Elk River Estates road improvements and projects on the summer road maintenance schedule were on the agenda at the May Haven Township meeting.

 

Supervisor Mark Knowles reported the township had received two estimates for Elk River Estates Road Improvements. Knife River bid just under $200,000 for doing an overlay only, and Harddrives bid just under $500,000 for reclaiming the road and putting down two new layers of asphalt. 

 

“With the conditions of the roads and the heavy traffic volumes my recommendation is to redo the road,” said Knowles. “We’ll have a better base and just under three inches of asphalt.”

 

Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann said they would need to go to bid, and asked for a motion to allow the township to contact their engineer to put together preliminary costs for the project. Knowles asked if it would be prudent to first hold a neighborhood meeting and explain what the township’s plans were. 

 

“We can do that, but this set of roads have been determined to need major repair,” said Schlingmann. “The more information we have before we have a neighborhood meeting the better prepared we’ll be to answer questions.”

 

Supervisor Mike Pesch expressed concern with spending the money on an engineer and then running into resistance from residents, as happened in Sherwood West.

 

Supervisor Kathi Kosloski stated if the township spent $200,000 on an intermediate fix they would just be back where they started in a few years.

 

“One way or another these roads need to be fixed,” said Schlingmann. “These are the township’s roads, and we have a responsibility to everyone in the township to maintain safe roads.”

 

A motion was made and carried for the township to proceed with preliminary engineering and surveying. Supervisor Kosloski abstained from the vote. The project will be set for 2017.

 

Summer Road Maintenance

Jeff Rhodes from Driveway Services LLC submitted a bid to fix the Prairie Woods sink hold on 15th ave. SE. 

 

A motion was made and carried to accept the bid as submitted, with the contingency that if a change order is needed they can still proceed.

 

Fifty-Fourth Street by the bridge needs to be closed as soon as possible. In July 2009 a resolution was passed to close both, however it was never carried out. It will be barricaded 1,000 feet on the west side and 100 feet on the east side.

 

The township’s landing at 45th needs to be closed as soon as possible. The township will work with the landowner next to the landing to ensure their barricades don’t infringe on his property.

 

Supervisor Schlingmann informed the board they had received a request from thecounty for comments on amending the county zoning ordinance in regards to solar farms.

Currently the zoning ordinance states IUPs (interim use permits) can be terminated if the zoning changes, they want to change it to state solar farm IUPs cannot be terminated if this occurs.

 

The board was in agreement it would be fine to amend the ordinance, but the change should include all classes of use, not strictly solar farms.

 

Glenn Brambrink approached the board, requesting approval to build an additional 624 x 60 foot poultry barn for business expansion. The board approved his request and will provide him a copy of the minutes for him to provide the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as per their requirements.

 

Supervisor Kosloski gave an update on clean-up day; 197 Haven Township households attended, 5.4 tons of garbage was collected, and 21 bikes were donated for St. Cloud State University’s Yellow Bike Project.

 

A motion was made to include the MS4 (municipal storm water) annual report public hearing at the next township meeting in June.

 

Clerk Mike Zniewski will be placing a notice in the Citizen-Tribune asking for snow removal bids for the 2016/2107 season.

 

A motion was made to sign the new election machine agreement with Sherburne County.

 

The sheriff reported 56 calls for service for the month of April, including one driving after revocation, one vehicle fire, one accident, one medical and one shooting complaint.

 

Bob Halvorson from Valley View Addition asked if they would be able to get more neighborhood watch signs installed due to burglaries that have occurred over the past few years. The sheriff responded he would look into it for them.

 

The next Haven Township meeting will be June 20 at 7 p.m.