The Becker Township Board met two Mondays ago and tackled an agenda heavy with planning and zoning items.
Sherburne County Solid Waste Administrator Dave Lucas and Economic Development Coordinator Jessica Barthel appeared before the board to explain some planning and zoning activities from the past year.
Lucas explained a pair of feasibility studies - for household hazardous waste and source separated organics - that are being concluded in the short term.
He also discussed the low interest loan program for septic system compliance, as the county has experienced a record number of loan and grant applications for replacing failing systems.
He reported on six solid waste violations for 2023 within Becker Township, and explained that voluntary compliance is always their goal, but sometimes the County Attorney’s Office has to be involved.
Barthel gave an EDA overview, which included a strategic plan update that was adopted in July. Priorities for that document include business retention and expansion, workforce, housing, policy review and updates, broadband and childcare.
Barthel reported that builders and developers are pushing for the chance to develop 1 acre lots, a notion that drew a question of clarification from Board Chair Brian Kolbinger. Barthel noted that the zoning ordinance had yet to be written, but that the smaller lot sizes could be considered during that process.
Annexation
City of Becker Community Development Director Jacob Sanders appeared before the board with a request from Xcel Energy to annex 295 acres of township land into city limits. While there are currently no immediate plans for development, Xcel wants to use the land for future business recruitment.
The proposal included six parcels of land on the western side of the city near Hwy. 10. The proposal netted several questions from the supervisors, with Brad Wilkening asking about utility connection status.
Sanders responded that while the sites are not currently served by utilities, they are planned for one of the last phases of the bonding bill money the city received from the State of MN.
Robin Boros wanted to know if the township could keep the tax base dollars until the parcels were developed, and Sanders explained that the orderly annexation agreement dictates those terms.
Finally, Luke Babler shared his frustration with number of acres in that area that are already within the city and now the township is losing more tax base, but with no immediate construction plans.
He said he was also personally frustrated that Xcel continues to “sit” on thousands of acres of land, but won’t put solar on their own property. He argued that he didn’t have a choice in the matter per the annexation agreements, but wanted his frustration noted on those matters, as well as the lack of current development within the business park despite giving up this additional acreage.
Engineer
William Tessmer, the new township engineer, presented several invoices for payment, including 97th St., the Garden Grove project and the graveling and shaping on 137th St. All were approved unanimously.
Tessmer also reported on the completed 2023 road certification, which shows nearly 70 miles of roadway that the township is responsible for maintaining. Using pre-established condition standards, Tessmer said 7.6 miles of roads are rated poor, 10 are in fair condition, 72 reflected good condition and 10 were ranked as excellent.
Tessmer also explained that 97th St. final construction has been delayed until next spring, when the wear course of asphalt will be applied. The delay does not affect the grant funding for the project.
In Other Business, the Board:
• Heard from Captain Ryan Broich of the SCSO, who detailed October’s 152 calls for service, down slightly from 178 during the same period a year ago. He detailed several accidents, as well as three school bus stop arm violations;
• Approved a recommendation from Planner Ben Wikstrom regarding some additional safety requirements for the installation of swimming pools;
• Listened to Babler report on several donations to the Fire Department, including from the Chamber of Commerce, Williams Dingmann Funeral Home, Cody, Randall and Rosemary Peterson, RTL Equipment and the Becker Lions;
• Heard that the roof on the Becker Legion building has been completed;
• Approved a tentative plan to allow the historic gazebo at the Town Hall to be rented for special occasions, such as weddings (there was a recent request). Township and city residents would not be charged a fee for the rental, but will put down a $300 deposit. The plan is subject to City of Becker zoning ordinances, as Sanders noted he would need to research the legality of the plan;
• Approved a plan for the 2024 implementation of the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST), the paid time off plan required by the State of MN. The plan requires that anyone working over 80 hours in one calendar year must be credited with one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked.
