Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Legal guidelines must be followed when trying to clean up junk houses. That was the word from the Linwood Town Board meeting on Tuesday, May 8.

Complaints continue to be addressed and Attorney Gerald Randall has started the legal paperwork to clean up several addresses that have been chronic problems.

Two residents complained about an abandoned house at 6832 226th Ave., which they believed was to be torn down, but learned that township officials have been pursing cleanup of another one on the street. The main complaint is that the site is an eyesore and smells bad.

According to these residents, once a lot has some junk on it, others take advantage and dump more garbage. A new house nearby, recently vacant, has also become the target for trash dumping.

Those complaining brought pictures of the house and it was added to the list. Finding out who owns the property is Randall’s first task. The legal process first requires written notice to owners with specified time to correct the problem; only then can the township take action to clean up a site, with the costs assessed to the property.

Township officials are sticking with each case to get cleanup completed. One problem is that the township must front the money for cleanup, attach a lien to the property, and can get back any costs only when the property is sold.

Randall observed that, “this is a problem for all cities,” even those with large human resource departments. Residents were reminded that the attorney takes direction from the town board.

Officials have placed a priority on cleanup of a partially burned house next to Broadbent Park. Randall told the board a house, with a Feather Street address, was recently purchased by a corporation and owners are beginning cleanup.

A June trial has been scheduled for Kevin Ryan and his home on the West Martin Lake Drive. According to Randall, Ryan is planning for cleanup, but none have been submitted in writing.

Fire report

Fire Chief Joe Dolphy reported the fire department has ordered a thermal imaging camera to use for fire fighting and search and rescue missions.

The model is a Scott Eagle 160X and helps spot individuals in low light and heavy smoke conditions. The unit costs $6500 and the department is paying for it from funds from the annual dance and other donations.

The board voted to adopt the Anoka County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan with Dolphy’s recommendation. Approval makes Linwood one of seven communities in Anoka to have adopted the plan.

Major recommendations are emergency warning siren system and continuation of the Fire Wise Program. Approval does not obligate the township to set up the emergency system, which would cost at least $100,000.

The Anoka County plan was approved by FEMA with no corrections. The vote was 5-0.

The Linwood Wage and Compensation Committee is making final changes to the fire department policies and procedures, and its by-laws. These should be ready to present to the board by June.

The department received two bids for the old tanker. Supervisors accepted the bid for $2100 from Gustafson Construction. The pump will be removed from the truck, the fill valve exchanged with the original, and lettering painted over before the truck is turned over to the new owners.

Dolphy reported that the department responded to 16 calls in April. Ten were fire-related and six were medical emergencies.

Other items

While recyclers have not submitted final bills and receipts from loads have not been recorded, supervisors learned that many residents took advantage of the township recycle day.

In the past the township has scheduled a fall recycling day too. Another one may be scheduled.

The board also learned that six loads of Class 5 gravel are to be dropped to fill a low section of Jodrell Street, according to Supervisor Phil Osterhus. He also reported that a culvert on Thames St. needs to be redone.

Other business

In other business on May 8, the town board:

•Scheduled a meeting for 7 p.m., Monday, June 4 for supervisors to preview the 2008 budget.

•Learned of a local officials meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 30.

•Learned that 12 residents attended a tax-help session for senior citizens, provided by Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah.

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