The planning commission met prior to Monday night’s Haven Twp. meeting to review an interim use permit request from Nicholas Schultz regarding a contractor’s yard for his outdoor maintenance company, Schultz Companies. 

 

They recommended approval contingent upon listed conditions, which include all the wells and septic systems being brought into compliance and no more than 10 vehicles parked outside the buildings at one time.

 

John Kerwin approached the board to tell them about the history of his family’s Stickney Lake Land Trust, which came about due to original property owner Charles Stickney’s desire for his nearly 1,000 acres of land to be preserved for its natural and agricultural use. 

 

Kerwin told the board he had always admired Haven Twp. for the way they were protecting township land for agricultural uses. He said he wanted other residents of the township who may want to protect their own land to know that the people involved in the process were fairly easy to work with.

 

He explained after the conservation easement was put on the property its value was cut in half, and asked if the board would be agreeable to considering lowering the taxes on it. He was informed the board had limited guidelines on what it was able to do, and advised to attend the Board of Equalization meeting in April.

 

Knowles also advised him to contact Rep. Jim Knoblach to see if there was anything he could do to help.

 

A discussion was held concerning costs of the township’s annual audit. Audits are only needed if the township clerk and treasurer are the same person, which is the case for Haven Twp. 

 

The cost of the audit continues to rise; currently it’s nearly $6,000. Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann said they could advertise for the service again and see if they can get a lower price; Supervisor Mark Knowles replied the last time they did so the cost had come in much higher.

 

In place of the audit the township could hire a separate treasurer, however, part of the issue has been trying to find someone willing to take the job. Along with this, the combined clerk and treasurer position had been voted in by township residents.

 

A motion carried to retain the current auditor for the year. The issue will be discussed again at Haven Township’s annual meeting in March.

 

Knowles told the board he and Supervisor Randy Linn will need to look at numbers for Sherwood West as the board was considering work on it for next season.

 

He informed the board the cross arms were both in at the upgraded railroad crossing and asked if they wanted to install asphalt on the west side of the tracks. He said it wasn’t a MnDOT requirement, however from a snowplow and maintenance point of view it was a good idea.

 

Schlingmann asked Knowles to obtain a cost estimate to determine if the township had enough money for all the projects they were considering.

 

A motion carried naming Schlingmann and Mike Pesch to the same planning commission appointments they’re currently serving for the next three-year term. 

 

A motion carried extending Geronimo Energies’ time limit by two weeks to get their MS4 (municipal storm water) agreement signed. 

 

Supervisor Kathi Kosloski requested the board look for the presence of noxious weeds in township ditches during their road tour in the spring.

 

The sheriff reported October was a busy month, with 142 calls for service. These included three accidents, three medical, three damage to property, one mail theft and one vehicle theft, which was later recovered in Waite Park.

 

There were also 10 thefts from vehicles, all of which were unlocked at the time. A person of interest was identified in the neighborhood the thefts were taking place in and no thefts have occurred since that time. The public is reminded to always lock their cars, even when parked in driveways.

 

The next Haven Twp. meeting will be Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.