Board Minutes:july 14, 2009

Board of Supervisors

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP County of Rice, State of Minnesota July 14 2009

The meeting was called to order by Chair Leif Knecht. Present were supervisors Glen Castore and Kathleen Doran-Norton, and clerk, Pam Petersen. Brad Pfahning arrived at approximately 8:00 , as he had another commitment. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all present. The agenda was approved with some changes with a motion by K DoranNorton, second by G Castore, motion carried. The minutes from the June 9 and 23, 2009 meetings were approved as written with a motion from by G Castore , and second by K Doran-Norton, the motion carried. A motion to pay the claims per P Petersen’s list was made by K DoranNorton, second by G Castore, the motion carried. The totals to be paid were $110,484.08. Any other claims not listed will wait until the August meeting. The Landfill payments are to be made to the township on a quarterly basis. B Pfahning will discuss this with Fran Windschil, the Rice County AuditorTreasurer. Correspondence is alright. Public Comment: Mary Stein was concerned about the dying trees in the right-of-way, and who is responsible for taking them out. K Doran-Norton will contact her. Gary Rock and the erosion issues on his property lying east of Bridgewater Heights. He has approached Rice County Soil & Water and has received estimates on what it would take to solve the problem. He is looking for help with funding to deal with the erosion issue. He stated that before the Bridgewater Heights development was built there was not a problem. He has taken this to the City of Dundas looking for help. Could this partly be a road concern/issue that could this be funded from tax revenue from the City of 1

Dundas per the annexation agreement. This will be worked on in an August work session and have an answer to Gary Rock in August. Comments concerning this issue from Bruce Morlan, Joe Thibodeau, and Steve Albers is that this is not a township problem but is between the developer, Gary Rock, and the City of Dundas. Brian O’Connell, City of Northfield concerning the possible Gill-Prawer Annexation Request. The city council has this on their agenda for July 20, 2009. There is concern and questions on the Stream / buffer ordinance that is to be in place to protect the waterways per the annexation agreement between Bridgewater Township and the City of Northfield. Per Brian O’Connell there is not much at this time. Gary Wagenbach with the Soil and Water District, and on the Valley Grove Historical Society. He has experience with land and water quality and with fund raising efforts. Mr. Wagenbach manages the lands in the Valley Grove area. State Representative David Bly spoke and listened to township residents’ concerns. He did mention the unallotment due to Gov. Pawlently’s budget cuts. For the township it is a reduction of 1.74%, totaling $8,357.48 for 2009. Planning & Zoning-Jim Braun. Activity for June was 4 building permits and one sewer permit. Annexation Reserve District language-some changes need to be made. The supervisors will get their changes to Carolyn Braun. She will compile and forward t the city of Dundas. Stream Inventory update: The survey of what has been noted is finished. K Doran-Norton does believe that the physical inventory does need to be completed. L Knecht; wants for now to work with what has been done and complete the survey in the spring of 2010. Road Issues: Dennis Brown. He has received funds from MN LTD for dust control due to the additional traffic the pipeline construction has placed on the township roads. Dennis also states that the added dust control has made a positive impact on the retention of the gravel, but has found that it is not to be overused as it can be detrimental to the raods. 2

The new signage has been ordered for the gradual upgrades to our road signs to comply with the new retro reflectivity signage that has been mandated. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Pam Petersen

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