PROCEEDINGS OF THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MURRAY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER – SLAYTON, MINNESOTA

JULY 2, 2002 – 9:03 A.M.

Pursuant to notice, the Murray County Board of Commissioners convened with the following members present:  Commissioners Alfred Gertsema, Steve Johnson, Gaylen Jensen, Kevin Anderson and William J. Sauer.  Also present Gary D. Spaeth, Auditor/Treasurer, Robert Klingle, Administrative Assistant and Paul Malone, County Attorney.

The meeting opened by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Chairman asked if there were any additions to the agenda.  Several items were added.

County Revenue Fund                                     $31,167.24      

County Road & Bridge Fund                               3,821.78

County Building Fund                                            265.00

County Parks Fund                                              2,043.01

End-O-Line Park Fund                                        4,589.76

Tri-County Recycling Fund                                     298.96

            Total                                                               $42,217.70

Karen Onken presented Conditional Use Permit No. 1111 for the City of Chandler.  This Permit is for the City to construct and operate sewage lagoons in the NE1/4SW1/4 Section 6, Fenton Township.   The Board received the minutes from the June 27, 2002 public hearing, which included Findings of the Planning Commission.   

It was moved by Gaylen Jensen, seconded by Alfred Gertsema and passed to approve a Conditional Use Permit No. 1111 to the City of Chandler to construct and operate sewage lagoons for the City of Chandler in the NE1/4SW1/4 Section 6, Fenton Township on the recommendation of the Planning Commission.

Karen Onken presented a Zoning Application Summary Form to rezone the S1/2SE1/4 and the SW1/4 Section 13, Chanarambie Township from a Conservational District to an Agricultural District.  The Board received the minutes from the June 27, 2002 public hearing, which included Findings of the Planning Commission.

Karen Onken presented Conditional Use Permit No. 1112 for Chandler Coop.  This Permit is to operate an Agricultural Service Business in an Agricultural District in part of the SE1/4 Section 13, Chanarambie Township.   The Board received the minutes from the June 27, 2002 public hearing, which included Findings of the Planning Commission.   

It was moved by Kevin Anderson, seconded by Gaylen Jensen and passed to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 1112 to Chandler Coop to operate an Agricultural Service Business in an Agricultural District in part of the SE1/4 Section 13, Chanarambie Township on the recommendation of the Planning Commission.

Chris Hansen informed the Board that his office provides elevation shots of basements for individuals that apply for septic permits.  He indicated that he does not provide a certified survey and feels the individual should sign a disclaimer to that effect.  To require an individual to incur the cost of obtaining a certified elevation is unnecessary except where the difference in elevations is close for purposes of installing a drain field.  Paul Malone will review a disclaimer that has been prepared to see if it meets with his approval for use.

Karen Onken presented General Guidelines for Enforcement of Sewer Inspection and Upgrade Countywideâ€� prepared by Paul Malone.  Two interested residents from the townships of Ellsborough, Skandia, Cameron and Lowville were also in attendance for the discussions on the Guidelines.  Twelve landowners in shoreland areas from these four townships are out of compliance for upgrading their septic systems and those present again expressed their concerns about having to be first.  Chris Hansen was asked to explain low interest financing options that are available for upgrading septic systems in Murray County for those in attendance.

Dennis Brech and LeRoy Biren met and presented the Board with a petition entitled, Forman Acres, Hudson Acres, Boy Scout Camp Sewer Projectâ€�.  They explained that these landowners are trying to address upgrading their septic systems without waiting for a large sewer project is approved.  Before proceeding with the design of a system that would meet these immediate needs they inquired as to the possibility of getting some form of exemption from being part of a larger project if and when one to be approved.  The Board is in favor of the concept of localized systems but wants the issue of being exempt to be taken up by the Sewer and Water Commission.  There was discussion on making the design for this system to allow for hookup to the large system.  Financing for this type of system is available through the same sources as Chris Hansen explained earlier.  It would be on a first come first serve basis as the demand for funding is increasing. 

RESOLUTION NO. 2002-07-02-01

A Resolution Relating to a Local Sewer Project for

Forman Acres, Hudson Acres and the Boy Scout Camp on Lake Shetek

WHEREAS, a representative group appeared before the County Board and presented a statement signed by twenty-two owners of property in Forman Acres, Hudson Acres, Boy Scout Camp, and

WHEREAS, the signed statement reads as follows:

FORMAN ACRES, HUDSON ACRES, BOY SCOUT CAMP SEWER PROJECT

        Since there is a unified concern for a clean lake we want to do our part in making that happen.  We are interested in pursuing a local area sewer project among the three entities mentioned in the title.  It would be a system of pumping gray water from each person’s newly installed (where needed) septic tank to a common pumping lift and disperse the gray water into a leach field located on the state park property.  The system will be maintained by a licensed contractor through a small monthly fee.  Each septic tank will be pumped at no charge to the owner a minimum of every three years.

, and

WHEREAS, the Murray County Board of Commissioners has contemplated how best to address the issue of inspecting septic systems in the Shetek Area Water and Sewer District while still allowing time for the Shetek Area Water and Sewer Commission to come up with a centralized sewer system, and

WHEREAS, the concept as presented in the signed statement warrants consideration as a solution for dealing with individual septic systems that may fail inspection if so ordered by the Board.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Murray County Board of Commissioners supports the concept as presented in a signed statement by twenty-two owners of property in Forman Acres, Hudson Acres, Boy Scout Camp for collectively updating their septic systems.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the owners continue to pursue their concept along with working with the Shetek Area Water and Sewer Commission regarding the issue of hooking up to a possible centralized sewer system serving the lakes area in the future.

Louise Gervais and David Hansen with End-O-Line County Park met with the Board for their monthly summer report.  The first item reported on was the new Visitor’s Center that will be ready to be moved into for the 4^th of July.  It will have some of the items recently purchased from Prairie Expo.  The next item discussed was the purchase of a security system for the Park.  Randy Groves will check into purchasing off of the state bid.

Randy Groves met with the Board for the Highway Department semi-monthly report.  Jim Reinert was also present to discuss the heating/cooling problems at the office and shop building.  Randy presented information from a building consultant who came out to observe the situation.  More work will be done to prepare and take quotes from local contractors on correcting the problem.  For the time being a slurry mix will be poured into the vent system under the floor to take care of the moisture and rodent problems.

Randy gave a construction update reporting that CSAH 2 is complete.  Subcontractor R & G Construction has three to four weeks of work left on the CSAH 8 project and will return on July 8.  This project has an August 3, 2002 completion date.

Jim Reinert and Dick Kottom and Doug Busch with Racom met with the Board to discuss replacement of the Sheriff’s dispatch consoles, which were installed in 1991.  Jim indicated that the main console would cost approximately $60,000 and the secondary console $40,000.  The Sheriff’s Department has a $57,000 capital expenditure carryover and an additional $18,000 budgeted for capital expenditures for 2002.  Also discussed was an option to lease the equipment.  Jim Reinert will do more research on this and will report back at the next meeting.

The Board discussed having Dick Kottom look into how to enforce the overnight parking fees at Murray County Parks.   

Jim reported an increase in the cost of surveying of property lines at the fairgrounds that was recently completed.  The cost that was earlier estimated to be $1,200 turned out to be close to $1,800 because of there not being an abstract of the property.  There was discussion on installing fence or planting trees on the south line of the fairgrounds property and of purchasing land from the adjoining landowner to straighten the south property line, which the owner does not appear willing to do at this time. 

Jim reported on other construction projects at the Fairgrounds.  Frank and Case Vos have offered to repair the door of the Round Barn for $300.  Jim estimated the cost for a new overhead door for the Cattle Barn to cost $750 plus materials but has not lined up anyone to do the work.  The Horticultural Building needs to be spray painted and the Board discussed who to have do this work.  No Board action was taken.

Jim reported back to the Board on the cost of replacing E911 rural address signs.  The installed price for an aluminum sign on a steel post is $30.00 each including a 5-year warranty.  There are a total of 2,300 address signs that will need to be replaced over a three-year period making the total cost $70,000.  Discussion followed on the need to replace every sign and if it is permissible to assess a maintenance fee of $2.50 per year to residents.  Jim asked the Board about its preference for the new signs for the three roads that are under construction this year that will need new signs either way.  It was the consent of the Board to purchase new signs for the three roads currently being constructed. 

The meeting adjourned at 12:32 P.M.