Issues with road plowing after the recent snowfalls and a discussion of new voting machines mandated by Sherburne County were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Haven Township Board Monday night.  The board also heard a report on increased thefts in the local area, and approved a letter of intent for the township audit.

 

Supervisor Mike Pesch stated he had received several calls in regard to issues with plowing in the township after two recent snowfalls, with sod being removed from lawns and damage to mailboxes on the plow routes. Vice-Chairman Mark Knowles stated he had met with representatives of Marson Contractors of Sauk Rapids, the firm which holds the township plowing contract, to discuss these and other issues in regard to the plowing service.

 

Knowles said that part of the problem arose from mechanical issues with the larger plow trucks operated by the firm, and that he believed that the larger dump trucks will be available to sand and plow township roads in the future.  The firm had been forced to use smaller trucks in the recent snows, which proved inadequate to clear the roadways.

 

Chairman Jeff Schlingmann said  he had advised one resident to bill the township for damage to a mailbox, which was in a unique location on a private driveway.  Knowles also said that gravel roads in the township will not be plowed during two- to three-inch snowfalls until the roads have frozen, since early plowing will result in the gravel surface being scraped into the ditches.

 

“It can only get better,” Schlingmann said of the plowing situation.

 

The sheriff’s report indicated an uptick in the number of reported thefts in the area, including items stolen from several unlocked cars, a missing fish house, a stolen ATV and a burglary, all of which remain under investigation.

 

The report listed 66 calls for service in Haven Township during November, which included 15 traffic stops, nine accidents and six calls for medical assistance.

 

Clerk Mike Zniewski told the board Haven Township’s share in the purchase of new voting machines will be around $7,200.  The new machines are “not optional”, according to the discussion, and election judges will be trained in their operation in advance of the 2016 election.

 

The board approved a letter of intent for the upcoming township audit with the accounting firm of Kern DeWenter Viere, and passed a measure transferring $30,000 from the road and bridge fund to the general fund.

 

Supervisor Kathy Sims-Kosloski said the township needs to “have someone at the table” during discussions of water run-off at the St. Cloud Regional Airport, since the water will become an issue for the township after it leaves the premises.  She also noted a new crosswind runway project will apparently not go forward as previously planned.

 

Township resident Gary Kiffmeyer asked if he would be getting a new address when Co. Rd. 66 is turned back to Haven Township and re-named. Knowles said the board would have an answer to that question at the next regular meeting.

 

Supervisor Randy Linn said he would have a preliminary budget for the annual meeting available for discussion at the January board meeting.