Residents from Sherwood West approached the Haven Township board at their meeting Monday night looking for options and clarification on their stalled 64th Street and 36th Ave. road project.

 

Originally scheduled for 2014, the township spent $36,000 on engineering before the project was halted when not all property owners would sign the necessary construction easements. 

 

“We have to address the fact that your road is breaking up too badly and potholes are forming at a rate where it’s not feasible to continue patching it,” said Supervisor Mark Knowles. “The options are to rebuild the road as suggested, which we were told was distasteful to the residents, or grind it up and grade it so we can maintain.”

 

He reiterated it had been stressed numerous times they needed 100% agreement from property owners before moving forward.

 

The residents inquired about other options including shifting the road, which Knowles said would triple the cost. He explained part of the problem with the road is drainage, which has to be addressed to DNR and other state agency specifications.

 

The board advised the group to talk to all affected property owners and get them to sign the construction easements if they wanted to get the project going again.

 

Elk River Estates

 

Jon Bogart from Bogart, Pederson & Associates presented the board with a revised cost estimate for the Elk River Estates Road improvements, and said he would like to get the project ready to go out to bid.

 

Knowles expressed concern the proposal was much higher than ones he had gotten in April, and asked Bogart why there was such a cost difference. Bogart’s revised estimate came in at over $800,000, which is almost twice the amount of the other proposals.

 

Bogart suggested he and Knowles have a detailed discussion of how the numbers break down. The township will hold off going to bid until then.

 

The board discussed creating an assessment policy for major road projects. 

 

“What is the tipping point where it doesn’t make sense for us to fund the entire thing?” Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann asked. “Do we keep on funding these road reconstructions ourselves, or do we share the cost with the people who will benefit the most?”

 

Supervisor Mike Pesch said they need clarification on how they would implement the policy and what other townships levy.

 

Knowles stated Haven was still the lowest taxed township in the county, and said he wanted to do some forecasting on where they’ve been and what they have to do before a decision was made.

 

John and Konie Brudwick requested the license agreement they have for their garage, which is in the township’s right of way, be transferred to the new property owners. 

 

Consent to transfer the license agreement passed, with the agreement of a 60-day notice if the township decides to revoke.

 

Shane Zablocki from Zablocki Roofing approached the board requesting a license agreement for the use of six feet of the township’s utility easement around his property for installation of a holding pond he needs for a new building he’s planning.

 

Pesch expressed concern the township was setting a precedence if they granted a license for the entire property; Zablocki’s project only affects the north and east side.

 

A motion was made to authorize the license agreement for the current project only; Zablocki was instructed to return to request amending the agreement if future projects warrant.

 

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott presented the board with the county’s 2016 annual report.

 

He told the board there were 874 total calls for service in the township, which for serious criminal activity included four assaults, six burglaries, 17 thefts, eight criminal damage to property, four DUIs, and no narcotic arrests.

 

Brott informed them the county had hired five new patrol deputies in the past year, and a new police dog, K-9 Riggs, had joined the force.

 

Schlingmann was re-elected chairman of the board and Knowles vice-chairman.

 

A motion was passed approving the same supervisor committees and projects as 2016.

 

Clean-Up Day was set for May 13 from 8 a.m. to noon.

 

Motions were passed designating 2017 official depositories, official publication paper and posting locations, rates of compensation, and regular meeting dates.

 

The next Haven Twp. meeting will be Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.