1-20-98 tbJanuary 20, 1998
New Scandia Town Board meeting was called to order by Chairman,
Charles Nordin. The following Board Members were also present:
Charles Nordin, Chairman, Paul Rasmussen, Vice Chairman, Robert
Jensen, Kevin Nickelson and Dennis Seefeldt.
CONSENT AGENDA
Robert Jensen made a motion to approve the following consent
agenda:
1. Call to order
2. Clerk's minutes have been presented for December 16,
1997 and January 6, 1998 Town Board and January 6,
1998 Planning Commission
3. Approval of treasurer report
Balance December 1, 1997 $1,048,798.15
Receipts 367,769.95
Expenditures 74,534.53
Balance December 31, 1997 $1,342,033.57
4. Approval of payment of January vouchers
5. Adjournment
Paul Rasmussen seconded the motion and motion adopted
unanimously.
Fire Department/Steve Spence
Mr. Spence presented the 1997 Expense Report and discussed the
Community Alert Network for a new method of emergency warning and
notification.
Sheriff Department/Captain McGlothin
Captain McGlothin introduced Jeff Nelson from Montgomery and
Associates to discuss the problems with communications for New
Scandia Fire and Rescue Department. Mr. Nelson stated they have
checked the audio quality of base stations at the King Stack
Plant in Stillwater, Forest Lake and Marine. He stated adding a
antenna to the U. S. West Tower located on Highway 97 may correct
the problem. The Sheriffs Department will continue working to
solve this problem for New Scandia Township.
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Township Engineer/Tom Peterson
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to have the Engineering Firm bid
the Patching and Seal Coating for the summer of 1998. Dennis
Seefeldt seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously,
Speed Limit Ordinance For Lake Sylvan
Mr. Robert Rancourt, Attorney representing some residents on Lake
Sylvan presented a proposal to amend Ordinance No. 12 relating to
rules for Water Craft Operation on Halfbreed Lake (82-80) to
Protect Public Health, Safety and General Welfare in Washington
County as follows:
(1) To have no restriction on Sylvan Lake, no restrictions
on time, motors and speed. If this proposal is not
acceptable, then
(2) From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. no restrictions 100 from
shore, buoys set 100 feet out by State. 40 mph speed
limit counter clockwise rotation, and if this is not
acceptable, then
(3) 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. no restrictions 100 feet no wake
from shore, buoys set by the State. 40 mph speed limit
counter clockwise rotation all year.
(4) No personal watercraft shall be allowed on Sylvan
Lake.
Mr. Rancourt stated he had three letters in favor of lifting the
speed limit and another letter from a resident on Sand Lake
stating they have no problems with the speed limit on their lake.
Mr. Rancourt also presented a list of nineteen (19) property
owners favoring the increased speed limit.
Mr. Bill Wittrock representing the residents that were opposing
the change presented a petition signed by 44 petitioners opposing
changing the ordinance. The issues he stated were, water
quality, shoreline stability and flora, fauna and safety. Mr.
Wittrock asked the Town Board to deny the request to change the
ordinance.
Brian Patterson, Robert Kelley, Karen Thiery, Greg Hillerman,
Walter Miller, Roger Hanson, GaryStorm, Marion Gordon and Melody
Gellerman, all expressed the concern for safety on the lake,
water quality, shoreline erosion, loss of wildlife, noise, and
that the lake is to small for the increased speed limit.
Four letters were read from residents opposing the change in the
ordinance and four letters are on file in favor of changing the
ordinance.
page 3
Eugene Huerstel, Travis Huerstel, Peggy Huerstel, Wayne Schmitt,
Dale Jacobson, and Tom Schell all stated they all loved the lake
and of course did not want to harm the environment, and this
proposal would not harm the lake and therefore expressed they
were in favor of the increased speed limit on the Lake Sylvan.
Richard Tschida, Chairman of the Forest Lake Township Board
stated the Forest Lake Board sent a letter to Washington County
Board of Commissioners requesting that the County Board hold a
public hearing on this matter where both sides be recognized and
involved in the solution and work to a compromise.
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to recommended this issue to
Washington County Board of Commissioners and request a compromise
on the issue. Motion failed for a second.
Members Seefeldt, Rasmussen, Nordin and Jensen wanted more time
to study the material that was presented and directed Mr.
Rancourt to provide a synopsis of the documentation he had
presented and directed Mr. Hebert to study the speed limit
statutes.
i Robert Jensen made a motion to delay the decision to the February
17, 1998 Town Board Meeting at which time the Board Members will
have time to review information presented and Mr. Hebert will
have time to investigate the question on speed limit statutes.
Paul Rasmussen seconded the motion. Robert Jensen, yes, Charles
Nordin, yes, Paul Rasmussen, yes and Dennis Seefeldt,yes. Kevin
Nickelson voted no. Motion adopted.
Karen Kelly/Animal Control
Ms. Kelly stated she has had a problem with a dog in her yard for
quite sometime and the dog does not have a name on the tag. She
stated the township should require to have all dogs licensed and
how does she have this animal removed from her premises. The
Clerk would contact different .Animal Controls if they would
remove the dog from the Kelly residence and cost figures obtained
and will refer back to Mr. Nordin, Chairman with the cost figures
for permission of removal of the animal.
Howard Hawkinson/Barbara Reichstadt/Watershed
Ms. Reichstadt and Mr. Hawkinson were questioning paragraph 9 of
permits for the Forest Lake Watershed Management Organization.
Mr. Hawkinson stated his surety assessment is $7,400.00 and Ms.
Reichstadt surety assessment is $5,000.00. They questioned when
this was adopted by the township and it was agreed Mr. Curt
Sparks and Mr. Mark Doneux be present at the next Town Board
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meeting to review this issue.
Liability Coverage
Robert Jensen made a motion to waiver the monetary limits on tort
liability established by Minnesota Statutes 466.04, to the extent
of the limits of the liability coverage obtained from the League
of Minnesota Cities. Paul Rasmussen seconded the motion and
motion adopted unanimously.
Fred Osten/Excavation Of A Wildlife Pond
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to approve the excavation of a
wildlife pond within a existing wetland for Fred Osten, 11633
239th Street, Scandia, MN 55073 in Section 5. Paul Rasmussen
seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.
Local Government Unit Responsibilities For The Wetland
Conservation Act To F1WMO And Appointment To Citizens Advisory
Committee
This item was tabled to a later date.
Computer For Township Office
Dennis Seefeldt made a motion to grant permission to Colleen
Firkus to purchase a computer from Gateway and not to exceed
$2321.00 and to negotiate the price further if possible. Paul
Rasmussen seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.
Pav Eauit
David Hebert reviewed the Pay Equity Report and discussed the
problems with the increase of Health Insurance for the
Maintenance Department.
Kevin Nickelson made a motion to approve the range scale for Pay
Equity. Robert Jensen seconded the motion and motion adopted
unanimously.
Paul Rasmussen made a motion to file the report with Pay Equity
and post notice that the report has been filed. Robert Jensen
seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.
Insurance Coverage For Softball Tournaments At Lighted Field
Robert Jensen made a motion that New Scandia Township require
liquor liability at softball tournaments at the lighted field on
Olinda Trail and that the township be named additional insurer.
Paul Rasmussen seconded and motion adopted unanimously.
Dolor eterson, New Scandia Township Clerk