The Santiago town board met last Wednesday and discussed several items related to the recent warm weather, including a return of the vandalism that has plagued the area in recent years.
Sgt. Andy Ochs of the Sheriff’s Office was at the meeting to present the calls for service numbers for February, which included a total of 35 law enforcement contacts for issues from traffic complaints (five) to medical emergencies (six).
Within the past several weeks, supervisors learned that graffiti had again been painted on a township bridge and at least one sign, reading “stop sign ahead” had been stolen from a roadway, with others being vandalized. In addition, there was again four wheeler activity on some roadways with “donuts” being spun, but the remaining frost in the gravel had spared the road a worse fate.
The issue is not a new one to the board, who has spent considerable time and money to rectify similar issues in the past.
“When we catch them, we have to prosecute them,” said supervisor Jeff Pappenfus, noting the clean-up expense caused to all township taxpayers.
“This is wasting a lot of money.”
Ochs and the supervisors discussed possible solutions to the situation, although it seemed many possible solutions had been tried over the past decade with little luck in determining the perpetrators.
Twp. road contractor John Herbst said with the recent warm weather, it will likely be only a matter of weeks before he will begin grading the roads and getting them in shape.
The board is planning its annual road tour April 5 immediately following the local board of equalization. At that time, the supervisors will get a better look at how all of the roads fared through the winter and plans will be made at that time to schedule maintenance such as crack sealing. They will also check the status of the township’s signage and look for other damage.
Fire Truck
Dave Dahlheimer of the Fire Dept. was at the meeting to discuss the sale of the old rescue rig, a 2002 GMC pickup truck. Before it is sold, a new title will need to be procured and then the township will set a selling price and process for taking bids on the vehicle.
The board expects to take action on the disposition of the truck at its April meeting.
Zoning
Supervisor Dave Jehoich noted that no action items for the township came up at the last county zoning meeting, although there will be a couple of driveway permit applications in the near future.
Resident Will Stang appeared before the board seeking feedback on his plans for an addition onto his existing house which sits along Co. Rd. 16.
Stang’s residence already sits over 100 feet from the roadway, but because 16 is a CSAH highway, the requirement for setback increases. His addition is planned to be towards the back of his house and therefore the board agreed to send favorable comment to Sherburne County, as they hold the final decision in the land use.
Inventory
Jehoich next spoke to the board regarding a need to have a listing of all township assets for insurance purposes. The board felt they may have had such a list in the past but agreed that it would be a good time to gather an update. Over the next couple of months, the township will work on this inventory of town hall assets.
The next meeting for the township will be April 5 at 9 a.m. for the local board of equalization, followed by the road tour. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 7 p.m.
