Joe Drennan
Staff Writer

Public utilities in Columbus Township dominated most of the talk at the Wednesday, Oct. 26 town board meeting as Town Engineer Larry Bohrer delivered an update on utility projects.

Bohrer informed the board that Clear Channel has given concept approval to a billboard easement reconfiguration that would allow the township to successfully construct a well on a triangular piece of land south of Gander Mountain.

A survey of the land was recently completed, allowing Bohrer and Clear Channel to proceed.

The next move for the township is to work out a purchase agreement for the additional strip of land to the south to allow for a second well.

ìIn talking to the land owner I came up with five points,î Bohrer said.

ìOne, theyíre still agreeable to sell. Two, theyíre still looking at $5 per square foot. Three, reconfiguration of the lot would not affect the current status of existing billboards. Four, the property owner would prefer to sell a strip of land that is 50 foot wide instead of 30. Five, the property owner would like the final cost of the purchase of the land to include the cost to have their attorney review the purchase agreement.î

Town Attorney Bill Griffith expressed his concerns over the township paying for the attorney fees, but Town Manager Elizabeth Mursko said the property owner has the right to an appraisal. Griffith noted that with the township saving money on not having to have the piece of land appraised, it was reasonable to reimburse the land owner up to a certain price to cover attorney fees in lieu of appraisal cost.

The township will now move forward to negotiate a purchase agreement for a strip of land that is 30 feet wide. If only buying 30 feet instead of 50 feet is a deal breaker then the township will negotiate for the extra 20 feet.

More reports

In other news from the engineerís report;

ï Gander Mountain hooked up to the township sewer main on Oct. 14. Gander Mountainís hook up is fully functional at this time.

ïThe southwest sewer project is moving closer to completion. Once water testing and driveway and ditch restoration is complete pump station number two will be on line and property owners along that leg will be allowed to hook up.

Steinke letter

At the Sept. 14 Town Board meeting the board voted 3-2 to ask Don Steinke for his resignation from the road and bridge advisory board. The discussion of Steinkeís removal was brought up after his involvement with a signed petition of property owners on the east side of I-35 for annexation by the city of Forest Lake.

In a letter dated Oct. 10 Steinke informed the township that he respectfully declines the boardís request.

In his letter Steinke said he is a lifelong resident of Columbus who owns 110 acres of land in the township and has a long history of service to the township. He pointed out that it is his right as an American to participate in a petition like the one he signed.

Steinke also said in his letter that he believes that Forest Lake has development plans and capabilities that address his concerns better than Columbus Township.

The letter to the township had the last point that although some members of the town board may feel heís been ìworking against the best interest of the township,î Steinke disagrees.

ìHe (Steinke) says he took part in the petition because itís his legal right and nobody is disputing that,î Supervisor John Wallner said.

ìHim saying heís not working against the best interest of the township I find hard to believe. Heís the one going out and getting signatures on the petition and thatís not in the best interest of the township.

ìWe never asked him to stop though. I donít think any one can look at his actions as anything but the best interest of the town and I think thatís evident by the petition that the citizens signed to file for incorporation.î

Supervisor Tom Hefty voted to keep Steinke on the road and bridge advisory board, saying itís Steinkeís right to have an opinion and itís his right to sign and circulate petitions.

Supervisor Glen Miles also voted to keep Steinke on the advisory board stating, ìI think that we took a look at Don Steinke and other people that have positions on committees and we say this person can stay but this one canít. I think this is discrimination to remove somebody just because of their opinion.î

Griffith noted that the town board voted to ask Steinke to resign because of actions, not his opinion.

ìItís clear he can exercise his rights to knock on doors, but the detrimental action of bringing the petition for annexation to Forest Lake and the impact it would have on the community is an action against the township,î Griffith said.

The board voted 3-2 to remove Steinke from the board with Hefty and Miles opposed. Later in the meeting Supervisor John Wallner asked to reconsider the action at a later meeting.

ìI am having some feeling over removing Don (Steinke) from the road and bridge advisory board,î Wallner said. ìI feel a little bit like I am voting to remove him almost in a sense of retribution on the point that he did this action that clearly is injurious to the township and I donít want to make a vote against the guy in anger. I just need some time to think about it.î

The board voted 3-2 to reconsider the removal of Steinke from the advisory board at a later meeting.

Public open forum

With Forest Lake voting to file for annexation of land in Columbus Township on the east side of I-35, there have been a number of city council meetings on the subject and several Columbus Town Board members have attended. Columbus resident Andy Anderson wanted to know why Hefty is the only member of the board who hasnít attended any of the city council meetings.

ìAt an earlier meeting we elected Chairman (Mel) Mettler to attend those meetings and be the spokesman,î Hefty said.

Hefty went on to add that he is very much in favor of Columbusí incorporation proceedings and does not want even the smallest piece of Columbus annexed.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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