The Palmer Twp. Board met last Monday evening for the first time in 2021 and considered several important issues facing the township, with one being an immediate concern and another a potential issue for the future.
Parking
Recently, the supervisors and several residents have noticed numerous vehicles parking within township road right of ways. This constitutes a violation of township ordinance No. 110, which prohibits this activity from Nov. 15 to April 15 because of the safety hazards it can create during the winter months.
Supervisors rattled off a litany of recent instances where this has occurred, including parking near intersections and blind spots in roadways. In some instances, large trailers are part of the problem. In other cases, people are parking on both sides of the roadway, making it nearly impossible for one, yet alone two cars to safely navigate the congestion. When it is all added up, this illegal activity is causing dangerous conditions on several different roadways.
The supervisors noted that they usually see this type of parking around Christmas, and they try to be lenient because it is just a few days when people are hosting family events. However, because ice conditions have not been conducive to people parking on the lakes, these acts and their pitfalls have been magnified in the first months of the winter fishing season.
Chairman Mike Ganz explained that the township has a responsibility to keep the roadways clear, and because the issue is getting out of hand there may be no other alternative than asking the Sheriff’s Office to patrol the area and issue enforcement actions.
In related news, road supervisor Richard Larson detailed the extra efforts the township contractor had made to address slippery roads. Several complaints had been received, including from the post office. In order to protect the area lakes, the township uses straight sand whenever possible to keep the salt from finding its way to the waterways.
The board also reminded citizens that it is illegal to push or plow snow across a public roadway because it can cause snow furrow speed bumps, as well as frozen piles of snow in the right of way. This can cause a safety hazard for both motorists and snow plows in the future when the snow freezes and turns to ice. Residents who clear their driveway in this manner can be charged for the costs associated with clean up or roadway maintenance.
Parks
Palmer Park has been experiencing a great deal of usage as the winter kicks off, including the use of the skiing trails as snowfall permits. However, snowmobiles have been using the trails, which are non-motorized only; therefore, the supervisors decided to order additional signage to try and control the situation. They encouraged residents to follow the rules so people can enjoy the park and trails safely and for the purposes they were intended.
Supervisor Steve Demeules next discussed the potential for a 430-acre county park that could be located in the township, along the shores of Elk Lake. Sherburne County will begin seeking public input on the potential for the tract, as the late owner of the property wanted it to become a public park. The county has gone as far as hiring a consultant team to help develop a master plan for the area. Details are available on the county website.
The addition of a park of this size could have some advantages to the area, but the supervisors also discussed the impacts it could have on local properties and roadways. As concepts develop, the township plans to be proactive because this project could have a significant impact on the residents of Palmer. They agreed to continue to monitor the situation and keep up to date on the county’s next steps.
Clerk Kelly McCann presented some information she had collected regarding the replacement of the tennis courts in Palmer Park. The current asphalt area of 110 feet by 120 feet is deteriorating, which has resulted in unsafe playing conditions and therefore a plan needs to be made about what to do moving forward.
McCann contacted several area communities regarding their parks and some are replacing tennis courts with pickle ball courts because of the interest in that activity. Regardless of what the supervisors decide to do, the price tag would probably be in the neighborhood of $100,000 to put down a new surface. The board decided to keep exploring the project and costs, while soliciting public input into the best plan moving forward.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from Ganz that the 2021 fire department budget had been approved;
• Heard from Larson about tree removal that had been accomplished in the park;
• Discussed how to best communicate with residents in the township, as people appear to not be using the website. A Facebook page is being considered, as is a newsletter, but the costs for postage could have a significant impact on the budget;
• Listened to a report from Demeules on the efforts of the lake association, including Ice Day which is scheduled for Feb. 6 and the county’s efforts at monitoring the lake’s golden clam population which had been discovered last year;
• Discussed using an extra computer to offer a public internet service during the library’s open hours;
• Approved a list of recommendations to be sent to Sherburne County regarding a variance request from John Reber who would like to construct an additional garage and addition on 42nd street.
