Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Howard Holm and Robert Johnson participated in their first meeting as Linwood Town Board supervisors on Jan. 9.

At that meeting, the town board approved cost-of-living increases of 3.25 percent for township employees, plus .25 percent for longevity. About 40 employees are involved with the increase, including firefighters.

Most have been working for the township for some time. The longevity increase applies to employees who have worked for a longer time in the township and affects only full-time employees.

There are six full-time employees.

The board approved an increase in medical benefits for township employees. Supervisor Phil Osterhus suggested the increase, since there has not been one for employees for three years.

The increase is $25 a month, to bring benefits up to $375 a month. The vote was 5-0.

The change is effective for the second pay period in January 2007.

Reorganization

In the reorganization portion of the meeting, Mike Parker was re-elected town board chairman and Phil Osterhus was elected vice-chairman. Both were approved by 4-0 vote, with Parker abstaining on the first vote and Osterhus on the second motion.

The board will meet at 7 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

The official newspaper for the township is the Forest Lake Times. The official depository for the township is the First State Bank of Wyoming.

Those authorized to sign checks for the township are the chairman, clerk and treasurer.

The compensation for mileage for supervisors was reduced from $.485 per mile down to $.445 per mile. Osterhus made the motion, observing that gasoline prices have dropped since last year. The vote was 5-0.

Liaison assignments were determined for supervisors. Supervisor Scott Bailey is liaison to Anoka County Partners, Sunrise River Water Management, and weed inspector. Johnson's assignments are building maintenance, road and bridge committee.

Holm will serve on the planning and zoning committee and personnel committee. Osterhus is liaison for the fire department and police committee. Parker is liaison to the park committee, Linwood Community and School Forest Committee, and Linwood Family Fun Day Committee. Parker and Osterhus will share recycling responsibilities.

Professional services were selected for 2007. The following individuals or companies were chosen: Gerald Randall, township attorney; David Stene, auditor; Dave Thompson, building inspector; Hakanson-Anderson, engineering; Dave Thompson, health authority; Frank Kvidera, road foreman; and Dave Thompson, tree inspector.

The only change in adopted office fees, license fees, and fees for services was a $5 increase in the bad-check fee to $30. Clerk Judy Hanna told the board that there are very few bad checks. The goal is to set fees to cover the cost of providing service.

Adding comments to the road and bridge committee minutes, Bob Beckman explained that to get the Lyons Street road base ready to pave within the next two or three years, Class 5 gravel needs to be spread. Lent and Linwood will share the cost of improving one section of the street. Cost for engineering is to be determined by Craig Jochum.

There has been a request for a speed study on Lyons Street, but MnDOT only conducts those on trunk highways. Usually the count is done for one week. Other possibilities include a one-hour count of traffic. No decision was made about this.

The contractor completing the paving of the Lyons Street that is part of the Lyons Den development was granted an extension until December 2007. The extension was required so that building permits could be issued for the development. The letter of credit for the work is to be reduced from $220,000 to $100,000. It is anticipated the project will be completed by mid-June. Approval was unanimous.

There have been complaints about the pizza-baker statue that stands next to the Country Store and Linwood Pizza as advertising. Hanna says she has had about four complaints, but also about 15 calls wondering about the perceived problem.

Brad Hansen, owner of the businesses, believes that only a few individuals are opposed to the statue that advertises his shop. He told the board he had a petition on the counter of the store and has over 150 signatures in support of his sign.

Parker said he checked the ordinance book, but all references to statues or monuments are related to property markers or cemetery monuments, otherwise there is nothing in the code book. According to Attorney Randall the most appropriate place to consider the issue is under the township sign ordinance, perhaps as a non-confirming use.

Supervisor Holm said that as long as the statue is not violating any ordinances, he sees no problem with it. Johnson observed the statue is better looking than some he has seen. He also thought zoning in a commercial area is different than in a residential area. For the time being, the issue is not to be pursued further.

There has also been a complaint about a large sign on a garage with a Feather Street address. The garage wall faces West Martin Lake Drive. This sign is in violation of the sign ordinances.

According to Randall, the owner is to appear in court for failure to clean up the lot. Supervisors directed a letter be sent to the owner, notifying him of the ordinance violation. Randall is to bring up the issue at the hearing.

There has been a slow-down on the lot clean-up on property at 5501 Fontana Street. Beckman said the lot was cleaned up some, but the work did not continue. Discussion of this issue is to be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting.

Other business

In other business, the board

ïLearned accountant Dave Stene will attend the board meeting February 12 for the annual audit.

ïCertified the township financial report to be placed on file for audit.

ïPassed a resolution allowing the Kiwi Snowmobile Club to continue using snowmobile trails in the township.

ïTabled until the next meeting, discussion of a letter from Fire Marshal Rich Gabrick.

ïTabled discussion of a memo from the cemetery committee until the next regular meeting.

ïTabled discussion and decision about the 2007 recycling contract with Anoka County.

ïLearned there is no safety committee meeting this month.

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