Approval of a resolution to set penalties for violations of township ordinances, a report on the status of the 54th St. Bridge demolition project and a discussion of a warning letter to be sent to residents who plow snow across county or township roads were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Haven Town Board Monday night.

 

The board also discussed a preliminary 2016 budget presented by Treasurer Randy Linn, and heard a presentation on work performed to meet the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) regulations required by the state from the Bogart Pederson engineering firm.

 

The ordinance approved Monday night again states that “Any person violating any provision of this Ordinance shall be found guilty of a misdemeanor.”  The new Haven ordinance removes the language that spells out the current punishment imposed by state statute for misdemeanors, which includes a fine and/or imprisonment for not to exceed 90 days or both;” If the state should change those penalties in the future, according to township attorney David Meyers, the township would not have to revisit their misdemeanor ordinance, which would simply adapt to the new state statutes automatically as changes are made.

 

The board also approved a letter to be sent to residents in winter under the title: “Plowing Snow Onto or over a Public Road is a Crime and Will be Prosecuted”. The letter cites Minnesota statutes which state that plowing snow on or over a public road is a misdemeanor which, upon conviction, can carry a fine of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.  The letter also states that plowing snow into township right-of-ways is dangerous and costly to the township, and that the board intends to seek prosecution of all violators.

 

The board was informed the demolition of the 54th St. Bridge has not yet been completed.  The board also learned the Lietha family has retained legal consul to represent them on any issues pertaining to the bridge project and adjoining road.

 

Chairman Jeff Schlingmann said that the Haven board is strictly neutral towards any plans involving the removal of the bridge and disposal of the materials, which is “between the county and the contractor and whoever owns the bridge materials.”  Schlingmann cited the potential danger of environmental issues arising from the disposal of the bridge as something the township can avoid by not taking a position on the matter.

 

Jon Bogart appeared before the board to outline the work the Bogart Pederson engineering firm has carried out in anticipation of Haven Township having to comply with the state-mandated regulations for stormwater management.  Bogart provided the board members with a series of maps he has created that show the locations of drainage areas, well heads, wetlands and other pertinent data for stormwater management.

 

He also provided the board with a listing of construction practices to be followed to deal with “primary and secondary pollutant removal mechanisms,” including site design improvements, runoff volume minimization, sediment control at construction sites, bioretention, filtration, infiltration, stormwater ponds, stormwater wetlands and supplemental treatment.

 

The as-yet-unknown expenses to be incurred by MS4 compliance was one of the issues taken up in the budget discussion Monday night.  Township Attorney David Meyers said that the board would need to include sufficient funds in the new budget to meet these as yet undisclosed expenses.

 

The preliminary budget examined Monday does not yet include the final tax payments from Sherburne County for the year, Schlingmann said, and has other gaps in the narrative at this time.  

 

 

Reelected supervisors Kathleen Sims-Kosloski and Michael Pesch were sworn-in to new four-year terms at the Monday meeting.  Both had run unopposed in the November election.