REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING (March 15, 2005)

 

Chairman, Robert (Bob) Benson called the meeting to order.  Other members present included Supervisors David McKeag and David Garner, Treasurer Kenneth Ebert and Clerk Colleen Thompson.

 

The Pledge of allegiance was recited.

 

Colleen read the minutes of the February 15, 2005 meeting.  Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to approve the report as read.  Motion carried.

 

Ken read the Treasurer’s Report.  Current investment totals are $162,449.21 in the Building Fund and $124,543.27 in the Road and Bridge Fund for total investments of $286,992.48.  We had receipts for the month of $14,772.84 and disbursements for the month of $18,121.78.  Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to approve the report as read.

 

Rick Banks, 5800 318th Street Way, Cannon Falls, MN appeared before the Board to request a building permit for a 44x32 garage.  Mr. Banks presented his site plan to the Board.  Setbacks were shown to be met.  Estimated cost of the building is $30,000.00.  Bob made a motion, seconded by Dave MeKeag to grant a building permit.  Motion carried.

 

Ron Donner, and Kent Johnson, Stanton Sport Aviation Inc. Manager appeared before the Board to request building permits for three (3) new storage buildings to house airplanes and gliders.  One building is to be a 96x60x14 pole barn.  Two of the buildings are for glider storage and measure 51x27x7.  All setbacks were shown to be met.  Estimated cost of all three buildings is $114,000.00.  Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to grant the permits.  Motion carried.

 

Curt Rauvola, land owner, and Harold Erickson of Yaggy Colby appeared before the Board to present a plan they are working on for a sub division in Sections 8 and 17.  Proposed are 32 one acre lots. The plan includes the existing farm house and Curt’s house.  They have been in contact with the DNR and the preliminary proposal meets DNR requirements of a one hundred (100) foot buffer setback to homes in a shore land district. They propose a central sewage system and central well.  They would use 300th Street Way for access from Hwy. 56 and would build a new road using the existing driveway for access onto Sciota Trail.  Thirty nine (39) acres are proposed to by developed.  Six (6) acres would be public right of way and streets.

 

Dave Garner stated our existing zoning requires five (5) acres in a residential district and from five (5) acres to one (1) acre is a pretty large jump and stated he saw no hardship to allow for less than the required five (5) acres.

 

Bob stated it could be considered under cluster housing.

 

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING (March 15, 2005 cont.)

 

Planning Commission member, Paul Schluter disagreed.

 

Colleen stated she had been in contact by phone with Joanne Wood the Independent Planner working on this project.  Colleen stated that it was her understanding that their proposal is to plat the 39 acres.

 

Dave Garner read that part of the township Ordinance pertaining to cluster development and suggested contacting Tom Scott for guidance on the procedure the Township needs to follow since the Ordinance does not have provisions for plats.

 

Harold Erickson asked to be placed on the May 10, 2005 Planning Commission agenda.

 

Mr. Michael Pedersen appeared before the Board with the forms to be signed for the Oxford Oaks Re-plat.  The Board reviewed the documents and Board Chair, Bob Benson and Clerk, Colleen Thompson signed the documents.  It was requested that Mr. Pedersen return a copy for township records after he acquires all needed signatures.

 

Mr. Dean Lindeman, Stanton Township Representative on the Cannon Falls Hospital Board gave an update on hospital issues. He stated the hospital is working with a new consultant and the hospital is also facing serious financial issues.  He stated the hospital board is made up of five (5) people and that none have hospital experience.  He stated that both the Board and Administration is new.  He stated issues need to be addressed and they are using a method of issuing surveys to the administration, board and physicians; employees; and community to receive input.  Currently 400 community surveys have been returned.  He stated they need to examine money vs. expenses.  He stated revenues have declined due to loss of ENT services, lack of technology and lack of updated equipment in the building.  They can not do procedures now that they had done in the past. 

 

Mr. Lindeman was asked if the hospital faced bankruptcy.  He stated this is true, a preliminary budget shows they have eighteen months, they may have until 2007.  A subcommittee is looking into partnering with United Hospitals, Mayo, Fairview or Allina. 

He stated they receive $350,000.00 annually from the three (3) townships involved and this would need to quadruple to meet expenses.

 

Mr. Lindeman spoke about turnovers, no trust and no confidence in the hospital, about bad public perception and not getting people to utilize the hospital, about losing revenue and not being able to do new procedures.  He stated we need new ways to generate revenue, stating competition is a big issue.

 

Mr. Lindeman stated he would be willing to give further updates upon the Boards request.

 

The Board discussed the salt and sand needs for the 2005-2006 winter season.  The Board

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING (March 15, 2005 cont.)

 

directed the Clerk to call Ron Scripture, Goodhue County Highway Maintenance Manager and order 140 yards of sand and salt mixture.

 

Dave Garner stated he had attended Short Courses in Rochester today and would refrain from any further report knowing Bob, Heather and Ken will be attending Short Courses tomorrow in Owatonna.

 

Colleen stated she met with Goodhue County Public Works Director Jim Klaven to discuss the permitting process for new shelters to be built in the Goodhue County Park located within Stanton Township.  Mr. Isakson also showed preliminary plans for future development of the park.  Colleen then met with Mr. Bob Goudy to pick up the weight limit signs supplied by the State to post weight restrictions for the bridge on 330th Street.

 

Bob stated we have a partial plan for a new town hall building but need to know the placement. 

 

Dave Garner stated he assumed right here (the current building location). 

 

Bob estimated the cost to be $90,000.00 based on a proposal he obtained from VanGuilder Construction Inc.

 

It was stated we need two more estimates.

 

Dave Garner stated we need actual specs for bids; we need to do this as soon as possible and would need a release from VanGuilder to use his specs in obtaining other estimates.

 

Purchasing the parcel across from the current town hall was discussed.  Dave Garner stated we would need to pay the independent appraised value for the parcel.

 

Heather Sharp questioned if we could relocate the maintenance shed. 

 

Bob stated the best scenario would be the shed and hall together to utilize heat and water.

 

The Board will meet on April 8, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the town hall to work on the Ordinance update.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to name the Cannon Falls Beacon the official township newspaper.  Motion carried.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to make the box outside the town hall building the official posting place.  Motion carried.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to set the date, site and time of next years

Annual Meeting for March 14, 2006 at the Stanton Town Hall starting at 8:10 p.m. 

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING (March 15, 2005 cont.)

 

Motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Dave Garner, seconded by Bob to make a one time donation of $500.00 to the Randolph Historical Society.  Motion carried.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to make a one time donation of $300.00 to Cannon Pet Adoption.  Motion carried.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to use the current Federal rate of 40.5 cents per mile for mileage reimbursement.

 

Colleen reported the following election results.

 

            Supervisor                                                                    Treasurer

 

Heather Schlichting Sharp – 28                         Kenneth E. Ebert – 30

Mark Dubbels – 8                                                        Sherrie L. Vandenheuvel – 13

David McKeag – 5

John Miller – 1

 

Bob made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to appoint Dave Garner as Chair for 2005.  Motion carried.

 

Dave McKeag made a motion, seconded by Dave Garner to appoint Bob as Vice Chair for 2005.  Motion carried.

 

First National Bank is the townships current depository.  Ken will pick up the signature card for the new Chair, Clerk and Treasurer to sign.

 

Supervisor elect, Heather Sharp stated Jack Lucking would like a Public Meeting for citizens to voice their opinion regarding annexation.  She also stated on the 31st Dale Maul would meet at 7:30 a.m. with the Cannon Falls Chamber of Commerce to discuss the proposed CR 24 overpass.  Heather also stated she had talked with Lisa Wilcox-Erhardt who would like Stanton Township to meet with the Cannon Falls City Council to talk about orderly annexation.

 

It was stated that Stanton Township did meet with Cannon Falls earlier about orderly annexation but after the City Administrator was let go and new City Board was elected we have not had contact with them.  Colleen will contact the Cannon Falls Interim Administrator to set a meeting date.

 

Mr. John Pernic, 32574 Oxford Mill Road, Cannon Falls, had a complaint that the culvert

under Oxford Mill Road is directing water onto the area of his new septic system and requested it be moved 150 feet.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING (March 15, 2005 cont.)

 

The Board stated the culvert has been in place for approximately 15 years and the placement of his sewer system is new and stated the problem does not belong to the Township. It was stated they would look at the culvert situation when they did the yearly “road trip” on April 19, 2005.

 

Dave Garner made a motion, seconded by Bob to move $25,000.00 from the general fund to the fire fund.  Motion carried.

 

Ken stated that a line item for phone expense was omitted from the budget.  Ken suggested reducing rental expense by $900.00 and use that amount for phone expense.

 

Dave Garner made a motion to revise the budget reducing rental expense to $57.22 and adding telephone in the amount of $900.00.  Bob seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Bob stated we need to consider purchasing a new tractor and stated we have a proposal from John Deere.

 

Dave Garner stated we need to go thru the bidding process.  We can not include a trade-in amount to lower the final purchase price, therefore the total cost will be over $50,000.00 and a call for bids will be needed.

 

Colleen stated she would check the Purchasing Venture Site.  If there is a State contract for tractors we would not need to go thru the bidding process.

 

Ken stated he had a request to deduct State taxes from pay checks.  He stated he understood we had an ID’# and will check with the State to obtain it for use.

 

Dave Garner stated we need to honor the request.

 

Bob made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to open mail.  Motion carried.

 

Bob made a motion, seconded by Dave McKeag to pay claims.  Motion carried.

 

Dave Garner made a resolution thanking Dave McKeag for six years of service to Stanton Township.

 

Dave McKeag stated it was a learning experience of grass roots government and recognized the people he served with in the past, naming Mike Daniels, Al Moorhouse and Rob Tate.  He ended by paying tribute to the current officers of the township.

 

Dave McKeag made a motion to adjourn.  Bob seconded the motion.  Motion carried.