During the Haven Twp. meeting last Monday, Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann informed the board he had received an email from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) stating the township will need to pay $400 to be reissued their MS4 (municipal storm water) permit.

 

“We didn’t want this designation to begin with,” said Schlingmann. “We’ve been on this board for 12 years and spent tens of thousands of dollars, and I’ve issued one MS4.”

 

He told the board another township had been designated MS4 this year and told the MPCA they weren’t going to do it.

 

“So, the question is, do we want to do it?” said Schlingmann. “We don’t meet the population requirements; the only reason we’re an MS4 is because we’re adjacent to St. Cloud.”

 

“There’s a financial burden on the township,” said Supervisor Mike Pesch. “It’s not cost effective. This needs to be addressed by a higher level of government.”

 

“It’s a bureaucratic request with no benefit to the people of this township,” said Township Attorney David Meyers. “We’re not anti-clean water, but this is well beyond our capacity to administer.”

 

The board agreed to set up a special meeting with the MPCA to discuss the issue.

 

The board discussed a request by Cemstone Products Company for the township to act as the primary applicant and local government unit for their MnDOT intersection improvement application.

 

Cemstone recently purchased land containing a gravel pit they plan to open back up and operate. In order to do so, improvements need to be made to their Hwy. 10. access, with acceleration and deceleration lanes added for truck traffic.

 

Cemstone will be responsible for all costs, and if approved, will need to come back to the township to request an interim use permit (IUP) for a mining operation.

 

A motion carried for Schlingmann to sign the agreement.

 

Supervisor Mark Knowles informed the board he didn’t feel the township had the money to finish 32nd St. and that it wasn’t currently a priority. 

 

Supervisor Randy Linn presented the board with a proposed budget for 2018, explaining last year’s numbers compared to the new proposal.

 

Jeff Prom approached the board as a representative for his parents to request splitting seven acres from their land parcel. A motion carried to send a positive comment form back to the county with conditions outlined by the township attorney. 

 

The board approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the Interim Use Permit (IUP) for Wester Marine to build a seasonal marine storage.

 

Supervisor Kathi Kosloski informed the board the St. Cloud Municipal Airport was preparing for extra airplanes due to the upcoming Superbowl; they don’t feel the township’s roads will be affected.

 

Clerk Mike Znieski presented the board with a banking proposal from Wells Fargo. He was asked to request proposals from two more institutions so the board can make a more well-informed decision.

 

The board approved the Tri-County Humane Society 2018 contract, agreeing to $10 per dog and no cats.

 

There was no sheriff’s report available at the time of the meeting.