Alice Pickering
Linwood Area ReporterLinwood Township officials must decide on an approach to clean up a ìjunkî house now that it has the legal authority to act. Attorney Gerald Randall told the town board May 4 it has the ìauthority to do what it wants, but recommends working with the owners.î
Supervisor Mel Pfaffendorf will contact the property owner so that the work can be done cooperatively. It is possible that some of the junk may have salvage value which could apply to the cost of the clean-up. This would help with the clean-up and reduce costs as well.
There is no longer a waiting period. Randall suggested contacting an Anoka company as a starting point for the work. The company may have suggestions about where and how to begin.
Other ideas would be to have an auction for what might be saleable. The board is trying to avoid paying for dumpsters to be filled.
Supervisor Marie Holm asked ìare we obligated to try for salvage or recycling?î Randall said a ìgood faith estimate (of clean-up cost) could be obtained by walking the site.î Cost to the township of any cleanup would be assessed to the property.
Pfaffendorf said the township must take action and be ìrealistic about what it is worth,î in terms of salvage.
The township will have to front the money for the clean-up. This will be assessed to the property and collected along with the property tax bill.
Regarding the McBride house on Sunrise Road, this owner is also in default. The court order for cleanup has more to do with environmental hazards.
Gravel bid
After learning Dresel Trucking, Inc. would not provide smaller-than-standard gravel in the Class-5 mix without a long-term agreement, Linwood board members rescinded an earlier motion to accept the Dresel bid.
The township will not be penalized for its decision change. Instead, Clerk Judy Hanna was directed to re-advertise for Class-5 gravel with 12-14 percent clay.
Park fees
The board approved the park dedication fees of $6000 each, for Evans Estates and White Tail Ridge. Each development has six lots.
Supervisors voted to increase the park dedication fee to $2000 a lot, effective for sketch plans filed after April 27, 2004. Supervisor Holm brought a request to the board from the parks commission to increase the fee to $2500. Recognizing this is a large increase, she believes it is totally justified because the value of the lots is high.
There is a limited amount of land in the township remaining to be developed. In order to develop future parks, the committee needs a better source of funds.
In recent years, budgeted amounts to parks have taken a hit.
Holm said the increase is ìfair, based on the value of the land and the increased cost of developing parks.î As a result of the discussion, the amount was adjusted downward to $2000 per lot, in line with what neighboring townships and communities have as park dedication fees.
Township insurance
Hanna renewed through June 2004 township insurance coverage with the MSI agency and purchased insurance policy for the township from the Minnesota Association of Townships. The board must make a final decision by the end of June about the coverage which is the best arrangement for the township, in terms of coverage and premiums. On May 25, agent Chris Sauro will make the insurance report.
Main differences between the policies are the sizes of the deductible and the maximum payout. Both policies remain in effect until the decision.
The fire department is currently covered by the MAT policy. MAT premium of $600 was paid on April 13.
There is a small penalty for cancellation of policies, but Supervisor Rudi McCurdy said this was a small price to pay to be certain the township is adequately covered.
Cemetery committee
The cemetery committee had a preliminary meeting about placement of a meditation site, offered by the Wayne Ayers family for the township cemetery, in memory of wife and mother Carol Ayers.
Committee member Mary Smith reported there are no county regulations for the location of a cistern. Supervisor Mike Budde suggested checking with those who work regularly in the area about paths regularly used for work in the cemetery, so that the final location does not block one of these.
The group next meets at the cemetery May 17 to check for possible locations for the memorial.
Other business
In other business, the board:
ïHeard from Budde that at the recent recycling day, more than 100 residents took advantage of the opportunity to bring in recyclables and debris. At least 18 40-yard containers were filled and about $3200 in fees for the service were collected. Charges from haulers have not been received yet.
ïHeard from McCurdy that the town treasurer receives $250 a month, with no cost of living allowance or longevity adjustments. The treasurer works 10-12 hours a week and the position has had no pay increases since 1998. Hanna is to check with MAT to see about the average pay for treasurers.
ïSupervisors approved a resolution to apply for a Help America Vote grant to improve township bathroom facilities, making them accessible to the handicapped. Estimated cost for the improvement is $15,000. There is a limited amount of grant money available.
ïPlaced K & H development on the agenda for the May 11 meeting.
ïSet a deadline of May 15 for action on the fire department constitution and by-laws.
ïOn the recommendation of planning, approved a conforming lot split for Stanley Seidel (metes and bounds) borings have been completed.
ïDirected Engineer Craig Jochum to complete the least expensive feasibility study to determine costs of street paving.
ïApproved the street sweeping bid from Magnum Company, in the amount of $105. The job will take 1.5 days.
ïLearned that dental insurance available to township employees is also available to elected officials. However, all officials must participate, or none at all.
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