Grey Cloud Island Township

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Feb 27, 2009

There are two important items to discuss in this issue. The first is our snow plowing change and the second is an offer from Aggregate Industries for the town hall property.

Snow Plowing: Washington County informed the township in 2007 that our snowplowing contract would expire in July 2008 and would not be renewed because the county was cancelling all plowing contracts with everyone when they expire. We had to find another source for snow removal. A meeting was held on Feb 7, 2008 at our town hall at the county's request. Present were Wash. County, St. Paul Park, Cottage Grove and the town board chair. Wash. county explained the situation to the adjoining cities and asked if they could help the township by taking over the plowing. The result of the meeting was no from both cities. The township went on a search for a private contractor because of that meeting. Wash. county offered a plow truck and a paid contract to plow Co 75 in an attempt to aid the township in securing a private contractor. We wrote a snowplow specification, had it approved by the township attorney and the county. We advertized for bids, received three responses and selected the contractor from the bids submitted. The contract is for three years. We purchased the snowplow from the county and resold it to our contractor. We had a couple of bumps in the road (so to speak) at first but they have been resolved. Buelow Excavating is the contractor selected. A couple of things to keep in mind, the contractor will be responsible for damage to mailboxes if actually hit by the plow, but not if the snow it's self damages them. Please do not place garbage containers in the plow path and remove them as soon as possible. Any issues with snowplowing please contact the township with them. The clerk has all the callout phone numbers for our contractor.

Aggregate Industries: At the annual meeting in 2006, the township voted to pursue a land swap or deal with the company instead of upgrading the existing town hall. We now have a written offer from Aggregate industries, to present to the citizens, at the Annual Meeting on March 10, 2009. The details of the offer are as follows: Enough land to make four buildable lots of 2.5 acres, 10 acres minimum. The newly formed township hall committee in association with Aggregate will determine location of the land. Aggregate Industries will fully release the segreated fund to the township. The township gets all the construction aggregate for the construction of the town hall at no cost. The township gets the entire concrete block it will need for the construction of the town hall at no cost if used before the end of 2009. Landscape boulders will be provided at no cost. The township gets all the trees it wants from the Schmitzer nursery at no cost. The township gets a 10-year lease on the existing buildings for $1.00 year (w/extensions). The idea here is to sell two or three buildable lots to fund the town hall at no cost to the taxpayers. There will be some up front costs for the township, Perk tests at $250.00 per lot, Plat and survey cost (unknown) all of which would be recouped from lot sales. The vote to accept this offer (if approved) will be contingent upon perk, subdivision, and agreeable location for relocation of the town hall.

Richard Adams, Chair of the Town Board