Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Street work for the summer will begin soon in Linwood Township. On May 24, supervisors accepted the bid from Universal Enterprises, in the amount of $85,372 for maintenance of West Linwood Drive and Deer Run.

Bob Beckman, road and bridge committee, told the board the company is willing to repair some rough areas in the Fawn Lake area if township personnel identify the road sections and they are located close together.

Beckman plans to meet with township employees to locate the spots and pass information to Engineer Craig Jochum. Plans are to include paving of the town hall parking lot when the road paving is completed.

The board also accepted the bid from Gustafson Excavating of $60,023 for street work on Cora Road, North Linwood Drive and Icarus Street.

A decision about paving a short section of old Typo Creek Drive, near The Country Store, was tabled.

The board directed Attorney Gerald Randall to start the street vacation process, contacting property owners about the matter.

If the township retains the road, paving of this section would be completed when other paving is done.

Lt. Sommers, Anoka County Sheriffís office presented statistics about crimes in Linwood, since police protection began. The number of traffic arrests has dramatically increased.

Supervisor Mel Pfaffendorf said he is seeing far fewer speeders.

Attorney reports

A lawsuit against the township about the lot split has been settled. Randall told the board the owner agreed to reconstruct the mortgage to cover both the lots.

There has been no further action in the suit filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy against Shadow Ridge Estates.

Randall continues work regarding access to township parkland in the Deer Run Estates. He is in the process of finding who to contact, who owns involved property.

The township is seeking an easement into the landlocked parcel.

Regarding a township meth ordinance, Randall recommended tabling action until later in the summer.

He recommended waiting until it is clear what the Minnesota Legislature adopts and how it may impact local ordinances.

Supervisors approved a variance request by David Kichler, 7140 234th Ave. NE, to build a garage closer to the road than the house.

Planning and zoning recommended denial of the request, but two supervisors had driven by the site and found the request reasonable.

Frank Kvidera, surveyor, felt the request was reasonable. Kichler will move the garage 40 feet back from the road right-of-way. Action was approved by a 3-0 vote.

Dave Tryon had requested a discussion of wage information for township employees, but could not attend the meeting. Therefore, discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

Supervisor Marie Holm wants it on the record that township employees are paid close to industry standard for respective jobs.

She believes employees are already making close to what they should be making.

The township was awarded a $60,000 Community Development Block Grant.

According to Town Clerk Judy Hanna, $50,000 is designated for the purchase of a new senior van, with the balance to improve the lighting in the senior center.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïLearned Randall continues work on the ordinance to change township election dates to coincide with the general election. This includes transition plan for the terms of office for sitting supervisors.

ïLearned Randall is working with Supervisor Rudi McCurdy to get photographs documenting junk in yards, in order to follow-up on property complaints.

ïDirected Randall to write letters to two families involved in land dispute, about fees owed the township.

ïListened to annual insurance review by Chris Sauro.

ïOn the recommendation of Hanna, approved the hiring of Annabelle Kirschenman as Senior Center assistant.

ïTabled a decision about a conforming lot split for applicant Randy Paggen, until more details are provided.

ïApproved a variance request by John Kwiecien to build a garage closer to the road than his house.

ïRecommended inviting Jim Stockinger, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to the next planning and zoning meeting.

ïLearned the site for the township salt and sand shed has been staked out.

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