4111 11th Avenue SW - Rochester, Minnesota 55902 - Tel. (507) 282-6488

ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP BOARD - MEETING MINUTES

Gary Donovan called the meeting to order at 7 PM

Members Present - Jeff Orth, Brian Mueller, Brenda Dicken, Gary Swenson, Gary Donovan, Douglas Butler, & Lenny Laures

Guests – Roger Ihrke, Mark Welch, Marshall Goodman, Ann Paulish, Rick Sundberg, Richard Ehman, Marqaret Houston, Shawn O’Driscoll, Elizabeth Dunn, Norm Olson, Scott Nyberg, Carla Helhl, Kate Mallmann, Mark Darnell,

Brenda Dicken made a motion to approve the December 14th 2006 minutes as presented. Douglas Butler seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

New Business:

Ivy Lodge appeal- Roger Ihrke gave the town board an update on the Ivy Lodge Conditional Use Permit.. It will be appealed to the Township board on January 31st, 2007. The board needs to decide whether the planning commission made the right decision. If we decide that the planning commission wasn’t correct it will have to go back to the planning commission. We can request an additional 60(up to 120 days) days for the appeal to determine what conditions they might want to put on the Conditional Use Permit. Roger Ihrke passed out a letter sent to Derek Mazula, Drifens LLC in regard to the denial of the Conditional Use Permit. Roger suggested we contact Peter Tiede and suggested he should be at the meeting to provide legal counsel. If he can’t, we might want to change it to a date that he can make. Shawn O’Driscoll asked if Roger Ihrke or any of his staff have any conflict of interest in this matter, Roger said no, their determination or opinion was based on past practice. Roger gave the example of another similar type project in a Township for patients with Alzheimer’s. He then asked if he or any of his staff had any relationship with the contractor or Derek Mazula, Drifens, LLC or anyone involved with this project. Roger said no.

Annexation - Mark Welch informed the board of a proposed development within Rochester Township called Scenic Oaks West, a Rodney Young development. Mark said that the lots would be 1-acre lots. He wanted to know if there are any special assessments and was there any debt incurred by the township for this property that hasn’t been re-cupped. The boards answer was no.

Sheriff’s Youth Program (SYP) Douglas Butler introduced Rick Sundberg the new director for the Sheriff’s Youth Program. Rick said most of the youth that are in the program are from the Rochester area and range in age from 13 to 18 years old. Douglas Butler asked what the protocol is for someone that is missing. Rick said that they are reported to the law enforcement as missing. The law enforcement department takes over and searches for the child.

Rick said in the future they would like to set up a separate wing, he referred to it as a consequence wing where youth would serve the community as a consequence for there indiscretion.

Performance Bonds - Gary Donovan and Gary Swenson met with Mike Sheehan on the process of renewing the performance bonds. We discussed changing the wording in the developer’s agreement requiring the bond be in place for the full term on the agreement and the warranty period rather than the current practice of annual renewals. We also requested Mike Sheehan to send a letter to TCPA requesting them to withhold building permits until the performance bonds are in place.

Annual Meeting / Newsletter - Suggestions were discussed for agenda items for the newsletter and annual meeting. Items mentioned were: sheriff’s contract, introduction of Deputy Valerie Coe, summer picnic, Animal Control, storm water management, 40th street. Brenda Dicken and Douglas Butler will work on the content of the newsletter.

Rochester Township budget meeting date and time was set for Monday, February 12th, at 7PM at the town hall.

Reports and old Business:

Treasurer’s Report --- Gary Swenson, Treasurer

Douglas Butler made a motion to approve the treasures report. Brian Mueller seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Douglas Butler made a motion to approve the Rochester Town claims# 358 thru 370 for $17,948.65. Brenda Dicken seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Douglas Butler made a motion to approve the JPB Claim #703 thru 727 for $15,736.32. Brenda Dicken seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Maintenance Supervisor’s Report --- Lenny Laures said they have been out brushing and sanding. They installed Bluetooth system in the 06Mack. He has been pricing an air compressor for the Cascade shop. O6 Mack is over at the Mack Shop and its repair work under warranty.

TCPA --- Brenda Dicken reported on the TCPA financial condition, they ended the year with a couple of thousand dollars ahead for the year. They increased the permit fees to match the 2004 county rates or about a 6% increase.

Head wall study - Gary Donovan reported he did meet with Michael Gowan from McGhie and Betts and they are working on a proposal.

Jim Stephans, life insurance – Gary Donovan reported that Jim Stephan is look into this for the township.

Community Policing effort - Captain Mark Darnell introduced deputy Valerie Coe, she will –( Cell Phone # 507-696-7013) be the officer working under our contract with the Sheriff’s Office. This is a joint effort between the sheriff’s office and three of the townships that border the city of Rochester. Brian Mueller made motion to adopt the 2007 law enforcement agreement. Douglas Butler seconded the motion, it was voted on and passed.

Mail boxes-Mayowood –Brenda Dicken reported she hasn’t heard anything from the Postmaster and will follow up on it to check if there is a written policy on rural mail delivery.

Employee appreciation - Douglas Butler said he has made the necessary arrangements at the Riverview Greens Golf Course in Stewartville for February 15, 2007.

Other Business: Lenny requested that the board consider paying our on call workers (an individual called and agreed to be available “ON CALL” for a set period of time for a specific weather emergency) a minimum of $50.00 per event. Brenda Dicken made a motion that we pay our on call workers a minimum of $50.00 per event if they are not called in. If called in they would get the hours earned. Doug Butler seconded the motion, it was voted on and passed.

Brenda Dicken made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 PM. Brian Mueller seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gary Swenson, Clerk

Gary Donovan, Chair

Rochester Township - 4111 11th Avenue SW - Rochester, Minnesota 55902 - Tel. (507) 282-6488