During their meeting Monday night, Palmer Twp. Supervisor Mike Ganz informed attendees the 113th Ave. issue had been resolved and explained what had been decided.

 

On Nov. 4 Dennis Lietha, who owns land along the minimum maintenance road, disked over it with a tractor. A report was made to the county concerning the incident and it was investigated as destruction of public property. Lietha stated afterward that he felt he was improving the road with the disk, but hadn’t discussed his plans with the township first.

 

Ganz said the board had met with attorneys to discuss the matter, and license agreements had been worked up for the three property owners that have land along the road. Lietha agreed to split the cost of repairing the road with the township.

 

“I think it’s the best resolution we came up with,” said Ganz.

 

A motion carried to accept all three agreements.

 

 

Ganz reported he had heard numerous positive comments from residents about how the township’s roads have been plowed.

 

However, he told the board residents had expressed concerns regarding county road maintenance, and he had contacted Sherburne Co. Public Works Director Andrew Witter for clarification.

 

Witter responded with an explanation of the county’s policy on plowing, which takes into consideration duration, intensity and form of precipitation. Ganz read Witter’s correspondence word-for-word so the board and meeting attendees could hear the details.

 

 

Briggs Lake Chain Association (BLCA) Chairperson Walt Munsterman approached the board to report on the BLCA’s water testing program.

 

Volunteers go out every two weeks throughout the summer to collect water samples from each of the lakes in the chain; Briggs, Julia, Rush and Big Elk.

 

He explained their conservation work has been having an impact; total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a for the chain continues to go down and the secchi depth is improving.

 

Lake Julia is the chain’s cleanest lake; Rush Lake contains milfoil, which they’re working to keep from spreading.

 

Munsterman thanked the board for all the work they have been doing to help the conservation efforts.

 

 

The board held a discussion on mailbox policy within the township; two have been knocked down during snow removal in the past two years. 

 

Currently the township doesn’t have a policy in place, and Ganz asked the board if they felt one should be enacted that states if a mailbox gets knocked down the township will replace it with a swing-away model.

 

Many mailboxes within the township are located incorrectly, some are elaborate and some are lower than they should be, all of which makes it difficult for plowing the roads and mowing the ditches.

 

The discussion will be continued at the March meeting; Supervisor Steve Demeules will research updated costs on the swing-away models.

 

 

Sherburne Co. Sheriff Joel Brott approached the board with the annual sheriff’s report. He informed them there were 1,056 law enforcement contacts within Palmer Twp. for 2018, which is a slight decrease from 2017.

 

In terms of serious criminal activity, there was one narcotics, five DUIs, five burglaries, 15 thefts, 13 criminal damage to property, and no assaults, criminal sexual conduct or homicides. 

 

Brott also informed the council of events happening within the sheriff’s office, which include expansion and renovation of the building and active shooter response training. The sheriff’s office is also working with 22 area law enforcement units to create a criminal intelligence center.

 

The county website, including the sheriff’s office page, has been updated and residents can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

A motion carried to sign off on the capital improvement plan bond, by paying it off in April instead of waiting until 2020 the township will save $2,400.

 

Fire Chief Ron Koren reported eight calls since Jan. 30, of which three were in Palmer Twp.; two medical and one fire. He informed the board that to date there have been 26 calls in 2019.

 

The next Palmer Twp. meeting will be March 11 at 7 p.m. The township’s annual meeting is set for March 12 at 8 p.m.