The Becker Township Board met Monday and discussed roads, a cellular right-of-way ordinance, a general maintenance contract and other issues during their 1.5 hour meeting.

 

Board members discussed at length the issue about whether to post 25 or 35MPH signs in residential developments.

 

The issue arose when it was decided the township would try and stay consistent with the signage and make all roads under a half mile in developments 35MPH. A resident of Hidden Haven said they’d like to keep their horseshoe road at the posted 25, rather than have it switched to the 35.

 

“We want to apply something consistently and as road authority, we can,” said Chairman Brian Kolbinger.

 

Attorney Kelli Bourgeois said in order for a development to have the 25MPH signs, the development needs to be a “cluster” development.

 

“Cluster means they share a common septic system and their lot sizes are smaller,” she said.

 

The board members also said they’d like to limit the amount of signs posted.

 

Engineer Wes Davis of Bogart Pederson said he looked into the situation and suggested the township just “sign” the in-and-outs of the developments with the speed limit signs. The board also decided to leave Hidden Haven at 25MPH, but move to posting all other developments to 35MPH.

 

Davis asked the board to help him come to a clarification on how “dead ends” are to be classified.

 

Davis said they can either be referred to as “dead ends” or “no outlets”, but not both.

 

Currently, the township has a few signs that read “dead end” and the board decided to keep the words, “no outlet” as the preferred signage.

 

Davis suggested to the board he put together a spreadsheet that grades and identifies each and every road in the township so the board can build a five-year CIP to get projects done.

 

Davis showed a sample CIP layout from Livonia that he would pattern his in-depth report after.

 

“We could classify the roads depending on the type of work to be done, then decide which projects needs to get done and when, depending on budgets,” he said.

 

The board asked Davis to go ahead and put together a report they can use prior or after their next road tour mission.

 

“I think I already have a good start on it,” said Davis.

 

Davis asked the board to approve two partial payments — one to the engineer on the 137th St. project in the amount of $12,553 and another to Kraemer in the amount of $263,000+ for the 185th St. project.

 

Small Cell ROW Ordinance

Jacob Sanders, Becker City planner, asked the board to consider approving changes to the township’s ordinance in relation to small cellular companies placing enclosed structures in township right-of-ways.

 

With changing technology, Sanders said, cities and towns are currently in the process of updating their ordinances to regulate placement of small cell technology within ROW’s. In other words, cellular companies are looking to attach their suitcase-size devices to telephone poles and other structures in the ROW’s rather than on high towers or water towers.

 

Sanders says some infrastructure companies have tried to cite federal communications regulations to guarantee approval of their applications, but in Minnesota, the Dept. of Labor has stepped in and cautioned jurisdictions that they don’t need to approve these applications and have advised quick implementation of ordinance related to these technologies.

 

Sanders said the League of Minnesota Cities has provided a model ordinance to be used as a starting point for adoption of new or amendment of current ordinances.

 

Therefore, Sanders says, it is in the interest of the township to amend its ROW ordinance to oversee placement, require permitting, etc. The ordinance changes also include a fee schedule suggestion.

 

Brad Hiltz, who lives on 117th Street, asked the board to look into the “mess” he sees on the minimum maintenance road he lives on and to do proper grading.

 

Hiltz said there is water and mud that is trapped on the road and is creating a huge mess.

 

The board suggested Streets Supervisor Joe Danielson go out and evaluate the situation and report back to the township.

 

• The general maintenance contract for mowing, trimming, grading, etc. was reviewed and checked for changes and the board suggested they move the five-year contract down to a two-year contract;

 

• Kolbinger said he would look into the reasons why the Hwy. 25 Corridor coalition has cancelled their last two meetings and progress has stalled;

 

• Deputy Dan Franks said his department received 173 calls for service for the month of October with nine being vehicle accidents (car/deer) and one being a burglary;

 

• Clerk Lucinda Messman handed out the 2018 calendar for the planning commission, the joint planning board and the township — along with an overview of the planning and zoning process.

 

The next Becker Twp. Board meeting is Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.