Alice Pickering

Linwood Area Reporter

Linwood supervisors approved the final plat for Boettcher Farm Preserve, a 93-unit development to be located in the northern part of the township, near Fawn Lake Road. Approval is contingent on final review by Engineer Craig Jochum.

The development agreement includes park dedication of 7.3 acres and $50,000 for Phase I of the development. An additional contribution to parks is scheduled when Phase II begins.

Developer Steve Strandlund told the Linwood Town Board April 26 the one snag for the development is Xcel refuses to run gas mains into the development. While there is gas service to all other developments around the acreage, the nearest gas main is 300 feet east of the eastern border of what is to be Phase III, the last part of the project to be developed.

The property is surrounded by other developments that have natural gas service.

Strandlund said the company policy is to bring gas mains in to higher density areas. Rationale appears to be preference for providing service to housing units with greater density; condominiums and townhouses.

According to Strandlund local company officials believe it makes sense to have the gas service run in to the site. He has offered to pay for the main.

The alternative is to have propane for fuel in the development. While this is an acceptable solution to rural areas where homes are widely separated, Strandlund believes natural gas would be a better option here.

The quality of development and the number of homes merits the service. While the density in this development is sufficient, the company, at least for the time being will not provide gas service to the area.

Strandlund has taken his case to the public utilities commission and to Xcel. He requested a letter of support from the township to local company officials, supporting his petition. Supervisors agreed to send a letter of support to Xcel.

More topics

Supervisors accepted the bid of $36,650, from Wheeler Lumber, LLC, for the materials for the sand and salt shed. This was the only bid received, but supervisors were satisfied that it was fair and considered it a way for the town to save during the winter.

The site selected for the shed is right behind the maintenance facility, where heavy equipment parked. Having the salt and sand/trap rock mix near the end of the building was an advantage for township workers this winter, a real help in site selection. Clerk Judy Hanna was directed to advertise for bids to build the facility.

Attorney Gerald Randall reported on legal suits involving the township. A property owner fell behind on payments on a lot that had been combined with another. The mortgage company wanted the township to split the lots, but that is a violation of township ordinances. The mortgage company will foreclose without requiring a lot split.

News about the suit brought by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy means an additional wait. The environmental group wants to go ahead with the suit. The township is waiting for the environmental group to act.

Richard Killian, developer of Ryan Lake Estates, has offered some concessions, but MCEA has refused these. Randall believes the ultimate objective is to order an environmental impact statement and require cluster housing for the development.

Sprint has asked the township to OK the lease of space on the telephone tower. Randall recommended a letter to Sprint indicating consent to the sublease on the tower. He recommended against signing the agreement the company sent.

Dave Tryon, board chair, supports the lease of a skidsteer piece of equipment. Similar to a front-end loader, as an all purpose machine to help with jobs around the township and to help with snow clearing. Tryon maintains the machine is good for brushing.

Bob Beckman, of the road and bridge commission, asked to check with parks and maintenance for other ways such equipment could be used.

Supervisors Mel Pfaffendorf and Marie Holm favor a rental trial of the equipment to see how much use it gets and to be certain it is cost efficient to lease the equipment. Holm favors rental for a year, or as often as needed, to determine if leasing is worthwhile.

Tryon is to get information for comparisons between rental and lease costs and terms. A lease would be tied to time and/ or per use costs. The vote was 5-0.

Supervisors plan to pursue access through an easement to a piece of township parkland landlocked on the east side of Tamarack Lake. The land is located in the Deer Run development. At one time there was access, but now the five-acre piece is landlocked.

There is an easement to get to the property, but it belongs to another property owner. Randall told the board another party can be added to the easement. Supervisor Rudi McCurdy was in favor of pursuing options to secure easement for access.

The board agreed to investigate possibilities for securing an easement, even if it is a shared one with another property owner. It was agreed negotiations should begin with the person who has the easement now, cutting off residents from the parkland. Motion was approved by a 5-0 vote.

The township continues to have difficulty getting residents with accumulated junk in their yards to make speedier progress in cleanup. McCurdy recalled Minnesota Association of Townships policy of ìordinances should be enforced in a timely fashion.î He said the main problem with getting results on clean-up of junky looking yards is a set procedure and a timeline on follow-through.

A consistent, aggressive approach seems to be the answer. McCurdy suggested an authority figure as a zoning/code enforcer who makes repeat visits, documents with a camera, and continues with follow-up.

Randall is to develop some suggested procedures for the board, perhaps a first letter, citing the ordinance being violated, time limit for improvement, follow through procedures, and referral to the attorney. Particularly important are procedures to follow when there is no response.

Supervisors approved request for Tom and Florence Whalen to re-zone their property at 6380 235th Lane from residential-agricultural to a single family residential. Planning and zoning commission recommended the action. The vote was 5-0.

Supervisors scheduled the annual road review at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 12. They plan to check properties where there have been complaints of messy yards and junk.

The board accepted the letter of resignation of Vern Poff from position of senior center assistant. Hanna was directed to advertise for an assistant.

Other business

In other business, the board

ïWas reminded of the annual township insurance review May 24 with Chris Sauro.

ïLearned the Sether and Larsen families plan to attend the May 10 meeting, to discuss legal billing.

ïLearned the fire department personnel are finishing review of mutual aid agreements and release of liability for the sale of older breathing apparatus. These are to go back to Randall for comments.

ïApproved the sale of two small pieces of foreclosed property in the Fawn Lake area. These are to be offered first to adjacent property owners.

ïOn the recommendation of the senior advisory board, approved the hiring of Valinda Sutliff and Adria Gillespie as bus drivers for the senior van.

ïLearned the pet clinic was a success. Other clinics are scheduled May 21 and June 4. Hanna was authorized to pay for additional advertising.

ïLearned the park board is seeking additional members.

ïHeard a request to investigate speeding in the town.

ïHeard a request from a boy scout for combination bike/hiking trails. Learned the cost of building trails is $23,000 a mile. The project is on hold.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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