News of the closing of a canine agility facility after a lengthy dispute with a disgruntled neighbor was met with expressions of regret at the regular meeting of the Haven Township Board Monday night. The board also voted to provide a positive comment to the county on a request for a rezoning amendment for a property from industrial to agricultural, heard an update on the planned demolition of the 54th St. Bridge and tabled action on a motion outlining penalties for township ordinance violations.

 

Head Trainer Dorein Johnson appeared before the board to thank them for their support during the time Canine Agility of Central Minnesota was able to hold events on the site of a former golf driving range on Co. Rd. 8 SE.  The board had approved permits for the facility, which conducted several canine agility trails at the site each summer.

 

Supervisors had investigated several complaints about the facility in the past, all of which proved to be unfounded, according to statements from Chairman Jeff Schlingmann and Supervisor Michael Pesch that had been presented at previous board meetings in recent years. The board had also had reports that a residence near the site had been the source of vehicle horn blowing, gun shots, chain saw operation, loud music and revving motors during events at the facility.

 

Now that the matter has escalated to legal action, Johnson told the board  her organization does not have the funds to contest the matter in court, and that she had been advised that, “even if we win, we will still have the same neighbor.” Schlingmann said that it was “unfortunate that that kind of behavior” is being rewarded in this case.

 

The organization would like to stay in Haven Township, Johnson said, and is currently looking for a similar site of around five acres to serve as their new headquarters.

 

The board unanimously approved a motion to send a positive comment to the county in the matter of a rezoning request from Mike Haus to rezone a 20-acre plot on 32nd St. from industrial to agricultural.  Five acres containing a dwelling will be split off, and the remaining 15 acres sold to a farmer who is currently leasing the parcel.

 

Supervisor Kathy Sims-Kosloski moved that the board provide a positive comment to the request, which is “congruent with past use, and will have no adverse effects” by having been re-zoned.  The measure passed unanimously.

 

Vice-Chairman Mark Knowles reported to the board  he had been in contact with Sherburne County Engineer Rhonda Lewis, who informed him the demolition project on the 54th St. Bridge project is expected to being this week.

 

The board discussed a draft ordinance which would set penalties for ordinance violations not covered by other jurisdictions, and voted to table the issue until a subsequent meeting when Attorney David Meyers could be present to answer questions in detail.

 

In a related discussion, the board reviewed methods by which residents could be discouraged from plowing snow across township and/or county roadways.  Letters and personal visits were among the solutions proposed, though no action was taken.

 

In her airport report, Sims-Kosloski informed the board that a rental car service is now available at the St. Cloud Regional Airport, and an “executive express” service to the Minneapolis airport is also now available in the event a local flight is cancelled.