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11_21_2006_TBMinutesNovember 21, 2.006 New Scandia Town Board met on the above date. Chairman Dennis Seefeldt called the meeting to order. The following members were present: Chairman Dennis Seefeldt, Vice -Chairman Michael Hinz, Michael Harnetty, Blair Joselyn and Nancy Madden; Administrator Anne Hurlburt, PUBLIC FORUM No public comments were made. PUBLIC P"ROVEMENT HEARING — 2007 PAVING PRO ECT Chairman Seefeldt opened the public hearing on the 2007 Road Improvement Project. Randy Ferrin, 23290 Quentin Avenue, stated that he was in favor of the paving, as he is tired of the dust and mud. Mr. Ferrin did question the classification of Quentin Avenue as a non -collector road and also why the width of the road needs to be improved to 22 -feet, as it is currently between 16 to 19 -feet in width. Pierce Lewis, 20405 Quinnell Avenue, asked if the Board had received the letter from Edmund Summersby, 20457 Quinnell Avenue, stating his opposition to the paving of 205"' Street and the adjoining Quint Avenue. Mr. Summersby's letter has been entered into the record, Nancy Etzwiler, 20919 Quint Avenue, felt it is premature to make a decision to pave the small, dead-end road of Quint Avenue, from Quinnell to the Plowman family property. Ms. Etzwiler asked the Board to consider the environmental impact the project would have on the area, and that the Marine Watershed Management Organization has expressed opposition to the paving of 205"' Street. The Marine WMO has indicated that this street runs parallel to Gilbertson's Creek, a designated trout stream. Ginny McClanahan, property owner along Quint Avenue, expressed agreement with Ms. Etzwiler's concerns. Kathleen Wallace, 16797 205"' Street, stated her opposition to the paving of 205"' Street. Ms. Wallace pointed out the Marine WMO study of the area, and their recommendation to pull certain roads off the project to protect trout streams. Ms. Wallace commented on the narrow nature of the road, bordered by 100 to 150 year old pines that could be endangered by the road project. Nancy Peterson, 11240 228"' Street, stated approval of the paving of 228"' Street. A property owner along Manning Trail stated there is heavy use of 240'h Street by Dresel Trucking gravel trucks. He asked if the weight limit of the road could be restricted to 7 tons, therefore sending the trucks on an alternate route. He also felt that not paving the 1/2 -mile section of 240"' Street, which extends into Forest Lake/Wyoming, would not make sense. Mary Strom, 16975 197"' Street, asked the Board to seriously look at removing 197"' Street from the project, due to the steep nature of the road. Ms. Strom would like to see the road improved by width, guardrail and drainage. Currently, drainage collects on one property. Richard Hudson, 20491 Ostrurn Avenue, felt that Ostium should remain gravel, as it is a narrow, dead-end road that runs between two wetlands, leading to possible environmental impacts. C, Janet Brown, 1.4990 223rd Street, stated approval of the paving of 223" Street. New Scandia Town Board November 21, 2006 Page 2 Jason Helke, 16360 209"' Street, questioned his assessment for a 60 -foot portion of the road along his property. Mr. Helke was told that lie could state his case at the assessment hearing next September. Lois Vennewitz, 20370 Ostrum Avenue, commented on the unstable road condition of Ostrum and the many washouts that occur. Ms. Vennewitz was also concerned about the ecological state of the surrounding wetlands, and the expense of repairing the blacktop if it continues to wash out. Jim Fitzpatrick, property owner along Quint Avenue, asked about base limits and if they have been tested. Mr. Fitzpatrick also stated the sensitivity of the road that leads to the river. Nancy Maloney, 20491 Ostrum Avenue, asked the Board to consider the cost/benefit analysis of paving a road that only leads to three homes. Ms. Maloney felt that it would make no sense to pave a short road that has no access and is not used by members of the public. Terry Bennet, 19713 Quinnell Avenue, reminded the Board of the controversy with the Indian mounds along Highway 97 and the schoolhouse. It could be possible that this issue reappears. Craig Christensen, 20661 Quint Avenue, felt that as Quint Avenue is primarily used by seasonal cabin owners, the Board must analyze the cost/benefit aspect of the project, along with the many environmental issues necessary to protect the area.: Chairman Seefeldt closed the hearing to public comments and the Board discussed Resolution 11-21-06-01. Supervisor Joselyn felt that significant issues are tied to the paving of 205"' Street, Quint Avenue and Ostrum Avenue. Many environmental concerns need to be addressed as related to the trout streams, springs and trees. Supervisor Joselyn would like to see these three roads pulled from the project until further studied by the IBNR, National Park Service, Watershed and possibly an ecological consultant. Supervisor Madden felt that as Quint Avenue to 205"' Street is very narrow and not heavily used, there may be no need to pave this portion and that it should be dropped from the project. Addressing the concern of the portion of 240'x' that extends into Forest Lake/Wyoming, Supervisor Madden stated" that Forest Lake's decision to not pave should not influence this project. 'Town Attorney Hebert stated that there is -a binding Joint Powers Agreement with Chisago Lakes Township to pave 240"' Street. Supervisor Seefeldt asked Engineer Tom Peterson to address the paving of Ostrum Avenue. As this is a narrow road bordered by wetlands, much excavating will be necessary in the low area. Adding drain tile along the length of the road and also additional sand will make this road quite doable. Supervisor Harnetty felt that engineering standards of adding a quality base will improve Ostrum Avenue, as 223rd Street was successfully improved in a similar manner. The higher cost of improving a problem road is not assessed to those property owners, but added to the entire cost of the project. Supervisor Harnetty also stated that future maintenance of the roads would not be assessed to property owners. Supervisor Harnetty went on to state that he felt this project was started in 1989 by a decision to pave all township roads in eleven segments, this being the tenth segment. Eighty miles of roads have been paid through assessments all in thesamemanner and a change in the process should not happen now. New Scandia Town Board November 21, 2006 Page 3 Supervisor Seefeldt explained that 29% of the total cost of the asphalt is assessed, on a 75%/25% collector/non-collector basis. Bob Welsch, 16850 209"' Street, asked what would be done to protect the white pines. Lisa Schlingerman, 20661 Quint Avenue, stated how the river is the gem of Scandia and as much as possible should be done to protect and preserve it. Ms. Schlingerman felt that a smaller grader used once a year along the road would be sufficient. Supervisor Seefeldt stated that paved roads become minimum maintenance roads and that is the point. Any new roads after all township roads are paved would be the responsibility of developers. Supervisor Hinz would like to see all roads paved. They are easier to maintain, snow removal is easier with less ice buildup and curb and gutter do a better job of managing run-off. Supervisor Madden would like to see Quint Avenue pulled from the project. Supervisor Harnetty agreed with Supervisor Joselyn in the study of Quint Avenue and 197"' Street, and that the paving of Ostrum Avenue can be engineered. Town Attorney Hebert advised on the study of these roads. The Board has up to six months to study with the option of adding them back into the project after analyzing the study. Nancy Madden made a motion to adopt Resolution 11-21-06-01 with the amendment to designate a study of 197"' Street and 205"' Street for environmental purposes and to pull Quint Avenue from 205"' Street to the end (Plowman's property) from the project. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion. Voting yes: Harnetty, Madden, Seefeldt, Joselyn. Voting no: Hinz. Dennis Seefeldt made a motion to remove Quint Avenue from 205t" Street to the south end from the project and add it to the environmental study. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion. Voting yes: Harnetty, Madden, Seefeldt, Joselyn, Hinz. Motion adopted. POLICE DEPARTMENT Deputy Chris Howard was present to report on police activity. Deputy Howard reminded residents to immediately report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff's office. The call can be anonymous if so desired. Deputy Howard has been making an increased presence along St. Croix Trail as this is a problem road for speeders. Deputy Howard is also working with Administrator Hurlburt on ordinance enforcement. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Steve Spence reported that the department will continue the update of self-contained breathing apparatuses for the entire department. Seven additional packs will be purchased in 2007 at a cost of $20,157. The Fire Relief Fund covered half the cost of the 2006 purchase. Spence is proposing donations to the fund to cover the purchase of air face masks for each individual fireman in 2007. CONSENT AGENDA The following consent agenda was presented: a) Minutes for Town Board 10-17-06 and 11-14-06, New Scandia Town Board November 21, 2006 Page 4 b) Treasurer's Report Beginning Balance 10/01/06 1,416,485.91 Receipts +51.970,65 Expenditures 310,908.56 Payroll 16.569.54 - 327,478.10 Ending Balance 10/31/06 Ending $1,140,978.46 c) Payment of Vouchers. Check number 26275 to Colleen Nora was pulled for further discussion. The check was a refund for hall rental for the Community Center. The function will be sponsored by the Scandia-Marine Lions. As the Lions contribute in-kind services to the community, rates for the rental of the hall are waived. The Board granted approval of the payment. d) Approve Letter of Credit Reductions for Wild Bush Acres. Reduce street/sewer improvements from $174,709.13 to $98,420.40. Reduce landscaping from $35,000.00 to $7,000.00. e) Approve Letter of Credit Reduction for Natures Walk. Reduce street/sewer improvements from $44,000.00 to $0. Maintain landscaping letter of credit at $7,500.00. f) Approve change order No. I to Jay Bros. for additional work on 2006 Culvert Replacement Project in the amount of $2,870.00. Approve Pay Request No. 2 to Jay Bros. for 2006 Culvert Replacement Project in the amount of $39.874.25. h) Approve Pay Request No. I to Peterson Excavating for Olsen-Sandgren-Hawkinson Storm Sewer Improvements in the amount of $37,344.98. Nancy Madden made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Blair Joselyn seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. ICE RINK REPAIR COMMITTEE On November 17, 2006 a representative from the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust inspected the ice rink as requested by the Ice Rink Committee. The Board discussed the findings and was informed that Mike White has begun working on the requested repairs. Michael Hinz made a motion to approve the loss control recommendations of the LMCIT as follows: I)Fill in the gaps between individual pieces of plastic dasher board; 2)Tighten all screws that are protruding out from the plastic dasher boards; 3)Replace the broken plastic dasher boards; 4)Review and discuss these recommendations with the Township Board. While implementation of the recommendations has begun, it may be difficult to complete them this fall because of the weather and the cost of the repairs. A decision will be made in 2007, when the new City Council takes office, on whether or not to spend additional funds to repair the present dasher boards, to purchase new boards, or to obtain and install a set of used boards that may be available from another community. Dennis Seefeldt seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. PARK DEDICATION SUBCOMMITTEE The Park Dedication Subcommittee met on November 16, 2006 and reviewed a Draft Ordinance on collection of park fees. It was decided to wait until 2007 to bring this before the Council. A public hearin would be required to make any ordinance changes. C� New Scandia Town Board November 21, 2006 Page,;5 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR ANNE HURLBUIZT Washington County All Hazard Mitigation Pla► Resolictivn 11-21-06-02 Adoption of the Washington County All Hazard Mitigation Plan will be necessary to qualify for Hazard Mitigation Grants and possibly, Federal assistance in the recovery phase of a Presidential Declared Disaster. Michael Hinz made a motion to adopt Resolution 11-21-06-02, a Resolution to Adopt the Washington County All Hazard Mitigation Plan. Blair Joselyn seconded the motion and motion adopted. Sanders Wacker Bergly Inc. Request Sanders Wacker Bergly recently completed the Parks Plan update, which was adopted by the Town Beard on July 18, 2006. They are requesting an additional $3,000 payment to cover additional time spent over the original contractamount of $30,000. The Board would like to see more complete documentation of charges and will not approve a change order at this time. City of Scandia Logo There is an opportunity to adopt a new logo for letterhead, business forms, signs and many other materials as the township: transitions to a city on January 1, 2007. A contest could be held to gather and award a small prize to a chosen entry. The Board discussed the formation of a small committee with trusted artistic talent to collect entries and bring forth to the new council three choices. 1'A small reward of $100.00 would be given to the winning entry. Orders for new stationary and forms will be delayed until a logo is chosen. Nancy Madden made a motion to authorize a logo design contest awarding a;$100.00 prize to the winning entry. Michael Hinz seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. Part-time Seasonal Maintenance Worker- With the retirement of Brian Jemelka effective November 30 2006, it will be necessary to have part-time help in place for snow plowing until a permanent full-time replacement is hired. Robert Lindblom has previously filled in on an as -needed basis, and has agreed to be available for snow plowing this season. Michael Hinz made a motion to approve hiring Robert Lindblom at $16.50 per hour on an on-call basis. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.. Noininations to the ,Con76r't LakelkorestLake Watershed District Board Dennis Larson of New Scandia has recently resigned from the Comfort Lake/Forest Lake Watershed District Board of Managers. Washington County has asked for nominations by December 8, 2006 to fill this position. Administrator Hurlburt was asked to clarify the nominating/interview process for future discussion. Nancy Madden made a motion to adjourn the meeting and meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund New Scandia Township Deputy Clerk