gary Gray. “We’ll continue patching the tar and see how it goes.”

 

Various options were discussed, including adding a substantial amount of riprap to the road. Vander Eyk indicated he would bring a new estimate to next month’s meeting.

 

Vander Eyk presented the board with a design for 35 mph speed zone signage at White Farm Estates. Residents there have requested speed limit signs be posted in the neighborhood.

 

Vander Eyk and the board discussed statutes for residential roads, and Gray said he would look into them further, stating they could also consider a blanket resolution that would make all rural residential areas 35 mph.

Solar Farms

 

Gray told the board he hasbeen getting inquires from residents about solar farms in the area, so he provided a rundown on the information he has.

 

Novell Energy Solutions (Hammer property on Hwy 24) has been approved but no building permit application has been submitted.

 

Sunrise Energy Ventures (Barton Sand & Gravel property on Co Rd 8) has been approved but no building permit application has been submitted.

 

Ecoplexus (Hayes/Peterson Property) applied for an IUP last January. The application was incomplete, follow up information was never submitted, and they haven’t gone to the planning commission. 

 

Socore Energy (Hegge Property) has been approved. They applied for a building permit in July but have not picked it up.

 

Sunrise Energy Ventures (Hammer property on Co Rd 8) has been approved but no building permit application has been submitted.

 

Palmer Township informed the board they would no longer be paying for the dumpster on Elk Lake; the townships have been splitting the cost of it for the past three years. 

 

After a brief discussion, the board agreed they would continue to pay for the dumpster as long as Palmer Township continues to pay for the satellite toilet which is located there. Both are considered public services.

 

Gray was given board permission to meet with Sherburne County Planning and Zoning to begin planning discussions on the new township hall. A motion was passed for $50,000 to be put into a CD for the building fund.

 

Deputy Clerk Gary Anderson was given permission from the board to coordinate a group of people to discuss upcoming election needs. 

 

The sheriff reported 83 calls for service for the month of October, including 37 traffic, one theft of a trailer, one DUI and six accidents.

 

For November there were 79 calls for service, including 28 traffic, three damage to property in which three cars were broken into at the access, two personal injury and three property damage accidents.