A discussion of a proposal by the Briggs Lake Chain Association for a water run-off containment project on a property in the township, an update on the proposed Lake Improvement District (LID) and a report on the current status of the cartway case in the Plat of Lake Julia Park were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Palmer Town Board Monday night.

 

Gary Anderson appeared before the board to provide more details on the proposed water run-off mitigation project for a property on Lake Julia that would be funded by a grant from the MnDNR.  Anderson informed the board a landscaping engineer had been retained to create a design for the project, which would include a blacktop apron and a “turret” structure to help retain water run-off into the adjoining lake.

 

Supervisor Richard Larson an engineer was not needed, since the township already had a successful design for a similar project in place in another area, and could do the same in the lake Julia location.  Location of the project was another issue, with Supervisor Steve Demeules stating the “best option” was for any such installation to be done outside of the township right-of-way (ROW), which extends 20 feet from the road centerline on both sides.

 

Attorney David Meyers inquired as to the property owners being willing to donate any land to the township, since the township cannot perform any work on private property.  Larson then raised the question of maintenance of the new system, and which party would bear responsibility if the system failed and led to problems such as a washout on the township road.

 

Meyers advised and the board agreed that a copy of the plans would need to be made available for review, and the proper applications would have to be filed before any action could be taken on the project.

 

Anderson told the board the grant would be available through 2016, and that the group was willing to work with the township on funding a solution.  Anderson also said other projects in the area could be undertaken if this one proves unsuitable.

 

Briggs Lake Chain Association President Dan Merchant told the board the Sherburne County Board had declined to take action in forming a Lake Improvement District at its April meeting, citing a lack of enthusiasm from residents of Big Elk Lake as a factor.  Merchant said survey results showed approval from more than 50 per cent of the residents of Rush, Briggs and Lake Julia, but only 25 per cent approval from Big Elk Lake residents.  A total of 51 per cent approval from all lake property owners would be needed before the county would act in forming the organization, and it is unlikely to do so without additional support from residents.

 

Meyers informed the board that the appeal of the township’s decision to grant a cartway on the former Westby property is still making its way through the courts.  The property has since been sold, and the board approved a request from the new owners to remove several marked dead oak trees on the township right-of-way. The board also approved a plan to contact the owner of a fish house that had been moved onto township property in that same area, seeking removal of the structure before the township did so at the owner’s expense.

 

The board discussed a request from residents for lower speed limits on several township roads.  Following the discussion, Chairman Mike Ganz said the issue would have to be turned over to the county for consideration before the town board took any action.

 

Clean-Up Day in Palmer will take place on Sat., May 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palmer Town Hall, and prices will be the same as the previous year for chargeable articles, according to Treasurer Roger Johnson.

 

The sheriff’s report indicated that there had been 60 calls for service in Palmer Township in March, down from 90 calls for the same period one year ago.  There were 36 traffic stops last month, the report said, with eight citations issued including one DUI.

 

The fire dept. report showed 10 calls in Palmer Township, nine medical and one fire.

 

The report also included a notice of the annual Region 12 K-9 Trials competition, which will take place in Elk River in late June.  The event will feature nearly 100 police dogs from departments around the area, competing in a variety of categories.