MINUTES-SPECIAL NEW DOSEY TOWN MEETING-OCT. 21, 2011 

Meeting called to order at7 p.m.by Clerk Fran Levings.  Nine voters of the town, eight property owners on the Matt Lourey Trail going North of Pine County Hwy 32, Rick Dunkley, Trail & Parks, and Mark Wester, DNR, were present.

Clerk Levings announced that the township now has both a website and an e-mail address.  She announced that the public was notified of this meeting by a public notice in the Pine County Courier,  a notice on the website, and postings on both the outside notice board and the inside bulletin board.  She reminded the group that they could only speak on the purpose of the meeting as announced, i.e., the town board is seeking authorization from the voters of the township to re-assert township authority and make improvements on that part of the Matt Lourey Trail going one mile north of Pine County Highway 32.  She asked that all speakers give his/her name when addressing the group and she said that refreshments were available.

Ed Carlin was unanimously elected moderator of the group.

Dave Baker explained that a request had come from a property owner on this section of the Matt Lourey for help from the township in maintaining this one mile section. If approval is given, he explained, the road would be a minimum/maintenance road the same as the work done on the Matt Lourey Trail going South of Pine County Hwy. 32. The township has done similar work on bothCreek View LaneandSchool House Road.  The project would not raise taxes for property owners.

Dave Fornengo explained that the road would then be added to the township list of certified roads and the township would be eligible for gas tax money.

Scott Trenholm said he supports the idea that the road would be “ugly” so as to discourage a lot of traffic from the public.

Dave Fornengo explained the annual “road review” process.  The board decides at that time what and how much work will be done on each road that year.

Ed Carlin asked if the projects would involve any culverts.

Scott Trenholm said that none were needed.

Julie Trenholm asked if the DNR would be involved.

Rick Dunkley, DNR representative, said the road is currently used as a snowmobile trail, thus there would be DNR involvement.  He also said the DN R cooperates with the township on theRash Road.

Dave Fornengo asked if land owners would want the road plowed in the winter.  There would be no cost for plowing the road itself, but property owners would have to pay a $120 fee to have a driveway plowed. Roads are plowed after a 4 inch accumulation of snow.

Rick Dunkley said the DNR keeps snowmobile trails plowed.

Charles Tapelt said he would prefer that the road NOT be plowed.

Dave Baker said the township has been asked to NOT plow eitherCreek View LaneofSchool House Roadby the property owners.

Julie Trenholm asked if road signs would be put up.

Dave Fornengo responded by saying that the county would take care of this upon notification by the township.

Charles Tapelt said he favors the idea of improvements.

Don Eddy asked if any of the property owners present were against the township making improvements.

No one responded that they were.  Don Eddy made the motion that the township make improvements on that section of the Matt Lourey Trail going north of Pine County Hwy 32 for one mile and re-assert its authority over it.  Motion seconded by Dave Baker.  Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Fran Levings, Clerk ______________________________

Also signed by the Moderator ________________________

Date ___________________________

A special town meeting for New Dosey Township has been scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2011 at 7pm at the Cloverton Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to request authorization from the voters of New Dosey Township to make improvements and re-assert township authority on that portion of the Matt Lourey Trail (formerly Munger Trail) going north for one mile from Pine County Hwy 32.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING-NEW DOSEY TOWNSHIP-OCTOBER 4, 2010

Meeting called to order at 7 p.m. by Clerk Fran Levings.  Eighteen persons were present, of whom 11 were electors of the township. (Full list of those present is attached to file copy of these minutes)

Clerk welcomed the group, announced that the township has a webpage.  She then gave the purpose for the meeting (which was to discuss possible improvements on that portion of the Munger Trail running south of Pine County Hwy. 32 for one mile, then west for one mile).  She asked everyone to give his or her name before speaking and stated that, by law, only voters of the township could vote on any motions.

Dave Baker nominated Ed Carlin to be the moderator.  There were no other nominations, so Mr. Carlin got the job.

Supervisor explained the background for calling this meeting.  The Pine County Board authorized $5000 towards any improvements. Letter from Kurt Schneider, Pine County Land Director, committing the above amount was read into the record and is attached to the file copy of these minutes.   In order to do any work on a road that has not been worked on for over 20 years, MN statute requires that a town meeting must be held and authorization must be given by the voters present.

Joe Alberio, director, Trail and Waterways, said that his group would commit some equipment and an operator for the project and also may provide money. He said the Trail has been re-named as the Matthew Lourey Trail.

Dave Baker said that if improvements are made to this trail, it would be maintained as a Minimum Maintenance road and that any improvements authorized would be made incrementally over the years.

Wayne Eskildson, property owner, stated that he approves of the concept of improved road work.

John Zurn, property owner, said that his property deed already lists the trail as a Minimum Maintenance road.

Dennis Welsh, property owner, said he has paid to have work done on the road over the years.

Dennis Sherman inquired as to how many landowners would be affected. Clerk Levings responded that she sent letter notices to all 6 property owners on the trail.

Randy Broz, property owner, inquired as to DNR plans for logging this coming winter.  Dave Fornengo responded that Section 35 would be logged. He also stated that if the trail officially becomes a town road, the township will qualify for more gas tax funds.  Dave Baker said that the township has asked Pine County to NOT use School House Road for logging access as it is too fragile. Pine County, therefore, is interested in opening the Munger Trail for access.

Randy Broz inquired about blue paint on some of the trees.  Joe Alberio responded that the blue paint indicates the sale boundary.

Don Eddy said that with $5000 coming from the County and equipment and an operator coming from Trail & Waterways, he saw no reason for anyone not approving the plan.

Motion by Don Eddy, second by Wes Cemenski, to authorize the New Dosey Town Board to make improvements on the Matt Lourey Trail.

Discussion continued-

Beverly Carlin inquired as to what actual work would be done on the trail.

Joe Alberio said he thought some minor ditching and perhaps a culvert or two.

Dennis Sherman expressed concern as to whether or not the township could afford to make these improvements without raising taxes.  Dave Baker responded that expenses would come from the money raised by the current levy and no increase would be necessary.  Clerk Levings said that the 3 supervisors when doing the annual road work review in the Spring would decide how much to do on this trail.

Deloris Schimer expressed concern that perhaps landowners would make demands for improvements above what the township could afford.

Dave Baker explained that both the DNR and township seek reparations from logging companies who damage township roads.  He also said that the township gets a share of County timber sales.

Dave Fornengo said it is much less costly to make this trail an official road compared to the cost to an individual for using a cartway proceeding.

Wes Cemenski said that, in the long run, this proposal would benefit the township.

Moderator Carlin called for a vote on the motion. It was carried.

Dave Fornengo asked the property owners if they wanted the road plowed during the winter months. Dave Baker said that the property owners on School House Road had specifically asked the township NOT to plow during winter months. Consensus of property owners on the Matt Lourey Trail was to NOT plow in the winter.

Motion by Fran Levings, second by Don Eddy, to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,                                                      Fran Levings, Clerk

Also signed by the Moderator__________________  Date signed._________