Friday, March 29th, 2024 Church Directory
MEMBERS OF THE CLEARWATER TWP. BOARD talk remotely with Mark Vizecky during their October meeting. (Photo by Penny Leuthard.)

Clearwater Twp. approves gravel quote

During their October meeting, the Clearwater Twp. Board of Supervisors opened gravel quotes for 2022. Shabel Enterprise of Central Minnesota came in at the lowest bid with $5.65 per ton, however, as their gravel pit is located further away it would cost more for trucking the materials. 

After discussing their product with company owner Jack Shabel, who was in attendance, Mike Ludenia recommended the board go with Johnson Materials, who came in at $5.85 per ton, as he’s had good luck with them and their materials for the last three years.

A motion carried to stay with Johnson Materials but to use a couple of gravel loads from Shabel so the quality can be compared.

Project Processes

Chairperson Rose Thelen presented a number of suggestions for the board to consider putting into an official process of how road projects will proceed. The action came after a number of people expressed dissatisfaction with chip sealing Huber Ave. and were upset that they hadn’t been notified that it was going to be happening. 

Thelen said her procedure proposal would clean up where the public gets to weigh in on road projects. A long discussion followed, including debate on whether or not to survey residents yearly on what they’d like to see done. 

Clerk Jean Just and Ludenia disagreed with the survey, with Just stating that as elected officials the board should be deciding what road projects are important. Ludenia said that they as a board need to decide what will be done to which roads and when, after which it should then be brought to the residents.

Dave Zackman said that although he doesn’t come to many meetings he’s always aware of what’s going on in the township as it’s all on the township website. 

“We elected you to be there,” he said. “We should be contacting you if we see something that needs to be done.”

The board will review Thelen’s proposal and will discuss further next month.

Huber Speeds

Mark Vizecky from MnDOT attended the meeting remotely to present the results of a requested speed test on Huber Ave. The speed test was conducted for three days and recorded time, direction, increase or decrease of speed, speed, and classification of vehicle.

The test recorded 565 vehicles, with an average speed of 46 mph, a top speed of 79 mph and a low speed of 12 mph. The conclusion was made that the road was operating within its speed limits, so a formal speed study won’t need to be conducted. 

Supervisor Scott Miller indicated that the findings were similar to what he found through an informal speed study he’d conducted earlier.

Slope Work

Jim and Brenda Skare approached the board to inquire about in-slope work on Elder Ave., which is shared with Silver Creek Twp.; the edges of the road’s chip seal are beginning to break off. 

A discussion was held about building a better in-slope to help create a better shoulder, which would help the chip seal remain intact. Ludenia indicated he would like to get the project completed this year and said that Silver Creek Twp. already has material leftover from the interstate project that can be used free of cost.

A motion carried approving the project conditional to approval from Silver Creek to use the materials they have on hand. Ludenia will follow up.

Other Business

A motion carried approving the Orderly Annexation Agreement with the City of Clearwater.

The next Clearwater Twp. meeting will be Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.