During their January meeting, the Clearwater Twp. Board held a lengthy conversation on which road projects the township should request funding for when they apply for LRIP funding.
Bill Langenbacher, who retired from the township board in December, brought the issue before the new board, as he applied for the grant last year and is willing to do so again this year. The funding can be used for any road improvement project within the township however, the project has to have a lifespan of at least 10 years. The grant only covers road construction, the township would need to pay any engineering costs.
The township has already applied for separate DNR grants however, they won’t hear the results until April; the deadline for the LRIP grant is March 3.
Board members discussed a number of road project options, including Huber, 148th and 150th. The board had already been planning to work on Huber, from 104th to the Nixon Lake access, as residents have been asking for it to be tarred or chip sealed. The cut across route from Hwy. 24 to Hasty was also brought up.
Resident Blayne Leuthard, who was in attendance, was asked for his input as he works with road engineering on a daily basis. His advice was to apply for the maximum amount and include all the roads, as even if the amount received wasn’t enough to cover everything, the township could at least get the expensive dirt work done and then finish the projects with the money in their budget or through future grants.
A motion carried authorizing the board to meet Jan. 18, if necessary, to discuss the final decisions due to the upcoming grant deadline.
The money received last year was used to pave the section of 150th to Hasty.
I-94 Project
Tom Dobberthein from Hoffman Construction approached the board via Zoom to request township approval to place excess materials from the I-94 construction project onto four properties within the township. The materials would be clean fill only, and the company has signed agreements with the landowners, all of which are along the interstate. Properties would be accessed from I-94.
A motion carried to recommend approval of the company’s plans as presented.
Jackie Moll informed the board she was interested in volunteering to assist with the township’s Facebook page so that the information the township puts out is easily accessible to everyone in the township. Currently the information is only posted to the township’s website.
Moll has experience in social media; she explained she was part of a team who helped another organization get theirs up and running.
After a long discussion on whether the township is in need of social media and the time it could take to maintain, the board agreed they should look into it. Moll will reach out to the Minnesota Assoc. of Twps. for advice and report back at the February meeting.
Other Business
Supervisor Rose Thelen will contact the Forsythe Ave. resident regarding a section of the road that isn’t being plowed. The resident believes the township should be plowing it however, it’s not considered an actual road and the township has never maintained it.
A letter will be sent to the Irvine Ave. resident who has been plowing snow across the road and into the cul-de-sac advising him of MN state law regarding the issues.
A letter will be sent to the resident along Fish Lake with items in the ROW advising him of the township’s ordinance regarding the issue.
The board agreed to accept the Midco franchise agreement, which would bring another internet option to township residents. A public hearing will be scheduled.
A motion carried approving the final numbers from the budget meeting held Dec. 28.
The next Clearwater Twp. meeting will be Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
