Stanton Town Hall
31186 40th Avenue Way, Cannon Falls, MN 55009
Board Chair, Joyce Moorhouse, called the meeting to order. Others present included Vice Chair Dave Garner, Supervisor Vince Cockriel, Clerk Betts Top and Treasurer Kenneth Ebert.
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Joyce called to reveal any conflict of interest.
None were heard
Agenda Approval
Joyce requested, under New Business, that the 2007 Census of Government Employees be added.
Dave requested under Upcoming Meetings that the Working Session Cannon Falls Meeting of their City Council be added.
Joyce called for any other additions to the agenda
None were heard.
Joyce Moorhouse made a motion to accept the agenda with changes
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
Approval of
Minutes 6-19-07
Dave Garner made a motion to approve the corrected minutes of 6-19-07 Board Meeting
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Ken reported Investment CD at $70,342.13
Receipts - $2,220.77
Total Disbursements - $15,807.27
Dave Garner made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
1. Rob Tate – 4325 County 24 Blvd, Cannon falls, a permit for a 120 by 60 foot, 16 foot high pole building. Setbacks were met.
Cost $60,000.00, for agricultural purposes.
Vince Cockriel made a motion to approve a zoning permit for Rob Tate and his pole building.
Joyce Moorhouse seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
Permit fee of $150.00 was paid.
2. Wendy Carroll of 32740 Stanton Trail, Cannon Falls, MN
Wendy presented a purchase agreement signed by Mr. Larson (land owner). She said she was purchasing land that was now in a corn crop and she also presented a notice that would be published in the Northfield newspaper from the city of Dennison changing the land from agricultural to commercial. August 2nd she expects to get her building permit. Her time frame was to break ground in October and start building then. She also presented a list of her tentative time schedule: August 15th plans to close, August 16th excavation begins, September 1st pour concrete, September 15th building will begin, and December 1st building completed.
Dave Garner made a motion to table the matter and watch the progress of the building.
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Joyce reminded Wendy that because her agreement (with the township) was October 1st, 2007 she would need to come in and ask for an extension and tell the board of her progress at the September board meeting.
Wendy said she would.
3. Brian and Julie Hughes, 32415 Oxford Mill Rd, Cannon Falls, section 25 a detached garage, 86 by 40 feet with a variance. The Hughes’ explained the layout of their land on a hill. They can only build 77 feet from the required 100 foot setback from the road. The variance would be 23 feet. They live on 4 acres. To move the garage back 100 feet would entail them having to dig into the hill and put in a retaining wall.
Joyce Moorhouse made a motion to grant the Hughes a Public Hearing at the Planning Commission meeting August 14th at 7:30 PM for a variance of 23 feet to meet the 100 foot setback for a detached garage.
Dave Garner seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Public hearing fee of $150.00 was paid.
4. Bob Hawbaker - 3639 310th St., Cannon Falls, a permit for a deck on south side of house, 38 x 14 feet, section 22. Cost would be $14,068.00. 3.81 acres. Setbacks were met.
Dave Garner made a motion to grant Mr. Hawbaker a zoning permit for his 38 x 14 foot deck
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
Permit fee of $104.00 was paid.
5. Mark Kusilek of Cannon Falls, MN replacement site permit for a house and a permit for a 72 x 100 foot barn. Section 23. Site plans were presented. Steve VanGuilder, the contractor, was present and explained the drawings. Setbacks were all met. Acreage: 50. Cost estimate of the house was $425,000.00 and the barn was $ 70,000.00.
Vince Cockriel made a motion to grant a zoning permit for a house for Mark Kusilek
Joyce Moorhouse seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Vince Cockriel made a motion to grant a zoning permit for a barn for Mark Kusilek.
Dave Garner seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
Permit for house of $515.00 was paid
Permit for a barn of $160.00 was paid.
5. Rick Schaefer 5376 Deerwood Drive, Cannon Falls, section 24, a 38 foot variance for a detached garage. The required setback was 60 feet. Building was 24 x 24 feet. Estimated cost was $18,000.00
Paperwork from Mr. Schaefer’s public hearing was presented to the board.
Joyce noted the hardships of septic in the back of the house and due to topography possible flooding elsewhere on the property. The Planning Commission recommended their approval to the board. She also noted that 4 letters had been presented from neighbors to support the variance.
Vince Cockriel made a motion to allow the 38 foot variance as requested.
Dave Garner seconded the motion
Motion passed 3/0
Vince Cockriel made a motion to grant a zoning permit for the 24 x 24 foot detached garage for Rick Schaefer.
Dave Garner seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Permit fee of $118.00 was paid.
Betts reported that
one company was coming out that week for a bid and the other company she would
call in the next week for their bid.
It was preferred to have 1 company do everything.
Dave replied that
the patch that had been put on was alright to seal coat over.
Dave Garner made a
motion to publish both ads in the Beacon
Joyce Moorhouse
seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Dave requested that
on the August agenda it should be added the final walk through for the Levy
Proposal. If any changes were to be
made it could be done then.
Betts said she would
add it.
Discussion ensued
regarding the county giving an estimate on the job, the proper procedure in
doing the roads, road width and cost.
Kevin said the
companies had told him the project would be done right, creating shoulders and
making the road as wide as physically possible. 59th Ave. Way could be 24 feet wide blacktop with
shoulders and the side streets 20 feet without extending into people’s
yards.
Dave said he felt if
the roads were going to be upgraded, they should be upgraded to standard width roads.
Joyce felt we should
contact the county and have them come out and give an estimate on it for the to
include it in one of their projects.
Joyce explained the cost would be assessed to the taxpayers of that
area, divided equally among those living there. Then the people can pay their
assessment right away, or can spread it out over so many years.
Vince said there
would be a special assessment hearing, and if it was approved the people who
did not approve of it would also be assessed.
Dave stated he was
not really convinced the township should go in to debt to finance this.
Dave stated the
contractor was going to want their money upfront.
Joyce said they (the
township) would have to borrow the money.
She added she would check with MAT and the county to follow the proper
order in doing this.
Dave stated he had
no problem against the project, he had issues to workout on how we were going
to get there.
A copy of the
signatures presented by Mr. Raway would be kept on file and were given to the
clerk along with the quotes.
Road Report
Betts said she had given Tom a list, along with signs, of things that needed to be done including the sink hole over on 312th street.
Betts said their maintenance person asked the board what to do with the downed tree that was to be removed.
Dave said if it’s over 6 inches the landowner owns that tree. Even after we cut it up they have a right to that tree. If he didn’t want it then the township could take it and dispose of it. We have to clear it with the landowner first.
Joyce said maybe we should add that to our Tree Removal document.
Betts said she would check to see whose property the downed tree was on and contact them.
Dave noted that the chlorided roads were holding up well. He asked the clerk if Maltby’s had been sent their bill.
Betts said yes she had mailed it.
The clerk was requested to send a letter to the Boy Scout camp to request funds.
Joyce called for any other information for the Road Report.
None was heard.
Meetings Attended
Vince, Dave, Joyce, Betts and deputy clerk Cheryle Peters reported and on attending the MAT Summer Short Course July 12th in Rochester, MN.
Vince reported on attending the ADA (Ambassador’s) meeting in Cannon Falls on Monday,
July 9th , in the morning.
Betts asked the board if there could be a set fee for making copies for the public. MAT had mentioned 25 cents a copy up to the first 100 copies.
Dave said he had remembered giving the first copy of a document for free for residents of Stanton Township and then multiple copies would be charged.
Joyce asked that the topic be put on next months agenda. We should set policy on the topic.
Betts also mentioned the liability of fraud for a business in which a business (or township) only had 24 hours to notify the bank, otherwise they would be responsible for the amount of money.
Dave felt this should be something we should have MAT look into, maybe get the laws changed.
Dave also felt in now having a Deputy Clerk it would be important to have a Deputy Treasurer.
Ken said he would take the request under advisement.
Joyce added that she had attended the Highway 52 meeting on June 20th. She also attended a meeting in Cannon Falls City Hall where there was discussion regarding the two sites for the 52 overpass-interchange. She attended the Red Wing Planning Commission meeting where the Emery and Burch situations were discussed and they were both approved. She attended a Zumbrota City Hall meeting July 9th, the topic was Special Assessments. She gave documents regarding Assessments for the clerk to file.
Old Business
Mark spoke about the MAT speaker who had come to their last meeting and spoke on Annexation.
2. Levy Meeting for September
It was decided to have a run-through on the Levy topic at the August Board meeting.
Joyce called for any other Old Business
None was heard.
Joyce announced a workshop with the City of Cannon Falls, the city council, on July 18th at City Hall at 6:30 PM. The meeting was with Greater SW Holdings LLC.
Discussion ensued regarding Bill Nelson and his permit for 2 buildings on his land. It was explained to the audience that Mr. Nelson did not have a permit, that he had criteria to meet before a signed permit would be issued.
Joyce called for any other new business
None was heard.
Upcoming
Meetings
Workshop July 18th at Cannon Falls City Hall with Greater SW Holding at 6:30 PM was mentioned.
County Park Meeting on August 10, at Lake Byllesby at 12:00 PM with food was mentioned.
Betts brought up the Annual Town Meeting in September in Washington D.C., and the fact that the County Association of Townships was funding one person from Stanton Township to go.
Discussion ensued regarding the Washington DC trip. It was decided that Dave Garner would go.
Joyce spoke about a Census of Government Employees she had received. She felt the clerk and treasurer should fill it out.
Betts said she would.
Mail
Betts informed the board there was no mail.
Claims
Dave Garner made a motion to pay claims.
Joyce Moorhouse seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Claims were paid.
Joyce Moorhouse made a motion to adjourn
Vince Cockriel seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0
Meeting adjourned at 9:22 PM