SAND CREEK TOWNSHIP

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

Jordan Fire Hall                                                        

March 10th, 2020 

 

DRAFT until Sept 3rd Levy Meeting                        

 

The Sand Creek Township Annual Meeting was called to order by the Township clerk at 7:07pm; everyone stood for the pledge of Allegiance.  The clerk called for nominations of a moderator.  A nomination for Chad Bohnsack to be 2020 Annual Township Moderator made by Bruce Hunstad, all were in favor, Unanimous at 7:08pm.  At that time, the meeting was given to the 2020 moderator, Chad Bohnsack, to conduct all of the township business.

 

Chad accepted the nomination and welcomed everyone to the meeting. The 2019 Annual Minutes were distributed to all in attendance prior to the meeting; time was given to read and review the minutes before the meeting continued.  A motion to accept the minutes as written was made by Deb Pauly, second by Travis Cherro, Unanimous at 7:10pm.

  

  The Treasurer’s Report for 2019 was also reviewed by all and noted the receipts and disbursements were posted in a blue binder for all to view.  A summary of the Township accounts was given to all before the meeting for their review.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Deb Pauly, second by Char Ely, Unanimous at 7:13pm. 

 

  Sheriff Deputy’s Report – Chad B. noted that the Sheriff’s Report is available for review. Sheriff’s Deputy explained in 2019 there were 84 Accidents and 87 Medical Calls. The Top 3 Calls for Service are Traffic, Medical, and Car Accidents.

 

Chad Sandey Reports:

Chad welcomed everyone to the meeting. He spoke of the multiple personnel changes over the last four years. He introduced Bruce Hunstad (joined in Fall of 2015) and Bill Schneider (who replaced Less Thill in the Spring of 2016 and is Road Supervisor). Maggie Gallentine started in the Spring of 2019. Emily Nordick is Deputy Clerk as an assistant to Maggie. Myron Pauly is our new Treasurer and was elected in November of 2018.

 

Change of Venue: Both Shelley and Michelle are also employees of MVEC, and with their departure from the Board, Sand Creek Township needs a new venue for meetings and polling place. City of Jordan approached the Township about using their City Council Chambers and History Center. Effective the April 4th meeting, our new meeting venue will be at the Jordan City Council Chambers. Notices will be sent out to all residents that it will also be our new polling place in November.

 

Sample of a Regular Township Meeting:  Chad explained that we conduct the public meeting and conduct the business of the Township. Each Supervisor attends Watershed, SCALE, and County Planning and Board meetings on behalf of the residents. We pay the bills, represent the Township’s best interests, issue Utility and Building Permits and Liquor Licenses, and report back to the Township on our activities. We give recommendations back to the County on Planning and Zoning. We take care of road maintenance and repairs year-round. We discuss upcoming meetings and continue our training. The Monthly Meeting is for public discussion of Township business. They are posted so that the residents know Township business is being conducted. There is an open meeting law where if there are two Supervisors that happen to show up at a same location, they cannot discuss any Township business outside of the public Monthly Meeting.

 

Solar Garden Scholarships:  There are three Solar Garden Scholarships that will be going to high school seniors. NextEra will give $2,000, and each land owner will give $1,000.  Jordan High School Dollars for Scholars will receive $3,000 and $1,000 will go to Shakopee High School Dollars for Scholars. If you know any Seniors in High School, encourage them to apply.  The schools will list the criteria to be met to be eligible for the scholarship.

 

Jordan Fire Contract:  Jordan Fire Department covers the entire Sand Creek Township. We attend two meetings a year. Our cost for 2020 Levy is $135,000. Sand Creek township pays about 26.9% of Jordan’s Fire Budget. $110,000 goes to Services and the balance goes to debt on the vehicles.

 

In 2019 there were a total of 218 incidents – Sand Creek Township had 42 of those calls. In 2018 there were a total of 196 calls, 40 of them were for Sand Creek Township.

 

TH 169 Corridor Study: After the Township was told about the TH 169/Hwy 41 intersection project, we had concerns about the unfettered flow of traffic through our area of TH 169. There will no longer be gaps in traffic for residents and businesses to have safe access on or off the highway. Scott County EDA suggested a Study to be done. That Study is now part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. MNDOT has found some funding as TH 169 is to be re-paved in 2022. Some of the actions in the Study were to connect backage roads and to close off some access points on 169. MNDOT and Scott County have more potential funding when combined with Jordan’s highway activities.

 

Levy Update:  We have three accounts; Road and Bridge, Fire, and General Expenses which includes the Jordan Avenue and Bluff Drive Levy. In 2020, there is no change for the Fire account. We have increased the General Fund by $2,000. For the Road and Bridge Fund we have increased the Levy $51,000 to help pay for the upcoming Road projects for a 9.6% increase. In the last 10 years we have had an overall 35% increase for keeping up with inflation.

 

Bruce Hunstad Reports:

 

TH 169 Corridor Coalition: Bruce reported that the Township is a member of the TH 169 Corridor Coalition. Established in 2009, the Coalition is made up of communities and counties from Mankato to Edina. Bruce volunteered to be on the Executive Board. He brought the TH 169 Corridor Study and Fact Sheets to the State Capital on 2019 Legislative Day and to Washington DC with the MN Transportation Alliance to lobby for Federal funding for our Road and Bridge projects. A Public Open House was held at Jordan City Council Chambers in December. MNDOT showcased Project updates and planned activities within Scott County: TH 169/Hwy 41, Hwy 282 re-pavement project, Hwy 282 and TH 169 interchange concepts.

 

2040 Comp Plan:  The 2040 Comp Plan is approved by Scott County and passed on to the Met Council. The Comp Plan is well documented and has input from residents and local businesses. For Water Resources, ordinances were put in place regarding Interim Use and Conditional Use Permits which protect water quality. For Land Use, there was re-mapping of Urban Expansion areas that more closely reflect city growth for mainly the western portion of the County. Our request for our residents that live around Jordan in the urban expansion areas, to allow 1 in 40 acres or 1 in 10acres with clustering. There is long-term agricultural use planed for mainly in the southern part of the county. We will continue to encourage Industrial and Commercial growth along the highway corridors. Scott County would like to see promotion of small-scale business growth within the historical Hamlets; Marystown, Lydia, St. Patrick’s, Blakely and Union Hill. Transportation is the County’s largest and most expensive asset. Parks and Trails are a focus to make them more accessible, inclusive, and including dog parks.

 

Internet Provider:  Jaguar Communications came into Sand Creek Township in the Industrial Park area, along South Sutton Lake Blvd, and along County Rd 8, this Spring. Residential service is much improved and the cost factor is better. They received State Grants and continue to plow new fiber into the ground.

 

Website: Our website address is www.sandcreekmn.org to see News, Calendars, Minutes and Agendas, and Departments; Roads and Maintenance, Planning, Permits, and Town Board Contact information. There is a Sand Creek Township 101 document in the News section for anyone interested in reading more about our Township. Subscribe to the website for monthly notices with links to the Meeting Minutes and Agenda. There is a section called Helpful Links that will take you to Scott County Departments including the Sheriff’s Office, Farm Resources and Jordan School District.

 

Capital Improvement Plan: The CIP started from our Annual Road Inspection. We break up the budget – 80% is for roads maintenance and 20% goes into a savings account (CIP). Of the 80%, we break it up into 2 plans – January through August uses 60%, September through December the remaining 40%. We discuss the priorities at every Monthly Meeting. The CIP spreadsheet lists every road in the Township. During the Spring Road Inspection, we comment on every road and prioritize the projects. The CIP account will be used for bigger planned projects like culvert replacements, major road improvements, mill and overlay projects, etc. A big project coming up will be mill and overlay on Sand Creek Drive and Twin Oaks Circle. Last year we joined the Joint Powers Association for crack filling and seal coating. The JPA is a conglomerate of communities; Shakopee, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage, Bloomington, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville, Hastings, Mendota Heights, Prior Lake, Rosemount, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and many Townships.

 

Bill Schneider Reports:

 

Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency – SCALE: People who attend the meetings are representatives from the state, county, townships, cities, schools, SMSC, Mdewakanton Sioux, etc. There are different topics at every meeting and opportunities for learning and conversing with people from all over. An Ordinance on Public Health Nuisance from the County was brought up and some Townships were concerned about the wording. Legal Counsel was included and changed some of the wording to be fairer to residents.

 

Dust Coating:  We received a quote for Dust Coating for this year. There will be a price increase from the contractor.  The process went very well last year with this contractor. Pat Pitlick asked how much residents paid last year. Myron explained residents paid $11,782. Dave Kreuser asked what Dust Coating consists of. Bill explained our mixture is the heaviest amount at 38% Calcium Chloride. Dave asked if we can cut back on the use of salt. Bill said we use very little salt. We use rock chips and mix salt and sand for use on hills in the winter. Chad S. explained that the alternate methods are not working as well as the salting. Bill explained that at the SCALE meetings, people talk about their treatments, and Salt and Calcium Chloride work consistently. Motion by Travis Cherro to have a 50/50 split of the Dust Coating between the residents and the township, second by Randolph Ely, Unanimous at 8:10pm.

 

FEMA Update:  Last winter damage in our area was covered by FEMA for reimbursed for some of our road costs.  We choose to repair frost boils on Bluff Drive by a new process that goes down four feet and uses fabric, drain tile, fabric, pea-gravel, and fill the remaining are with road materials. This routes the water into the ditch. FEMA only pays to bring the road up to where it was, not better than it was. Expected re-imbursement is $32,000.

 

2019 – 2020 Road Maintenance Update: No Parking during winter months signs were added to the Golfview Drive and Golfview Circle. No Parking signs were added to one side of Valley View to fix traffic problems during ball games. Overall roads are in pretty good shape. They have not been graded yet as some areas still have ice. There will be some tree trimming done this year.

 

Travis asked about the road experiment where they put down the shingle mixture. Bill said there is a tremendous upcharge as there needs to be a four-inch layer to start. The first year it worked out great for dust. The second-year dust coating is unknown as to how well it holds up.

 

Pat asked what kind of road improvements will be done this year. Bill explained that crack seal will be done in different locations. Bruce said that a culvert repair is expected on Naylor Avenue. There is no major work on gravel roads this year. We are planning on crack fill and seal coating in certain areas. We are saving money for the big project on Sand Creek Drive and Twin Oaks Circle. Dave Kreuser asked where the culvert on Naylor is being repaired. Chad S. replied that it is located at the end of Dan’s driveway. Bill said there are other culverts that will need to be replaced in the future and prioritize each project.

 

Old Business:  None

 

New Business:

 

Scott County Ag Society – Township Fair Donation: Chad B. read the letter sent from the Ag Society. They are looking for new sponsors and donations from Townships. Chad B. said it seems that there is some information missing from the letter. How much are they looking for? A decision can be made to do nothing, say Yes, say No not this year, or do nothing this year and wait for next year. Motion by Pat to do nothing this year add it to next year meeting as Old Business, second by Travis and to get more information by then, Unanimous at 8:29pm. This will be added to next year’s Old Business.

 

Open to authorized residents who wish to address a township topic or issue: 

 

Pat Pitlick – What is happening with SM Hentges $80,239.24 that the Township has paid? Chad S. responded that it has been a 9-year battle of legal fees. Hentges did renew his permits for the wells, and are considered environmental wells. Pat asked if it is likely we will get this money from him? Chad S. replied probably not, but if Hentges were to start something up again, be rest assured that we would bring up how much he still owes us.

 

Dave Kreuser would like some kind of map to see what is going to happen on Hwy 282. Bruce explained there will be a trail along side the road. Some residents asked for a turn lane from Hwy 282 north to Pueblo Ave. When the Township receives information, we can share it with the residents. There will be a major re-claim of the surface 5-6 inches off the top. The Township Board told MNDOT about the water draining across Dave’s property.

 

Bank for Deposit of Funds and Investments – Frandsen Bank

Motion by Deb Pauly to have Frandsen Bank as the township bank, second by Pat Pitlick, Unanimous at 8:36pm.

Official Township Newspaper – Jordan Independent

Motion by Chad Bohnsack to have the official newspaper as the Jordan Independent, second by Deb Pauly, Unanimous at 8:36pm. 

Official Posting Sites – Website and Clerk’s Residence 

Motion by Pat Pitlick to have the website and clerk’s residence as the official posting sites, second by Travis Cherro, Unanimous at 8:37pm.

Setting of Levy:

The Levy will be set at the continuation of the Annual Meeting on September 3rd, 2020, at 6pm at Jordan City Council Chambers.

2021 Annual Meeting:  March 9th, 2021 at Jordan Fire Hall at 7pm.

Regular Monthly Meeting:

Monthly meetings are set for the 1st Thursday of every month at the Jordan City Council Chambers at 7pm. Exceptions will be posted and published.

 

Motion to recess the annual meeting until 6pm on September 3rd, 2020 to set the levy by Deb Pauly, second by Pat Pitlick, Unanimous at 8:39pm.      

 

 

 

_________________________________________              _______________________________________

Township Deputy Clerk, Emily Nordick               Township Moderator, Chad Bohnsack