Public Notices March 2, 2017
As anyone who lives on a ditch system will attest to, trees can really slow down drainage.
At the Feb. 21 meeting of the Todd County Board of Commissioners discussion and action took place on the County Ditch 18 repair project when the board approved the first part of the project at a cost of $71,430.
Background
The Todd County Ditch Authority put the County Ditch 18 Repair Project out for rebids with the bid opening held Feb. 16.
Ditch Inspector Nancy Uhlenkamp said that because of issues including boggy ground which needs to be worked on while the ground is still frozen, Kurt Deter, Ditch Attorney, advised that the Ditch Authority can make a decision on the tree removal portion of the bid at a regular commissioner’s board meeting.
After discussion, the board did approve doing the first portion of the project - tree removal - and accepted the low bid by Corbin Pickar Excavating in the amount of $71,430.
A Repair/Outlet Hearing will be held in mid April 2017 to make a decision on the mobilization and ditch cleaning portion of the bid.
Uhlenkamp further shared, “The bid amount for mobilization and ditch cleaning is $200,255, for a total bid of $271,685.
“Because of scheduling conflicts, a Repair Hearing will not be able to be scheduled until sometime in mid April. The frost may be out by then and the tree removal will be difficult if not impossible to complete at that time and may need to be delayed until winter of 2017.”
A letter has been sent to the landowners on the assessment roll after the bid opening, to inform them of the bid amount and that the Ditch Authority would be making a decision on the tree removal portion at the Feb. 21 board meeting.
One gentleman at the meeting asked if a landowner could remove his own brush and trees from his ditch property to keep the cost down.
Uhlenkamp said that they could remove the trees and brush themselves, however the property would still be on the assessment and would not change the cost much at all.
In other business:
o After discussion, the board approved a Conditional Use Permit request to establish a two building mini-storage business for Mike Wolpert with four conditions including:
1) Vegetative screening of three rows consisting of one row of conifer, one row of deciduous, and one row of shrubs at 12 foot planted spacing.
2) Exterior lighting must be shielded and elements directed to buildings, with more lights closer to the ground and not directly visible off site.
3) That the Agricultural Compatibility Statement be included.
4) If more storage buildings are planned for this parcel a CUP amendment must be obtained.
Planning and Zoning Director Tim Stieber said there were a number of concerns with this CUP, some of which were resolved at the planning commission meeting. He said there was one letter of concern that the storage buildings would lower adjoining property values and another person who expressed concern that it would raise property values.
Commissioner David Kircher had a concern with why they were planting trees and questioning how long it would take for the trees to grow. He asked if they had looked at fencing.
Chairman Rod Erickson said that they had, but then there were questions raised on how high the fence should be among other things.
Erickson said the CUP was satisfactory with neighbors.
o Zoning ordinance amendments were presented at a commissioner’s work session on Oct. 18, 2016, and at Planning Commission meetings on Dec. 1, 2016, Jan. 5 and Feb. 2017.Copies of the proposed changes were distributed as required by statute and posted on the county web site.
Input was obtained at each meeting. The final proposed changes were reduced somewhat in scope from the initially proposed version.
Appointments to Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission will continue to be by commissioner district. Road access requirements were initially proposed to be 16.5 feet minimum. This was increased to 33 foot minimum land connection or perpetual access easement. The other proposed changes were not altered.
According to Stieber, the Planning Commission and public provided good review of the proposed changes and recommended accepting them at February’s Planning Commission meeting.
o Shawn Ehlert applied to subdivide property into two residential lots located in the shoreland district of Mound Lake in Grey Eagle Township. The Preliminary Plat met all Planning and Zoning requirements and was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on February 2 with no conditions. The board approved the recommendation.
o Jill Scott from Morrison County Public Health provides reflective supervision for the Nurse Family Partnership Agreement. The NFP program is a home visiting program to first time pregnant mothers and their infants with visits made by a public health nurse. The program began in Todd County in October 2010 partnering with Morrison County. In 2013, Wadena and Cass counties joined. The cost is split between the four counties.
The board approved the renewal agreement.
Commissioner David Kircher said that this was one of the best programs offered by public health.
“It is the best bang for our buck and we see the best returns out of it,” he said.
Scott agreed and said that they saw less incarcerations of parents and teens who were in the program.
o Approved a one year Off Sale, On Sale and Sunday Liquor License for the DT Lisson Inc. doing business as Double Eagle Golf & Grille in Eagle Bend, effective April 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018.
o Approved a one year On Sale and Sunday Liquor License for the Sauk Centre Country Club Inc. doing business as Greystone Golf Club in Sauk Centre effective April 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018.
o Approved a one day gambling permit for the Sauk Centre Main Street Ducks Unlimited to hold a raffle at Diamond Point Supper Club in Birchdale Township on April 8.
o Approved a one day gambling permit for the Wahoo Valley Chapter of Minnesota Deer Hunters Association to hold a raffle at the Clarissa Ballroom in Eagle Valley Township on April 1.
o Approved the recommendation of the Todd County Parks and Trails Board to appoint Commissioner Barb Becker as an alternate to the Todd County Parks and Trails Board.
o Scheduled the 2017 County Board of Appeal and Equalization for June 19 at 6 p.m. not to end before 7 p.m.
o Heard the Todd County Development Corporation’s annual report from Director Rick Utech.
o Heard the Great River Regional Library’s annual report from Executive Director Karen Pundsack.
o The board approved the hire of Temporary Seasonal Recreational Assistants for the sheriff’s office to work in the areas of boat and water patrol, snowmobile patrol, ATV patrol and invasive species enforcement. The positions would be minimum wage positions.
o Accepted the resignation of Travis Genty as a GIS Specialist with an effective date of Feb. 17.
o Approved waiving the 90-day waiting period and allowing human resources to begin the process of recruiting, interviewing and recommending hire to fill the GIS specialist vacancy as recommended by the personnel committee to fill the position vacated by Genty.
o Approved the resignation of Administrative Assistant Lori Jorgensen retroactive to Oct. 23, 2016.
o Held a brief closed session to discuss pending litigation.
