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

ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP BOARD - MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Board Minutes

Members Present: Gary Donovan, Brenda Dicken, Douglas Butler, Brian Mueller, Jeff Orth, and Gary Swenson.

Members Absent: Lenny Laures

Guests: Bruce, Jay Kruger, Gary Pedersen, Mike Reiland, Melanie Richards, Mark Julsrud, and Bud Tapola

Minutes Gary Donovan made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Brenda Dicken seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Pools in Rochester Township – Bruce Borgerding said his neighbor is out of compliance with the township and county ordinance regarding pools. Gary Pedersen addressed this issue and stated the township building inspector Jay Kruger (CMS) was in error when he did not require a fence as stated in the county ordinance.

Melanie Richards put in a pool and was advised by the pool company they had two options. One was a locking pool cover or a 4 foot fence. They decided to go with the locking cover because they felt it was safer.

Mark Julsrud said he had a six foot fence around a previous pool he owned in La Crosse. He now has a locking pool cover and feels this is much better and safer than a fence.

Gary Pedersen said in this case Rochester Township has to comply with Olmsted County’s ordinance, which requires a fence. Rochester Township can be stricter than the county’s ordinance but it cannot be more lenient.

Gary Pedersen suggested the Township could consider a variance if they so wished. Brenda stated that she would be leery of granting a variance. Melanie Richards asked if they could have additional time to contact the county. Bruce suggested before we consider any extension we should contact our township attorney. Gary suggested we have in the extension agreement that one must have one or the other, a locked cover or a fence.

Jeff Orth asked Douglas Butler to call Mike Podulke and Matt Flynn and start the dialogue with the county in regard to this matter. Brenda Dicken said she’d call Peter Tiede, our township attorney, and see what our next step should be.

Meadow Crossing Road - Gary Donovan received the final document on Meadow Crossing Road at 5PM just before the meeting. The agreement states that payments to the township of $3,500 per lot will be paid at the time of closing on said lot. In the Meadow Crossing road agreement there is a blank for an estimated cost of our attorney fees, Homer suggested $10,000 in addition to the $5,000 we currently have on deposit. He stated that this would be in addition to the invoice he just received from the township for $10,847.50.

………………………….

Gary Donovan made a motion we approve the cost share agreement with Homer Tompkins. Brenda Dicken seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Dan McPearson Cairnbrae Cul-de-sac. Dan McPearson said the cul-de-sac was originally built to township specifications and later determined by Lenny Laures that it was not to township specifications. The township paid to have additional rock hauled in to make the cul-de-sac convex rather than concave. During the inspection, they found a wet spot in the cul-de-sac and had to have it tiled.

Lenny stated the rock hauled in did not contribute to the wet spot. Dan wanted to know if the township would pay for the additional work required in tiling to deal with the soft spot. The consensus of the townboard was that the rock did not contribute to the wet spot that developed in the cul-de-sac.

Dan asked if we could move ahead with the paving. Gary Donovan said he would contact GGG for the road test and inspection, and if they passed they could move ahead with the paving.

Railroad By Pass - Reviewed the discussion from the Olmsted Township Association meeting on this issue.

Homer Tompkins brought up the issue of speeding within Mayo Woodlands. Jeff Orth said we should contact Mike Sheehan to find out what we can do about posting speed limit signs. Gary Donovan suggested Homer call him directly and discuss this issue.

Mike Reiland said we are having problems dealing with weeds on a few of the lots going down Meadow Crossing Road.

Treasurer’s Report: Douglas Butler made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. Gary Donovan seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Treasurer's Report

MM Opening Balance $ 497,067.35

Checking Balance $ 3,110.06

Checks Written $ (120,143.70)

Deposits $ 312,166.42

Ending Balance June 30 $ 692,200.13

Rochester Township Claims - Douglas Butler made a motion to approve the township claims #838 thru #853 for $24,733.13. Brenda Dicken seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Joint Powers Claims - Brenda Dicken made a motion to approve the JPB claims #1485 thru #1505 for $ 10,460.11. Douglas Butler seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

Road Report - Mike Reiland said they have done the crack filling on 40th street sprayed weeds in some of the township ditches too.

Land Use Plan – Brenda Dicken discussed a copy of the revised Land Use Plan, it is still a work in progress.

Olmsted County Sheriff Contract for 2010 and 2011 - Brenda Dicken made a motion that we approve the Olmsted County Sheriff Contract. Gary Donovan seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

TCPA – Brenda Dicken, reported TCPA made a little money this past month--about $1,900.

Meeting adjourned - Gary Donovan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:03PM. Brian Mueller seconded the motion; it was voted on and passed.

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