A discussion on the continuing problem of water management caused by beaver dams on 7th st. and a new policy for snow plowing were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Santiago Town Board Wednesday night.  The board also viewed a 1999 “grass rig” fire truck that the Becker Fire Dept. is planning to sell, since it has already purchased a new one.

 

The prospect of clearing about 300 feet of ditch line on 7th st. has taken on a new level of complexity, according to Chairman Stuart Nelson, since both the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has a voice in all matters involving surface waters in the country, will both have to approve a permit for the removal of beaver dams that are causing flooding on the roadway.

 

Nelson told the board he learned this information after meeting with representatives at several of the agencies.  He also said he had paid the $75 fee for the “permit they might give us”, and had also petitioned for a permit as a case of “immediate need”, which was denied.  Nelson said he was also told that the involvement of the Corps. of Engineers may mean approval of the permit “may take some time”. Supervisor Jeff Pappenfus agreed, and predicted that approval of the project would “take as long as it took to get this fire hall built”, referring to the lengthy build time to correct problems at the township hall several years ago.

 

Since the 7thst. project impacts land owned by Nelson, he is not able to vote on any measure that would involve improvements to the ditch there.  In the meantime, Pappenfus and Supervisor David Jehoich has met with supervisors from Glendorado Township, who had agreed to a plan whereby Santiago would clear 300 feet of ditch in their township, and would be paid accordingly by Glendorado.  Beavers have already been trapped in various locations, but the dams they construct remain  and will continue to cause problems.

 

For the project to go forward, the township must have a written ditch policy in place, and Nelson will have to sign an affidavit saying that he has “had no voice” in the deliberations or in voting on the project.  With state law as it stands now, “discretion has been taken away”, Nelson said, and the new rules appear to be “set in stone” in this situation.

 

After further discussion the board moved to table any further action until more research can be done to determine if the township can act without a permit in the cause of the “public good” or because of road safety and damage caused by flooding.  Two versions of a ditch policy were also discussed, and apparently will be combined in an effort to provide maximum protection to the township against unexpected expense in future projects. 

 

Jehoich told the board the township is trying to operate on several policies when it comes to knowing when to plow snow.  The snowfall that automatically triggers plowing action had been two inches, and then it was moved up to three inches and then back to two, Jehoich said.  Contractor John Herbst said that plowing gravel before the roads have frozen will result in the surface layer being scraped off and into the ditch along the roadway.

 

Following more discussion the board voted unanimously to set the policy at three inches of snow for plowing, though it now also contains the phrase “at the discretion of the highway supervisor” as to when the plows will go out.  In case of heavy icing or winds creating deep drifts, Nelson said, the new policy gives the township a bit of “wiggle room” do best deal with inclement winter weather.

 

Firefighter Matt Weber told the board  the Becker Fire Dept. had purchased a new “grass rig” for fighting grass fires and similar instances in hard-to-reach areas, and is considering selling the current unit, a 1999 Chevrolet pick-up with a slide-in pumping rig, chain saw and tools as a complete package.  He and other firefighters present stated that the rig is highly effective in getting to areas where a large pumper truck cannot go, would provide transport for responders on other types of calls and would be useful in cordoning off emergency situations like traffic accidents.

 

Nelson said the township will need a new pumper truck in the not too distant future, which is expected to cost around $60,000, and he expressed some concern the grass rig may not be the logical “next step” for the department.  Weber and others stated  it would be a value to the department, especially since the fully equipped unit would probably sell for between $10,000 and $15,000.

 

The board looked the truck over after the meeting, but no action was taken.

 

The Becker Fired Dept. had  35 calls for November, four of them in Santiago Township.  Ofthese, two were medical and two involved vehicle accidents.  The sheriff’s report indicated 51 calls for service in November, including 13 traffic stops, seven accidents and one shooting complaint.