Knife River Environmental Manager Ron Klinker attended Monday night’s Haven Township meeting to discuss the company’s 17-acre Stark Pit expansion.

 

Although Knife River has been operating under a CUP, Sherburne Cty. no longer issues conditional use permits for mining operations, so the company is requesting an IUP (interim use permit) in its place. The old CUP can’t be amended.

 

Klinker informed the board the company isn’t asking for any changes, as current operations in the pit will be carried over to the new 17 acres.

 

He also discussed the rerouting of a drainage ditch which the company has been working with the county wetland authority and core of engineers on. No wetlands will be harmed; the ditch will be rerouted into a series of wetlands and back into the Elk River.

 

Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann asked how many years of material the company has left. Klinker estimated 10 to 15, although he said it depends on market conditions.

 

Although the township isn’t ultimately responsible for granting the IUP, Schlingmann opened the issue up for public comments; none were brought forward.

 

As no concerns were indicated and current conditions of the CUP will be incorporated into the new IUP, a motion carried to send a positive comment to the county.

 

Nick Anderson from Bogart, Pederson & Associates informed the board the Elk River Estates road improvement project is substantially complete. The contractor just needs to jet out the culverts after the grass has been established in the ditch bottoms.

 

Supervisor Kathi Koslowski asked who would be removing the tubing. Anderson indicated the company would look into removal in six weeks as they also need to wait until after the grass has been established.

 

Koslowski played a video she’d created of the completed project.

 

Schlingmann requested Jeff Rhodes work with Supervisor Mark Knowles to schedule a fall road tour.

 

Schlingmann informed the board he’d issued a driveway permit for a new house on 45th.

 

Koslowski told the board they’ve had two requests from Connexus Energy in regard to bringing power to the new 32nd and 52nd Street railroad crossing signal lights and gate.

 

The Sherburne Cty. resolution request was carried forward to the September meeting.

 

Schlingmann informed the board Geronimo Energies has taken over the 15-acre five-megawatt solar array that will be on the property behind the old Apperts building. They will be needing to request a soil erosion permit from the township.

 

The sheriff reported 101 calls for service for the month of July, including 34 traffic violations, three thefts, one property damage, one personal injury and one prowler. 

 

The next Haven Township meeting will be Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.