On the agenda for the Feb. 22 Haven Township Board Meeting was reports from Representative Jim Knoblach and Sherburne County Sheriff Jeff Brott along with the Sauk Rapids Fire Department contract.

 

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott presented their 2015 Annual Report for Haven Township, stating the downward trend in criminal activity has continued again this year.

 

Total Sherburne County law enforcement contacts in Haven Township were 772 for the year, down from the previous two years. Looking at individual numbers, Brott related serious criminal activity in the township is the same or lower for all types with the exception of criminal damage to property, which is up slightly.

 

He informed the board drivers using cell phones is becoming a serious problem, and added that in a survey done by the public health department it was found it’s not just teenagers committing this offense, there’s an approximate 50/50 split with adults.

 

Report from Rep. Jim Knoblach

State Representative Jim Knoblach updated the board on the upcoming legislative session, informing them there are three big bills that will be discussed; bonding, transportation and taxes. 

 

There are a number of different projects requesting bond money around the St. Cloud area, including the St. Cloud prison. The facility where prisoners are held to be evaluated is outdated and mortar in the enclosure wall is crumbling and needs to be redone.

 

Roads and bridges have had a lot of publicity, and Knoblach said Minnesota needs to put a great deal more money into transportation. He mentioned it has been discussed moving motor related taxes that are now going into the general fund to transportation as one way to help facilitate this.

 

The legislature didn’t pass a tax bill last year so it will be a top priority this year. Minnesota currently has $2 billion surplus, and he stated he expected we’re going to have a pretty significant surplus again this year, which should equate to tax relief of some kind.

 

Township Attorney David Meyers asked how the state was planning on funding the increase of senior citizens, which Knoblach said has been an issue for years.

 

“We need to be smarter about how we spend the money reserved for seniors,” he said. “For example, helping people stay in their own homes longer versus going into nursing homes.”

 

Knoblach explained a bill he’s introduced that would eliminate people running for office as democrats or republicans, returning us to ‘the good old days’ of 1909 to the mid 1970’s. 

 

“I think we had better government back then. There would be less negativity in elections and better people would run for office,” he said. “Partisanship just gets in the way.”

 

The Sauk Rapids Fire Department reassessed their costs and determined an increase was necessary, the first in five years. Haven Township’s increase equates to a total of $48,000 for 2016, and just under $53,000 for 2017. 

 

“They do a good job and have a lot of expenses; training, equipment upkeep, cost of living and number of responses,” said Supervisor Randy Linn. “The increase is appropriate for everything we receive from them.”

 

The board discussed dry hydrants, which are pipes in rivers and lakes that the fire department can pump water from versus having to haul it in during a fire, and agreed that it was an option they need to pursue.

 

A two-year contract was approved with the Sauk Rapids Fire Department.

 

Haven Township resident Lois Campbell approached the board with concerns regarding people being ticketed along the minimum maintenance Long Lake access road. 

 

“A lot of people are getting punished for wanted to do activities on the lake,” Campbell said. “First the township wants a lake access, now they don’t want people to park to get to the lake access.”

 

Supervisor Jeff Schlingmann explained if people park on any township road they will get a ticket, not just on the access road. This spring a fence will be put up along the township’s right-of-way, so people can walk in but access for vehicular traffic will be closed.

 

Campbell asked if the board would work with the nearby property owners as to where the fence goes in, to which Supervisor Mark Knowles answered, “Probably not.”

 

“We have a responsibility as a public entity to protect waterways,” he said. “We have an issue with erosion control and MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). This should have been resolved 12 years ago and the best we can do now is close that easement to the lake and close that issue.”

 

Earlier in the evening board members held a budget and audit meeting in which they drafted a proposed budget and levee for 2017 which will be brought to the March meeting for approval.

 

Meyers informed the board the courts are asking them to change their fine for parking tickets from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor, which would mean offenders wouldn’t have to appear in court and fines would be reduced. 

 

After a brief discussion the board determined this wasn’t an unreasonable request and approved the change.

 

Schlingmann reported there is a proposed cell tower for the area and indication a couple solar farms are looking at moving into Haven Township.

 

Haven Township’s annual township meeting will be held on March 8 at 7 p.m.