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Spring Newsletter 2008
Annual Meeting
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Plan to attend the Lynden Township Annual Meeting which takes place on Tuesday, March 11th, beginning at 8 p.m., and be part of grass roots government in action! Township government is distinctive in that it is the only level of government where residents get to vote on the proposed tax levy. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to exercise your rights and have your voice be heard. Besides budget issues, the agenda typically includes a review of the services provided by the township, along with a presentation illustrating what the Lynden Township Board and Planning Commission are accomplishing. The meeting is held at the Lynden Township Hall which is at the corner of County Road 44 and County Road 143.
In addition, the annual Township Board election takes place the same day. This year, one supervisor position is on the ballot. Dave Johnson is running for re-election to his second term on the Board of Supervisors. Lynden Township resident Valerie Muggli has also filed for this position, and there is always the possibility of write-in candidates. In addition, the position of township clerk is up for election this year. Del Moeller, the current clerk, is running unopposed. Every vote counts, so please make sure you vote on March 11th. The election takes place at the Town Hall, located at the intersection of Co. Rd. 44 and 143. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whether you are brand new to the area or have lived here for years, we hope to see you at the annual meeting on Tuesday, March 11th!
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Planning to Build?
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Are you planning a spring project to update your home? Maybe a three season porch or deck to enjoy during the summer months? Perhaps remodeling the family room or building your dream kitchen is on your list. If you are considering a home project, and are doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor, you will need a building permit before you start your project. A building permit is required for new construction, additions, decks, porches, most interior remodels, alterations and repair or replacement of roofing, siding, windows and doors. Permits are also required to install or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical or plumbing system including water heaters, furnaces and fireplaces.
So, where do you start? You will need 2 copies of your plans, a completed permit application and a site plan that shows the location of your project on your property. An additional permit may be required from Stearns County depending on the type project and location of your property. You can request a “Permit Packet” from Inspectron that explains the application process in detail. We are happy to answer any questions you have about the application packet or process. You can reach us Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at 1-800-322-6153.
Once your permit application packet is completed, you can drop it off or mail it to our Waite Park Office located at 4 13th Ave. It usually takes seven to ten days to complete a plan review. Be sure and put a daytime phone number on the permit application so the plan reviewer can call you if there are questions. Once the plan review is completed the permit is ready to be issued. Inspectron will contact you with the permit fee and schedule a time for you to pick up your permit.
In addition to the permit you will receive written plan review comments, red lined plans and an inspection record. The inspection record shows the inspections that are required for your project. Post the inspection record where it can be easily found by the inspector. Please call the toll free number 24 hours in advance to schedule your inspections. The inspector will perform the inspection and sign your inspection record approving the work so far. If there are non-complying items, the inspector will leave an inspection report that explains what corrections need to be made. Once the corrections are made, you must call Inspectron for a re-inspection.
Building codes were developed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and owners of property. Structures that are built in compliance with the building code add value to your community. They last longer, sell faster and increase the return on your valuable investment.
–Ron Wasmund, Inspectron, Inc.
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Changes in Planning Commission
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Over the past couple of months the planning commission has under gone some change. Karolyn Boucher has accepted the position of Zoning Administrator. This change was necessary due to the amount of work that needs to be done for the planning commission to prepare for meetings and work with potential developers and residents to provide a smooth process.
Each year the planning commission accepts applications to fill one of the revolving openings. The terms are five years and meeting time is compensated. If you have an interest in being involved in the planning processes for the Township submit your letter of intent to Karolyn by May 1, 2008.
The planning commission meets the last Monday of each month, unless it falls on a holiday. These meetings are open to the public. If you have a project and would like to be on the agenda, please contact Karolyn Boucher 320-558-2247
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New Fire Dept. Communication System
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The Federal Communications Commission has mandated through Federal Statutes the transition of all land mobile radio communications licensed radio systems in the VHF and UHF radio frequency bands by the end of the year 2013 from a wide band mode of operations to a narrow band mode of operation.
The State of Minnesota has undertaken a statewide project to construct and place into service a Public Safety Industry Standards based radio infrastructure network that will provide for a robust communications system that can be leveraged to include local entities and agencies within Wright County as well as the entire State of Minnesota. The Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) system will allow for the multi-vendor supply of common standards based mobile and portable radios that avoid non-competitive single proprietary manufacturer isolation and common infrastructure interoperability procurement.
Both Clearwater and Annandale Fire Departments that serve Lynden Township’s fire protection needs are part of this communication upgrade. Funding from the Township budget will be sought as part of the fire protection contracts with each Fire Department in the upcoming years. For further information on the overall project, visit www.armer.state.mn.us
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Recycling Program
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Recycling Program
Lynden Township has a recycling program which is supported by your tax dollars. Service is provided by Allied Waste Services. Pickup dates are every other Friday, and starts very early in the morning. . . some areas before 6 a.m. Schedule can be downloaded on township web site.
Single Sort Recycling allows you to throw all recyclablee materials into one cart-no sorting or separting of the materials is needed. If you do not have a new recycling cart contact Allied and they will deliver one.
Items to be recycled include: Newspapers, tin and aluminum cans, glass and plastic. Everything can go into the one receptacle provided by Allied Waste Services.
If residents have any questions regarding service or items accepted, Please contact
Allied Waste Services at 320-252-9608.
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Water! Water! Water!
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Water is rapidly becoming our most valuable resource. Our lakes, streams and particularly drinking water are very vulnerable. We must be aware that we all have the responsibility to protect it and keep it clean.
• Retain storm water on your property
• Do not use lawn fertilizers that contain phosphate in water shed areas.
• Pump your septic every two years so it functions properly
• Avoid pesticides
6 Tips for Good Lake Water Quality
1. Keep the shoreline natural
2. Protect wildlife and fish habitat
3. Appreciate aquatic plants
4. Reduce your lawn-add vegetative buffer
5. Maintain your septic
6. Reduce roof and driveway run off
Lynden Resident Serves on County Water Management Advisory Committee.
Township resident, Greg Halverson, has been appointed by the County Commissioners to the Stearns County Water Management Advisory Committee. The committe assists in guiding natural resource management at the local level in Stearns County and makes recommendations to the County Board of Commissioners regarding various environmental issues.
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Thinking of Burning?
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State law requires that burning permits are necessary if you plan to do any burning. (Permits are not required when there is at least 3” of snow on the ground.) Permits are free and are issued for a period of five days. Burning can be done from 3 p.m. until 8 a.m. after obtaining a burning permit. Fire permits are not required for recreational fires which are three feet across by three feet high. Permits can be obtained from Jim and Pat Voigt, 21362 Co. Rd. 44, across from the township hall.
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New Laws
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The 2007-2008 biennial legislative session reconvened February 12, 2008, in St. Paul. The biennial session that begins on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January in an odd-numbered year (2007) and ends no later than the first Monday after the third Saturday in May of the even-numbered year (2008).
Some of the 2007 New Laws include:
• Motor vehicle air bags must be replaced with those specific to the vehicle.
• An adult who uses a computer or the Internet to communicate with a child with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person is guilty of a felony. A person who violates a domestic abuse no contact order and is found guilty of a gross misdemeanor, he or she will serve a minimum of 10 days’ imprisonment in addition to counseling.
• Scrap metal dealers, often the receivers of stolen copper wiring, are required to keep a record of each transaction.
• It is a crime for someone to operate a motor vehicle in need of maintenance, when the driver received a citation or warning that the vehicle was defectively maintained, the vehicle was defective to the point of causing a present danger to others, and injury or death occur as a result of the negligence.
• An employer must allow a victim of a violent crime, as well as the victim’s spouse or immediate family members, reasonable time off from work to attend criminal proceedings related to the victim’s case.
• A manufacturer, wholesale dealer, agent or other person or entity who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes other than that sold through retail sale is subject to civil penalties, including up to $10,000 for the first offense.
• Increased amusement ride inspections will be required.
For further information on new laws and the legislature itself, go to www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/publicat.asp
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Stearns County Ord. # 209
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Lynden Township has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Stearns County. This document relates to the enforcement of Stearns County Ordinance #209. The township cannot be more lenient than the county, but if desired, the township can pass ordinances that are more restrictive. The MOU delineates what aspects of the ordinance are enforced by the township versus the county. The township has chosen to give the county enforcement responsibility in certain areas.
A primary example is the regulations relating to animal feedlots. The township does not have the staffing or the expertise to handle all aspects of animal feedlots. The county has a team of trained staff that deals with feedlot ordinance issues.
The township recently amended our MOU to give the responsibility to the county for issues relating to LESA (Land Evaluation Site Assessment) scores. LESA is a land evaluation tool that the county uses to determine the agricultural vs. development value of
parcels of land. Since the county developed this tool, we feel it is most appropriate that they handle its implementation and enforcement.
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Warner Lake County Park
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Lynden Township is fortunate to have a county park within its borders. Warner Lake County Park site is a 241 acre site surrounding the 30 surface acres of Warner Lake. It is located on Co. Rd. 143, just west of the I-94 overpass.
The initial establishment of this site occurred in 1973 when the Campfire Girls Inc. donated the 33 acres known as Camp Suima to Stearns County for public recreation purposes.
The park contains a large open-air shelter, two small picnic shelters, one campground shelter, a group camp, .8 miles of year-round trail, 300 feet of swimming beach, a change house, boat launch and prairie restoration site. Two-thirds of the park are forested with a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees.
Warner Lake Park also has a Nature Center available for rental. It's great for company picnics, graduations, youth events, birthdays, etc.
Check out the county web site with complete information. It can be accessed at http://www.co.stearns.mn.us/1451.htm Or for more information call 320-255-6172.
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River Country Bike Trail Phase 1 is Open!
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Bikers, walkers, runners, in-line skaters and leashed pets are all welcome to use the trail.
The River Country Bike Trail project has finally been constructed. Phase one of the paved trail connects the ball fields at Sportsmen's Park with Lions Park in Clearwater. A new bridge has been constructed to cross the Clearwater River in Riverside Park.
A trailhead facility is bing constructed at Sportsmen's Park. The addition of such a facility brings some much-needed amenities to the park. In addition, the pavilion should soon be available for rental for private events. Contact the City of Clearwater for more information.
Future plans for the trail include phase two which will enter Lynden Township. This phase includes a connection between the ball fields and Warner Lake County Park. Phase three will run from Clearwater all the way down to Monticello along the County Road 75 corridor, and phase four would be a loop within the City of Clearwater which would incorporate Main Street, the riverfront, and other parks in the city. In addition, Stearns County is continuing to pursue the lengthening of the Beaver Island Trail through the northern end of Lynden Township in order to reach Warner Lake County Park.
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Cleanup - Brush Disposal & Household Hazardous Waste
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Cleanup Day - Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-11:00 a.m.,
Clearwater Maintenance Shop on Co. Rd. 75.
One FREE load per household
This year we will be accepting electrical waste at 23 cents per pound. (Ex: TVs)
Prices for other items will be similar to last year and will be listed in the Clearwater Tribune.
Residents are encouraged to participate. Watch for more information in the Clearwater Newspaper and on the township web site.
Brush Disposal - Lynden Township does not currently have an official location for brush disposal. However, these companies do offer brush disposal for a fee: Tom Kraemer Inc., 320-685-8226 or Henkemeyer Landfill, 320-252-6487.
Hazardoous Waste - Stearns County residents can take their household hazardous waste to the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 601 No. 20th Ave., St. Cloud. (Located behind Denny and Kathy's Ace Hardware in Centennial Plaza.) For more information and hours, call 320-255-6140 or 1-800-450-6140.
Products accepted include paints–need not be dried out, cleaners, poisons, roofing tar, fuels, automotive chemicals, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs and mercury.
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Clearwater-Clear Lake Food Shelf
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Residents of the Clearwater and Clear Lake areas may apply for assistance at the food shelf which is located in the Lion’s Community Building, 1100 Co. Rd. 75, under the old Clearwater water tower.
Clients should come prepared with a picture I.D. and proof of residency. Qualified applicants can be served up to six times in a year.
The food shelf is open 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. every Tuesday. Emergency help is available by calling 558-2954.
The food shelf is supported by donations from area businesses, churches, civic groups and individual citizens. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the food shelf or in the collection bin at Coborn’s. Monetary donations can be sent to P.O. Box 324, Clearwater, MN 55320
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Clearwater Library
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Located in the Clearwater Shopping Center, and is partially funded by Lynden Township tax dollars. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the many services offered. Besides books, the library offers movies, music and internet access. Please contact the Library at 320-558-6001 if you are seeking information about hours of service. A link to the Great River Regional Library can be found on the township web site.
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