A lengthy debate over the best way to prevent a recurrence of the frozen pipes issue at the Palmer Town Hall and Fire Station was an item at the regular meeting of the Palmer Township Board Monday night.  The board also heard a report from members of the Healthy Lakes Committee in regard to a proposed stormwater containment project, set the date for the annual road tour, and named delegates to the county planning advisory board.

 

A variety of solutions were brought forward in regard to the potential freezing of water pipes to the town hall and fire hall, including a plan from Supervisor Richard Larson to build a small structure adjoining the existing fire hall that would allow access to a back-up water system in the event that the existing system should freeze this winter.

 

While the township did have water available for the fire hall operations throughout last year, there was a time when water to the town hall was not available, causing rest rooms and the kitchen to be unavailable.

 

Treasurer Roger Johnson suggested a new line could be direct-bored into the fire station, though Chairman Mike Ganz was not in favor of drilling through the existing floor heating system now in place in the station.  Ganz also did not favor the building of another structure to house the emergency line.

 

The board took no immediate action on the issue, but will continue to study the matter.

 

Briggs Lake Chain Association President Dan Merchant introduced Healthy Lakes Committee members Barb Tucker and Gary Anderson, who presented a report to the board concerning a proposed project by their committee to help reduce rainwater runoff in several areas in the township next year.

 

Tucker told the board the committee is working to “get its ducks in a row” in regard to the engineering and communication aspects of the project, which would involve installation of drains in the Cedar Point area and work on a drainage issue in the area east of Lake Julia.  Anderson said the project is in the very early stages, and  no landscaping is being contemplated until at least next summer.

 

Working from data produced by the recent aerial survey, Tucker said the committee had not been as effective as necessary in communicating their ideas to area residents, ands pledged to increase the flow of information to area residents.

 

No action on the proposal was asked for at the Monday meeting, and the board will continue to monitor the project going forward.  The committee members will return at the November meeting with more input.

 

The annual township road tour will take place on Tue., Oct. 21 at 1 p.m., leaving from the town hall.

 

The board unanimously appointed Supervisor Steve Demeules as the Palmer representative to the Sherburne County Planning Advisory Board, with Ganz serving as the alternate.

 

The sheriff’s report stated that the county-wide “saturation” traffic enforcement program has now concluded, which included a total of 3,036 stops recorded resulting in 105 arrests, 75 driving under the influence citations, 292 seatbelt violations, 258 speeding citations, 95 driving while revoked or suspended, 12 equipment violations and 280 “other” citations.

 

The report for September showed 76 calls for service in Palmer, with 36 traffic stops resulting in seven citations, plus one theft, one boating warning and one bear call.

 

There were six calls listed in the fire dept. report, five medical and one vehicle accident.

 

The board also discussed a proposal from a resident to have one garbage hauler for the entire township to reduce traffic and wear and tear on roadways.  Ganz suggested that the matter be brought up at the annual meeting, to “see what people think” about the issue.

 

Johnson reported a $700 donation to Palmer Park from the 2014 Palmer Day Committee.