Sand Creek Township
Monthly Meeting Minutes
April 2nd, 2020
DRAFT
Officers Present
Chairman
Chad Sandey, Supervisor Bruce Hunstad (called in), Supervisor Bill Schneider, Treasurer
Myron Pauly (called in), Clerk Maggie Gallentine, and Deputy Clerk Emily
Nordick
Others Present
Matt Stordahl – Stantec (called in), Perry
Mulcrone – Scott County, and Steve Herman – access-net, NetWave Broadband
Called to Order
The regular monthly meeting was called
to order at 7:08pm by Chairman Chad Sandey. The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Chad explained the reduced presence of
Board members and other regular visitors is due to COVID-19, and we are actively
practicing social distancing.
Minutes
Minutes for the March
meeting were presented to the Board. Motion by Bill to accept the minutes, second
by Bruce, Unanimous at 7:10pm. Minutes for the Board of Audit meeting
were presented to the Board. Chad said they were missing the statement about
using the Treasurer’s computer, so the Minutes were tabled until next month.
Minutes for the Annual Meeting were recessed until the September meeting. Motion
to erase the March recording of minutes by Bill, second by Chad, Unanimous at
7:15pm.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer’s
Report for March was submitted by Myron. Myron created an account for the
Pueblo Blvd/168th St/Xanadu Ave. Project. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report by Bruce, second by Bill,
Unanimous at 7:22pm.
Monthly Claims
Dvorak Excavating (tree
trimming) $ 14,082.50
Stantec (general engineering) $ 1,186.00
Couri & Ruppe
(general legal fees) $ 2,140.00
Internal Revenue Service
(1st Qtr. Taxes) $ 1,507.24
Scott County OMB
(treated salt) $ 675.00
Dem-Con (refuse
disposal) $ 77.53
New Prague Mini Storage $ 109.00
Steve Gallentine (catering for PNP election) $ 380.37
Maggie Gallentine (cell phone) $ 41.18
Bill Schneider (mileage: road inspection, trash) $
153.38
Payroll $ 900.00
Payroll $ 300.00
Payroll $ 550.00
Payroll $ 550.00
Payroll $ 525.00
Payroll $ 505.00
Total $ 23,682.20
Motion
by Bruce to accept the monthly charges as read, second by Bill, Unanimous at 7:25pm.
BUSINESS/DISCUSSION:
Sheriff’s Department: Not present
Prior Lake Spring Lake
Watershed District: Curt Hennes was not present.
Stantec: Matt Stordahl has been
working with Bruce on giving the paved roads PASER Ratings. The paved roads are
in pretty good shape and most need crack sealing and maintenance.
There was a meeting on April 1st
with MNDOT and Scott County and they agree that it makes sense to have an
acceleration lane going north from Bluff Drive on TH 169 and to close the
access from 166th Street and TH 169 will cost $330,000. The new
backage road (Berkshire) from 166th Street to Bluff Drive on the
east side of TH 169 will cost $440,000 plus contingencies and legal fees. That
work would be done in 2022. Stantec to estimate on design cost and right of way
property needs to be acquired. The right-of-way acquisitions should start as
soon as possible. Matt to check on federal process as we want to understand
exactly what access is needed. A meeting is required with interested parties.
Diane at MNDOT said we can have another meeting to discuss further. There is
not much money to do other things in conjunction with this project and should
continue to look for funding.
In 2024 during the re-paving of TH 169, the
Bluff Drive intersection would look like the 173rd Street
intersection. We have concerns regarding the 2024 project as north bound
traffic from the west side of Bluff Drive should also have an acceleration
lane. Bruce will write a letter to MNDOT with concerns.
For the Pueblo Blvd/168th
Street/Xanadu project, Stantec has sent schedule of costs to work with. Plans
$47,000 and soil borings done between Board meetings and ready in June’s
meeting. They will get bids ready for the July meeting.
Public Hearing Letter:
The
Draft of Public Hearing Letter regarding the proposed project on Pueblo
Blvd/168th Street/Xanadu Ave. has been created. If the “Stay at
Home” order is still in place. Then a Webex meeting information will be
provided with chat questions only. In the event of an additional Stay at Home
order we can postpone the hearing. Matt suggested putting a packet together
ahead of the hearing with general costs, general property value, etc.
Jordan Fire Department
Raffle Permit: Chad
signed the permit – no Motion needed.
Xcel Energy Utility
Permit: Chad
signed the permit – no Motion needed.
Frontier
Communications Right-of-Way Permit: The Permit is for the right-of-way on TH 169
going west to Valley View Road. Motion to approve the Permit by Bruce,
second by Bill, Unanimous at 8:15pm.
Jaguar Communications
Change of Control: Jaguar
was sold to another company – MetroNet Holdings. Sand Creek Township granted
Jaguar a utility permit. The contract from MetroNet says we have a franchise
agreement. If so, can we collect the franchise fee? How do we find out? Maggie
or Chad to contact Jaguar legal group. Motion by Chad to approve Resolution
2020-1 approving the change of control of Jaguar Communications, second by
Bill, Unanimous at 8:19pm.
Dust Coating Letter: The letter will be
sent out to residents with some small adjustments needed for clarification. The
minimum coverage is 300ft x 18ft. The letter will contain both Maggie’s and
Bill’s addresses for picking up stakes.
Scott County Township
Approval Form: Each
Township is expected to let the County know when they are to be notified for
residential and commercial building inspections. Sand Creek Township has chosen
to be notified for the following activities for residential properties: new
home, demolition, move house/structure, garage, pole building, and for
commercial properties: new building, move building/structure.
Access High Speed
Internet: Perry
Mulcrone (Scott County) has contacted providers to help get a rapid response to
get access to unserved or underserved residents during the COVID-19 crisis.
This proposal would be for internet only, no phone connection. Equipment would
be added to three towers to provide internet access to target approximately
4,000 homes. The areas noted are based on a survey from Scott County. A
discounted installation and monthly charges would apply for any new accounts
for a 3-year agreement. The cost of getting the equipment installed is divided
by thirds: 1/3 Access Network, 1/3 Scott County, 1/3 affected Townships (Spring
Lake, Louisville, and Sand Creek). Motion by Chad to approve and execute a
contract with the proposed internet provider contingent upon negotiating terms
acceptable to the Town Board Chairman and the Town Attorney for the following: Provide
the service to the residents of the Township for an agreed upon service price
that would not be increased for an agreed upon number of years are negotiated;
and the internet provider would also have to agree that the Township would
receive one free connection and internet service to be used for Township
business wherever the Town Board wants to assign it. It might be the Town Hall.
It might be the Clerk’s house. Maybe it’s the maintenance garage. Wherever.
Please note that this internet location may change over the years if the
location of the Town Hall or if the Clerk changes, etc., second by Bruce,
Unanimous at 9:40pm.
CIP Update and
Priorities:
Bruce has added tree trimming costs and has the PASER Ratings defined by
Stantec. He is ready for the Spring Road Tour on April 11th.
Resolution 2020-2: The Township Board
has approved Resolution 2020-2 to Conduct Open Meetings by Telephone. Motion
by Chad to adopt the Resolution establishing the ability to conduct open
meetings by telephone, second by Bill, Unanimous at 9:46pm.
Workshop Update: Maggie checked with
Mary and found the third Thursday in May (21st) is open on the
Chambers calendar. The Board can meet to work on the Task List at 6pm. No
workshop meetings will happen until after the Stay at Home order is lifted.
Website Update and
Task List:
Emily added the meeting minutes and agenda the previous week. Other meetings
the Township Board were to attend have all been cancelled. Chad asked Emily to
add the Resolution 2020-2 to the website. Foe the Task list we reviewed the
high priority items – Escrow Balances, Webb Pallet is moving driveway locations
(medium), added more tasks to the Berkshire Ave. project, Bruce to send Emily a
picture of tree trimming, 2019/2020 CIP projects, road grading and knock off
high ridges before the Spring Road Tour, Contact Joe at NextEra for scholarship
money.
REPORTS/DISCUSSIONS:
Bruce Hunstad: Bruce attended the annual meeting, the Stantec meeting about
PASER Ratings, the MNDOT/Scott County/Stantec meeting to discuss funding and
166th Street/Berkshire Ave activities. The 2022 plan looks good, but
have concerns about the 2024 TH 169 re-paving project plan because it needs
work.
Bill Schneider: Bill attended the Annual Meeting and the Poly
Septic meeting. He and Maggie met about FEMA activities.
Road Report: Bill commented that the roads are in pretty
good shape. Tree trimming and marking has been done at the golf course with
help from Bruce. More tree trimming in other areas. Todd has been grading. He
removed large amounts of trash and furniture that is now at his house because
Dem-Con is closed. Motion to
accept the Road Report by Chad, second by Bruce, Unanimous at 10:09pm.
Chad Sandey: Chad attended the Annual Meeting and Webb
Pallet meeting where they are starting at 5 driveways and reducing them down to
3. Webb Pallet will be adding landscaping changes with shrubs instead of trees.
The County is trying to be consistent with managing empty residences and
requires the home on Webb Pallet’s property to be removed within 5 years per
the Conditional Use Permit.
Motion to adjourn the
meeting at 10:14pm by Bill, second by Bruce, Unanimous.
Submitted By: _____________________________________________________
Emily Nordick, Deputy Clerk
Approved by
______________________________________________________
Chairman, Chad Sandey