Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

The insurance company attorney appointed to represent the township in a legal suit, met in closed session with Attorney Gerald Randall and supervisors on April 12. After discussions, the board voted against settlement with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. The MCEA is challenging the boardís decision about its approval of the design of Shadow Ridge Development.

Randall continues to follow up on township complaints about yards filled with junk and old cars. There have been more formal complaints about properties on 226th Lane.

Jon Christiansen from Anoka County will accompany Randall to inspect some of these yards and take pictures. An administrative search warrant will make the inspections legal.

In his review of township street projects slated for 2005 Engineer Craig Jochum told the board that North Linwood Drive, Cora Road, and Icarus Street are being completed as one project. Bids on the project will be opened May 9 and the township will be able to award the bid May 10.

The Cora Road project will relocate a road to the north end of the lots. An alley that has been used as a road now divides these lots. Brush and trees have been cleared from the new roadway. As part of the work, the contractor will construct driveways to the right-of-way. Residents will be notified near the end of July about the work schedule. They will not necessarily have to abandon the access.

Icarus Street is on the north side of Linwood Lake and was once part of a county road. The work will relocate the street slightly and driveways constructed from the road to rights-of-way. By early October, residents will need to have driveways connected to the completed road, then the blacktop will be removed from the old road bed, and grading and seeding will be completed.

Craig Bachman, new member of the road and bridge committee, asked why Icarus, a short road with five homes, has priority over others. Dave Tryon, chair, said work being completed on these roads has been planned several years, but postponed.

Tryon directed Jochum to look at the short section of township road near the Country Store. Anoka County has scheduled road repair on CR-22 (Viking Blvd) this summer. The section is between CR-74 and CR-75 (Sunrise Road).

It is more economical to have the street work done by the contractor, in combination with the other road work, and then have the township pay for the completed work. Arrangements need to be in place by late May for this work to be completed.

Supervisors approved up to $2000 for equipment to meet homeland security requirements. Firefighters must meet the National Incident Management Systems training to qualify for federal grants.

Fire Chief Gabrick reported Joe and Kathy Anderson donated $1600 to the fire department to help buy equipment.

Gabrick is waiting for the legal review of mutual aid agreements to present them to Stacy, Wyoming, and East Bethel. NIMS terminology is incorporated into these documents. The departments assist each other in fire emergencies.

Jeff Baumgartner reported the police committee intends to help establish neighborhood watch groups and to keep on top of other police activities in the township. The watch groups are started one-by-one. The meetings have changed to the first Monday of the month. Supervisor Marie Holm thanked the group for being so proactive.

Clerk Judy Hanna reported cable fees paid to the township are supposed to gradually increase, but the payment sent was the same as last year.

Sether and Larsen families were billed for some of the legal work to sort out easements to their land at the east end of 217th. Some of the deeds were not drafted correctly and Randall completed this.

At the March 22 meeting, Oliver Anderson approached the board with Tom Carlisle about gaining access to his landlocked parcel, about 40 acres, between CR-76 (Sunrise Road) and Carlos Avery Wildlife Refuge. He is petitioning for a cart way, because long ago he purchased the land but did not record the easement to access it.

Residents are reminded that 2005 Recycling Day is set 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 23, at the township recycling center. The next recycling day is September 17.

Plans for Family Fun Day are being developed. The goal is to have a greater variety of activities, with perhaps some for later in the day or evening. Anoka Police Department has some educational programs about water safety, child restraint safety (car seats), and Operation ID kits, as possible contributions to Fun Day. More input is being sought.

Other business

In other business, the board

ïApproved a time extension for filing Shadow Ridge developers to file a final plat.

ïDiscussion of a sublease with Sprint was tabled until the next meeting.

ïLearned the DNR has installed a gate at the east entrance to the Linwood School and Community Forest to keep vehicles out of the area. A gate is planned at the north entrance so cars cannot get beyond the parking lot. Action was approved by the board.

ïDiscussion of the disposition of landlocked park land in Deer Run Development near Tamarack Lake was placed on the next agenda.

ïLearned of a request for a speed study along West Martin Lake Road.

ïApproved the road foreman and maintenance personnel to attend seminars on culvert installation and maintenance, and erosion control.

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