An issue for a homeowner and a neighbor’s two dogs took up most of the discussion at Monday’s Palmer Twp. Board meeting.

 

Charlene and James Langowski, who live in the 5000 block of 114th Ave., stood before the town board and Sherburne County Capt. Bob Stangler, and asked what could be done to stop two unleashed dogs from aggressively attacking them, their friends and their children’s children.

 

Charlene told the board she has called the sheriff’s department five times to complain and was in possession of three official complaint forms she has filed with the county. She told Stangler a deputy was again out at their place and issued a ticket, but nothing else has developed since that grievance.

 

Stangler said the issue comes down to a “he said, she said” situation and until the dog (s) are classified as dangerous — which could take weeks or months — there’s not much else the sheriff’s department can do unless someone gets injured.

 

“So we have to hope one of us gets bit by the dogs before something gets done? Charlene asked. “That’s crazy.”

 

The Langowskis live next door to a homeowner who rents out the basement of their home to their own two children. The adult children own two uncharacterized dogs that Charlene says “are locked up in that basement for hours upon hours and it’s no wonder they come out of there in a frenzy.”

 

The Langowskis said they got nine other area neighbors to sign a petition to deal with the dog situation and she identified at least nine children  under the age of nine years old who play in the area.

 

The dog owners, Charlene said, tried to install an invisible fence to keep the dogs in, but she says the dogs just jump over the area and chase down anyone nearby.

 

“Three times a day those dogs end up in our yard,” she said.

 

Charlene and James also asked the town board if they would enforce their ordinance restricting “running at large” dogs, dog nuisances and other violations. Chairman Mike Ganz told the Langowskis the way they enforce the ordinance is they contact the sheriff’s department to deal with it.

 

Stangler told the Langowskis he would talk to the deputy who responded to the complaint, gather some more information and get back to the couple.

 

Charlene Langowski, who happens to be the VP of the Briggs Lake Chain Association, gave a report on the goings-on of the association.

 

Charlene told the board the association held a “Milfoil Pulling” event in June and the results showed the species is “out of control”. She told the members the association plans to hold another event conducting the same procedure this month and a survey will be issued henceforth to see where the project should proceed according to the landowners.

 

Charlene told the board the association’s annual meeting is coming up in August and they are looking for a new president, VP and other volunteers.

 

Due to a recent renter’s disregard for the park, the board Monday voted to institute a deposit procedure for renters to avoid the kind of incident the township dealt with a short time ago.

 

Mitch Hoefer, maintenance man for the township, had recently toiled to clean up the park after the renters spilled wine and coffee and toilet paper was strewn about at the pavillion. The township has a $75 deposit requirement to rent the hall, and members of the board suggested they inaugurate the same deposit system for renting of the pavillion.

 

The deposit will be established for the 2018 season.

 

Stangler said 85 calls for service came in for Palmer in the month of June. Of those 85 calls, 43 were for traffic, one for a vehicle theft at Rush Landing, two frauds, two thefts, one property damage, one boat complaint and one parking complaint.

 

Stangler reminded those in attendance that summer is the season of motorcycles and everyone should be more aware of those types of vehicles on the road. He also mentioned people should be cognizant to always keep their doors on their vehicles locked to thwart easy crimes.

 

Asst. Chief Barry Schuldt said 16 calls for medical came into the FD in June, with five being associated with Palmer. He also reported one auto accident in the township.

 

The board indicated American Door Co. was brought in to check the doors on the fire station and found all sensors on the doors needed to be replaced. Also, cables on two doors were fixed and all doors are determined to be in good operating order.

 

Clint Schiendzelos said he graded some roads Monday and swept Busse’s road. He also indicated all the signs in the township are up-to-date and looking good.

 

• A request for plat approval for Judy Wipper that was on the agenda was moved to next month’s agenda due to information coming in at a late date;

 

• The board spent quite a lot of time talking about a generator and its red light indicator and who checks the system how often and on what dates. They said they would talk to Hoefer about the situation.

 

The next Palmer Twp. Board meeting is Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.