Chairman Darrel Fehr called the meeting to order on July 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm. The supervisor present was David Clements. Other officers present were: Victoria Trinko-Clerk and Judith A. Prince-treasurer. See the attached list for delegation present.
Certification of proper posting for the scheduled town board meeting: The notice for the July town board meeting was duly posted on July 10, 2014 in the 3 designated places within the Town of Cooks Valley.
Public Comment: There was no public comment.
Discussion and possible action on budget categories: No action was needed for this item
Approval of the June 9, 2014 regular monthly town board meeting minutes and May 12, 2014 special meeting minutes: David Clements made a motion to approve and place on file the June 9, 2014 regular monthly town board meeting minutes and the May 12, 2014 special meeting minutes. Darrel Fehr seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Reading by the Treasurer of the June financial report: The ending check book balance was $167,664.37 as of June 30, 2014. The total cash assets for the Town of Cooks Valley were $339,900.82. There were two outstanding checks.
Reading and approval of the June bills: David Clements made a motion to approve payment of the June
Building permits: There were no building permits issued in the month of June. bills. Darrel Fehr seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Discussion and possible action on placement of bids for Cracksealing/flexpatching on various roads: A representative from Fahrner Asphalt and Chairman Darrel Fehr inspected the roads. Darrel Fehr made a motion place a bid for flexpatching on a per road basis on the following sites-40th Street, 60th Street, 155th Avenue, 46th Street, and the parking lot at the town hall. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Discussion and possible action on the placement of bids for culverts on 60th Street north of County Highway A: Darrel Fehr made a motion to place a bid for the replacement of road culverts and residential culverts on a needed basis on 60th Street, north of County Highway A. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Discussion of concerns pertaining to the plan commission: Plan commission Chairman Doug Zwiefelhofer reported on the July 9, 2014 plan commission meeting for the discussion of variances. In the case of Chris Lang/Courtney Bungartz’s request for a variance, a shed had collapsed during the winter and they were going to replace it within the required set back. However, the site changed to 35 ft. from the property line which meets the requirement in the town ordinance of a setback of 30 ft. for an outbuilding from the property line. The request for a variance of 75 ft. from an adjoining road was postponed as the adjoining road is a county road. However, if the county reverts the decision back to the Town of Cooks Valley, the plan commission recommended approval of the variance of a setback of 100 ft. from an adjoining road to the requested 75 ft. from an adjoining road. In the case of Don and Cynthia Swartz’s request for a variance, they possess a one acre lot which limits building sites. There is a fence along the property line which would prevent trespassing on the adjoining property and Don Swartz’s proposed plan would elevate the building site to prevent run-off. The decision for the request for a variance of 56 ft. from an adjoining road was based on an unobstructed flat view of the roadway and space to pile snow. Doug Zwiefelhofer recommended to the board to grant a variance to Don and Cynthia Swartz. Darrel Fehr made a motion to grant a variance to Don & Cynthia Swartz for construction of an outbuilding [with elevation of the outbuilding] of 3 ft. from an adjoining property line and 56 ft. from an adjoining road. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Discussion and possible action on operators license applications: David Clements made a motion to approve the operators license applications. Darrel Fehr seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Chairman’s report –Fire Dept- no fires in the Town of Cooks Valley in the month of June. Mine Road- Preferred Sands submitted a check for the 186th Avenue road project, so road construction will be starting. There is an estimated time of six weeks for dirt work. There may be rerouting of truck traffic during the six week time on an alternate route. Dr. Pierce inquired about a builder for the platform for the air monitoring site. Schindler Construction will submit a bid and Dr. Pierce will send copy of the bid to the town chairman. Al Sarauer and Mark Berge had water issues emanating from the EOG mine site. The water has a milky color but the DNR and land conservation office said this was acceptable. Due to the construction of the water storage ponds according to the County and DNR recommendations, water that previously rushed down the water ways and dried up now comes as a slow drainage and the waterways are always wet. EOG constructed an alternate field driveway for Mark Berge. A possible loophole in the county reclamation plan concerns the bond secured for reclamation. The mine operators have a 90 day window after declaration of bankruptcy to have the bond lapse and not pay the bond with possible forfeiture of the bond with the bond issuer. The Land Conservation office and the DNR feel if reclamation would not be completed within the 90 day window, they would then call the bond thus getting the funding to reclaim as planned.
Dissemination of Information- clerk’s report -there were no items to report
Future agenda items and business:
Discussion and possible action on budget categories
Building permits
Discussion and possible action on concerns pertaining to the Plan commission
Chairman’ report
Dissemination of information
Bid openings for Cracksealing/flexpatching
Bid openings for culverts
David Clements made a motion to have the next meeting on Monday August 18, 2014 at 8:00 pm. Darrel Fehr seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Adjourn: Darrel Fehr made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 pm. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0.
Typed: July 19, 2014 Respectfully Submitted,
Approved: August 22, 2014 Victoria Trinko-town clerk