The meeting for Big Lake Twp.’s July 24 was short and sweet with another Eagle Scout project proposal.
Eagle Merit Badge Project
James Nordling, who goes by JD, from Troop 93 stood before the township and expressed interest in a project he would like to pursue for his Eagle Merit Badge. JD explained that he would like to take the old and worn picnic tables around BL Twp.’s Lion’s Park and update them. JD’s proposal is to rebuild three to four of the tables in the worse shape and make them more open for accessibility, especially for wheelchair users. The board felt positive about the proposal and gave feedback on the idea.
CUP Request
Brenda Kimberly-Maas presented the board with a CUP request from Kristin Pfaff for a planned mini storage facility. The board looked over all of the potential goals the applicant wrote up and reviewed the blueprints. However, with no one present at the meeting to answer the questions that the board had, the board of supervisors agreed to table their response until either the applicant resubmitted with more information or was present for questions at the next meeting.
Supervisors Mark Hedstrom and Bruce Aubol also advised that the planned layout should be reviewed by the BLFD Chief for feasible access and comments. Supervisor Hedstrom felt nervous about the potential lack of room for firetrucks in the lot.
BLFD Report
Chief Seth Hansen shared the BLFD report for this meeting and updated them on the train derailment that happened July 20. Chief Hansen stated that this was “the best case scenario” due to the train being BNSF and holding mainly dry consumable goods. Crews have been working “around the clock” to clean up the area.
Hansen also mentioned a fatal crash on July 5, 2024, which took the lives of two victims and one who was currently in the hospital on Hwy. 25 and Pleasant Avenue.
Chief Hansen mentioned the second annual Pop up Splash pad that would be held at Lake Ridge Park July 27, from noon to 2 p.m.
The BLFD will be doing a hiring campaign in the near future.
Announcements
Election Information
• Primary Election absentee voting at Sherburne Government Center. Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on business days and will be open Sat., Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mail-in ballots must be returned by 5 p.m., Tues. Aug. 13.
• Affidavit of Candidacy Filing for Town Offices and BL Hospital District Board: Tues., July 30, through Tues., Aug. 13. The clerk’s office will be open Aug. 13 until 5 p.m.
• Primary Election Public Accuracy Testing of Voting Equipment Thurs., Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sherburne County Government Center in the Maple Room.
• Primary Elections: Tues., Aug. 13. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Precinct 1 — Lord of Glory Lutheran Church; Precinct 2 — BL Town Hall; Precinct 3 — BL Fire Station.
• BL Community Food Shelf Produce and Pantry food distribution Mon., Aug.19, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Town hall adjacent garage.
• Next regular meeting Wed. Aug. 14 at 6 p.m.
July 10 Meeting
During the meeting on July 10, the board was able to have their questions answered for the Sherburne County Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS) Ordinance revisions.
SSTS Ordinance
The Board of Supervisors sent Kimberly-Maas questions from the previous meeting on June 26, and Kimberly-Maas was able to have a small list of questions ready for Marc Schneider, who was present at the meeting. Supervisor Bruce Aubol started by asking the first question the board had, “What are the county’s goals for septic system design?”
Schneider let the supervisors know that the county had no goals for the septic system design. Pressurized systems are preferred for sandy soils but otherwise gravity systems are still within the ordinance.
The next question Aubol asked was, “If a lot does not have two sites, will the current owner have to have another one designed?”
Schneider said “no”, a homeowner would not need to have another designed as long as there is a secondary spot available. Smaller lots are also not required to have two designated spots due to the different ordinances.
The last point was a comment from the board who agreed that the subd 9 Enforcement in the ordinance (9.1.1) “seems extreme.”
Schneider said the enforcement was to ensure that the homeowner follows the septic health threat procedure and, if they fail to heed to any failed inspections and requests from the courts, that they would receive a ticket for every day that they do not comply.
The board recommended a change in language for the ordinance revisions.
Interim Use Permit
The board received a request to amend an existing IUP by the School District to take away the first condition from the 2019 IUP, which restricted direct access to 205th Ave. The request is to enhance traffic management and safety measures for Liberty Elementary. The Board gave a positive recommendation for the project.
Other Business
Supervisor Laura Hayes was able to get in touch with BL Twp.’s maintenance man Aaron S, and they worked together to get Norm Leslie’s dedicated bench firmly bolted down. Aaron was also able to acquire a kind of concrete for the bench’s stability and after it was finished, Norm and Aaron took a photo to celebrate.
Supervisor Dean Brenteson informed the board that he would be having the July meeting with the CMRP, which is still in the process of moving into becoming a non-profit organization.
Announcements
• Primary Election absentee voting began Fri.June 28;
• Big Lake Community Food Shelf Produce and Pantry food distribution Mon., July 15 from 3:30- 5:30 p.m. at the Town hall adjacent garage;
• A special town board meeting was We., July 17 where they discussed BLFD staffing;
• Next Regular meeting was July 24th, 2024 at 6 p.m.;
• Affidavit of Candidacy Filing Tues. July 30. Tues. August 13. The clerk’s office open until 5 p.m. on Aug. 13.
NOTE
There will not be a meeting on Aug. 14.
