By Penny Leuthard, Staff Writer

 

The annual MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) report public hearing was held at the beginning of the Haven Twp. meeting Monday night. With no input from the public, the hearing was closed. A motion carried approving the report and forwarding it to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The township has been working with the MPCA to be removed from MS4.

 

 

The board discussed the issue of the extra driveways that exist throughout the township; 13 have been noted. The township only allows one driveway per platted lot.

 

“Sooner or later we’re going to have to do Prairie Woods Estates,” said Chairman Jeff Schlingmann. “We’re not planning on reestablishing illegal driveways at township expense.”

 

“If you have an ordinance and you don’t enforce it, it opens it up in the case of a liability situation,” he continued. “You’ll also have more being put in.”

 

“We need to address this rather than ignore it,” said Supervisor Mike Pesch. “Because when we do rebuild the road we’re going to have conflict with people who don’t want to lose their driveways and won’t sign the construction easements.”

 

The board will request Attorney David Meyers draft a letter to residents that are in non-compliance explaining they are in violation of the one driveway ordinance, and their second driveways must be removed.

 

In the case some residents are able to prove they had approval from a prior board for a second driveway, they will be grandfathered in. 

 

 

Cindy Larson from St. Cloud Solar LLC approached the board to explain the company’s proposed solar farm they plan to build on Co. Rd. 8 and 52nd St. 

The solar garden, which is planned for next spring, will be part of Xcel’s community solar gardens. The company is requesting an IUP for 35 years, as Larson explained there is an option to extend the 25-year lease for an additional 10 years.

 

Schlingmann asked that the deadfall that exists in the tree line be cleared out, and reminded Larson they would only have one driveway permit for Co. Rd. 8.; they won’t be allowed a second permit for 52nd. 

 

With no other concerns, a motion carried to send a positive comment to the county with those contingencies.

 

 

Jeff Rhodes informed the board they have been patching the roads that had been discussed on the spring road tour, and presented an estimate for crack sealing in the developments. A motion for approval carried.

 

Rhodes was asked to check out Haven Twp.’s portion of old Co. 19, as residents had called the board stating it had started to crumble.

 

Supervisor Mark Knowles informed the board he had spoken with a resident along 36th Street, who informed he there would be a 100% response from the neighborhood in regard to the temporary easement.

 

A time will be set up for the residents affected to come in and sign the construction agreements.

 

Rhodes told the board he would like to discuss how they rebuild roads sometime over the summer, stating they would be able to catch up if they began overlaying ones that don’t need engineering, saving the township thousands of dollars in the long run.

 

 

Pesch asked the board if there was an ordinance concerning private junk yards, as there’s one starting in the township. As there is, Schlingmann will address the issue with the property owner.

 

A motion passed approving $950 for updating the township hall’s sewer system so it won’t freeze up during the winter as it’s done in the past.

 

The sheriff reported 110 calls for service for May, including two burglaries, one of an ATV and one household, one theft of a tractor battery, one sexual assault that is being investigated, two fire and 25 traffic. A truck was also recovered that had been stolen from Benton Co.

 

The next Haven Twp. meeting will be July 16 at 7 p.m.