It was a celebration of sorts Monday night for the Becker Township Board as supervisors and staff unveiled the recently completed Arcasearch project, allowing complete online access to nearly 150 years of local government minutes and records.
Staff touted the efficiencies the searchable database offers in helping them to answer questions from citizens or in finding vital correspondence from years past that is needed to guide current decision making.
“It’s something I use almost every day,” Said Clerk Lucinda Messman.
The board watched a brief demonstration on how to find the archived information, available on the township website under the “minutes” category.
Deer Ridge Decision
Several residents who live near the Deer Ridge/172nd Ave. double cul de sac area were on hand to hear the board’s final decision regarding this outlot area. The board again stressed the land area in question is not a simple easement, but instead township-owned property and therefore several obstructions would need to be removed because of liability concerns.
Residents Kelly and Johnathon Woods spoke to the board, hoping to reach a final conclusion on boulders and driveway pedestals that were placed on township property years ago before they purchased the property.
After some discussion, it was decided that a few tall pine trees on the back corner of the property could stay, while the township would take care of removing the boulders. Woods was asked and agreed to coordinate with the immediate area landowners to ascertain if someone would like the boulders moved to their lot.
A letter will be sent to the Woods’ informing them of the need to remove the driveway pedestals and setting up a timeline to do so. It was noted this could potentially be of use to the Woods’ if they decide to seek recourse against the title company for confusion as to the lot lines of their property. The board also agreed that the current diamond shaped signs would suffice in signifying the dead end in lieu of putting up more obtrusive barricade signs.
Planning Updates
The board heard from Planner Ben Wikstrom in regards to a pair of projects that are working their way through the planning process.
Valery Wruck has applied for a CUP to operate a retail landscape business off Hwy. 10 near the current Motorsota site. This would require a re-zoning of the land to commercial and is currently in process to be considered by the planning commission at their upcoming meeting.
Next, Wikstrom reported that several drainage and wetland issues were found with the application for the Becker Meadows 20 acre parcel but a mutually agreeable solution was found and this project will also be moving along the approval process in the future.
The board and Wikstrom then discussed several complaints that have been received in regards to the township’s inspection services. The crux of the issues reportedly deal with the timing of inspections.
Because the city and township both use the same company, Supervisor Wilkening asked Wikstrom if he was aware of the last time the City of Becker sent out an RFP for inspection services. Wikstrom was unsure and was tasked with finding out and reporting back to the board.
“Typically it’s something people do occasionally,” said Wilkening, in regards to soliciting proposals.
Engineer’s Report
Township Engineer Wes Davis presented information to the board regarding the completion of several projects and also followed up on some minor details from last month’s pool ordinance discussion.
Davis stated he also plans to try and piggy back off the Sherburne County paving contract for next year’s wear course on 185th avenue, as this usually brings forward the best bidding numbers.
At the request of Supervisor Gary Gilbert, Davis presented a document to the board that outlines a scope of services with associated costs. The document outlined some work he has already started, such as the capital improvement plan, the engineering standards document and the inventory reports, while indicating cost estimates to get these completed in the future.
Wilkening asked Davis if some of this work would be required anyway by state mandate in the future.
“For example, the culvert inventory,” said Wilkening. “We would be required to do this if we were designated an MS-4. Have you heard any talk about us getting to that point?”
MS-4 entities must comply with a host of additional standards in regards to their storm sewer and water drainage plans, including completing items such as culvert inventories, as a way to reduce sediment in waterways.
Davis responded that he had not heard anything to that effect.
The board agreed Davis’ plan would be a helpful document for consideration in future scheduling and budgeting plans.
In other action,
the board:
• Listened to Sgt. Dan Frank of the Sheriffs Office report nearly 100 calls for service in the past month including several shooting complaints;
• Heard Chairman Brian Kolbinger’s report on the Central Mississippi River Regional Planning Partnership. A recent RFP produced no formal proposals so the group will decide next steps at a future meeting;
• Viewed photos of the completed 112th St. cul de sac. Supervisor Gilbert reported that the road can now safely handle the school bus and has enough room for it to turn around;
• Approved Gilbert’s plan to continue working on fire number sign replacement throughout the township;
• Denied a request for payment from Santiago Township pertaining to inspection costs associated with a shared road. A letter will be sent explaining the board’s position;
• Heard from legal counsel Kelli Bourgeois regarding the template for the developer’s agreement, which in the future will include cash escrows in lieu of letters of credit;
• Learned from staff that the current animal control contractor was bought out by another party. Bourgeois found several inadequacies in the new contract proposal so staff was directed to try and negotiate terms more similar to the past contract before it would be approved.
