Posted: 3/12/03

Linwood awards road work bids

Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

On the recommendation of Hokanson-Anderson engineering firm, Linwood supervisors unanimously accepted the bid by Bauerly Bros. in the amount of $383,292.93 for road work to be completed for 237th Street. Engineer Craig Jochum spoke for the firm and recommended accepting the bid for Hardrives for street work to be completed on 227th Street.

Supervisors accepted this bid also in the amount of $304,795.46 during the regular meeting on March 4.

Discussion went back to township parking ordinances. Supervisor Rudi McCurdy does not want changes made in the ordinance that the township cannot enforce. There are occasions of celebration and mourning that may require suspension of the parking ban, he said.

He requested the parking ordinance be referred to the road and bridge committee for recommendations. He said there could be specific areas where parking is banned instead of a blanket ìno parkingî provision, especially in winter, to allow for street maintenance.

Supervisor Mike Budde challenged McCurdy to come up with acceptable language for the parking ordinance. The parking ordinance is to be placed on the road and bridge agenda with a request for a recommendation to the board by June 1.

More on roads

Supervisor Marvin McCormick reported the road and bridge committee and the Lent Town Board are recommending blacktopping Lyons Street (about 1.3 miles) and a short segment of 238th.

Lent has assumed responsibility for grading and maintaining the road segment that the townships share, but the costs are shared between the townships. Because it is traveled so much, it requires a lot of maintenance. This year the townshipís share of maintenance is $1800.

237th and Thames

By unanimous vote supervisors authorized Randall and Jochum to fine-tune negotiations with the 13 property owners on 237th and Thames, related to acquisition of rights-of-way necessary for street improvements. However, the final decision is to be made by the board.

A result of the anticipated road work, some parcels are now just below 20 acres in size. Size of the parcels varies and anticipated cost of acquisition ranges from a low of about $30 to a high figure of $2580. Total value of the 13 parcels is estimated at about $15,330. Owners of one parcel are asking for a variance from the 20 acre requirement for dividing into smaller lots, since right-of-way acquisition is what is reducing their lot size and is entirely out of their control.

Budde and building inspector Dave Thompson checked a complaint about a garage on Fawn Lake Drive. They found a broken door, a broken truss, and two trusses which had been cut.

In addition, the garage is full of garbage. The owner is to be contacted and arrangements made to clean up the garage or have the township do so.

Randall summarized the road grading contract prepared for Brown Grading and the township. The main feature of the contract is that no grading is to be done without direction from the Road and Bridge supervisor or road foreman. The work is to be inspected as soon as possible after completion, with reports to be completed every two weeks about the work.

Randall said the contract is standard, with clarification of insurance requirements. Brownís attorney requested ìreasonableî be included. The board approved the contract and authorized board chair and clerk to sign the contract.

The township will continue to compare the costs of securing sensitivity training for employees. One quote was for a three-hour session, limited to 20 people for $700. Another was for an instructor from Anoka Vo-Tech for 3 one-hour sessions at a cost of $500.

Officials are seeking in-depth course for employees. Hanna was directed to check with other agencies and educational institutions.

The board tabled a request by Steve and Kim Spande for variance to build an indoor riding arena with larger dimensions and higher sidewalls than township ordinances allow. Only four board members were in attendance and the vote was tied 2-2.

Spandeís own about 10 acres. The site of the proposed arena is well back from the road and concealed in trees and neighbors do not object to the building. McCurdyís primary concern is the request is ìtoo much beyond the minimumî building size and deviates ìso far from our ordinance.î

According to Randall, the township is obligated to renew the cable franchise. There is only a six-month window for negotiation about 36 months before expiration of the franchise. He claimed informal negotiating is still possible. Bob Vose, representative for the company, wants to discuss areas of company service to improve and negotiate with the franchise. The board was never contacted about rate increases. Randall was directed to draft an ordinance related to cable service and meet with Vose for critique and comments.

The township has been awarded an $11,000 grant to purchase a computer and software to monitor maintenance of septic systems in the township. Although the system for reporting maintenance is voluntary; residents returning a card indicating when tanks are pumped, this will help encourage residents to report when their systems have been pumped.

The projected date for installation of software is sometime in 2004. The township anticipates hiring an intern associated with UM to help enter data for the project. Linwood will be mailing letters to all residents to provide information on their own systems. According to Hanna, ìit is up to residents to do their own monitoring.î

In one question, a resident asked if the proposed budget is relying heavily on grants. He cautioned heavy reliance on them in light of budget shortfalls at the state level.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïAsked attorney Gerald Randall to draft an ordinance outlining township authority and chain of command. Concerned that there is no written purchase policy in the township, McCormick asked that one be established in writing. Effective April 1, 2003, any proposed expenditure over $500 is to be brought to the board approval before the purchase is made.

ïLearned ìNo parkingî signs have been posted on the public access on South Linwood Drive; also prohibiting boat launching.

ïApproved the 2003 contract with the Youth Service Bureau.

ïAccepted an equipment quote from Smoky Hills Excavation to be placed on file.

ïApproved the board of audit.

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