Highway Committee Minutes
Feb 13, 2012
TOWN OF LIBERTY GROVE. HIGHWAY COMMITTEE MINUTES. MONDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2012. AT THE TOWN HALL, THE MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED.
DRAFT
Agenda:
1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Approve agenda
4. Approve minutes10/10/11 and1/9/12.
5. Public Input
6. Review, discuss, possible recommendation to Board on clarifications and/or revisions
to language contained in Liberty Grove Town Roads Maintenance Policy.
7. Consider gravel processing for 2012 with recommendation to Board
8. Future Meeting Dates
9. Correspondence
10. Adjourn
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 8:02 AM. Committee members F. Forkert, J. Olson, K. Shumway and W. Kalms also attended, along with citizens Mike Bahrke, Lou Covatsos, Steve Uglinica, Jim & Carole Maronek and Mark Sitte. Chairman J. Lowry and supervisor B. Tidball also attended.
Forkert/Olson to approve the agenda. Carried 5-0.
Shumway/Olson to approve the 1/9/12 minutes. Carried 5-0.
Olson/Kalms to approve the 10/10/11 minutes. Carried 5-0.
Public input. M. Bahrke asked that the nomination process for the Heritage Road program be placed on the next agenda. Miller noted that this was not in her notes to put on today’s agenda. J. Maronek asked that the Heritage Road program be placed on the Feb 15th Board agenda. S. Uglinica wondered how the road maintenance policy was followed, and suggested the Town consider following Jens Jensen’s method of thinking. Miller noted that this is used in state road policy. She noted that stumps and brush from the September 29th storm were hauled to the Town pit on Mink River road, where a tub grinder will reduce it to mulch. M. Sitte asked that the Ecology Sports situation be placed on the next agenda. J. Maronek has suggestions for road maintenance policy modifications regarding notice, placing of wood, modification of the policy, bringing in Heritage Roads policies, and implementing the policy only for safety reasons. C. Maronek was pleased about the January Board meeting and again feels it inappropriate to have Town staff on committees. Lowry noted this was discussed at the Board level, where it was decided there is no problem with Town employees on committees. Kalms said it was also noted that if someone has a problem with this it has to be presented in writing to the Board.
Road Maintenance Policy. Miller said she looked at the points of conflict when developing the draft as presented; the Town gets road aid and is bound by policy and law to maintain the roads; the DOT Facilities Development Manual (FDM) outlines what is to be done; she got assistance from DOT employees for the background needed for this draft.
The following sections were addressed in the draft:
Notification: Forkert noted that road work is done seasonally and wondered about the March date regarding birds in the grassy areas of the right of way. Kalms noted that notice can be given, but work scheduling and weather affect the work. Forkert suggested a long list for the year of roads to do, then update it quarterly. Kalms noted the Town is not legally bound to notify, but can do so as a courtesy. Consensus was to delete USPS mailing as a notification measure (time and cost of mailing as factors). Second paragraph: add “Check the Town website for updates”.
New Town Roads: wording o.k.
Existing Town Roads-Horizontal Obstruction Clearances: Olson noted a plow truck with wing is 14 feet wide. Miller said to refer to the FDM. Wording is o.k.
Existing Town Roads-Vertical Obstruction Clearances. Lateral width is also in the FDM. Wording is o.k.
General Guidelines Policy. Training of Town crew by a certified arborist was suggested. Last sentence changed to read “When possible, Town…maintenance class”.
Removal of Cut Timber Policy. Second line, “will” changed to “must” and delete “indicating such”. Second paragraph, first sentence change “way” to “portion”. Second sentence, add …placed as far “as possible” from … It was noted that often times “wood thieves” help themselves to any wood left along the road. Olson noted that no wood was removed by the crew from any roads that have been trimmed since last fall; it was chipped and the few larger pieces were placed behind the trees that were trimmed.
Road Mowing.Table 1.9 will be added which shows the Clear Zone Distance in feet from the edge of the traveled way at various speeds. Wording stays as is.
Addendum: “s” removed from “roadsways”.
Safety Clear Zone in Active Work Areas: Miller noted this is to keep people out of the working area for safety and liability purposes. Page 5, 1.10.2 Clear Zone Width and Lateral Clearance Width: Lateral clearance and clear zones for rural highways in relation to Average Daily Traffic was reviewed. Wording remains.
Page 6. Definition of “clear zone” and Results of the Policy were noted.
Citizen comments: Bahrke appreciates Miller’s work on this document; what drives: state policy or money; website is best vehicle for notice; current notice is too vague; signage fell by the wayside; regular updates are good. J. Maronek—Town not be in the business of removing wood from a site; put wood on owner’s lot beyond the right of way. Miller suggested a letter on file on what to do with the wood if it can’t get off the right of way. Olson noted that some do not want the wood on their property; on Timberline, they moved the wood and someone else picked it up. C. Maronek—does not want someone coming up her driveway with wood; if people do not know the Town is coming, they do not know to remove the wood; Grove Road was cut January 9th; have a list of email addresses and send a 24 hour notice to them; why would you not be able to get the wood off the right of way; cut ditches once in early fall instead of late summer months; how are shade/ornament trees handled in the Ownerships section of 86.03(2)(2). Olson noted they have gotten a lot of “thumbs up” on roads they are trimming; the only problems are in the area of the group here today.
Gravel processing. Kalms has numbers for blasting and crushing. Blasting 11,000 yd.--$14,850; Crush 10,000 yd.--$28,350; Crush 1,000 yd. breaker run--$2,362; Crush 1,000 yd. recycled asphalt--$2,835; total cost is $48,397. Another number is coming in for crushing by the Feb. 15 Board meeting. He suggested recommending the processing and let the Board decide on the best price. Olson moved, Miller second to recommend blasting 11,000 yd. stone, crushing 10,000 yd. gravel, 1,000 yd. breaker run and 1,000 yd. recycled asphalt. Carried 5-0.
Next meeting will be March 12 at 8 AM.
Kalms read correspondence from Bob & Diana Jarvis expressing their displeasure on the East Door Bluff trimming.
Shumway/Olson to adjourn. Carried 5-0. 10:13 AM.
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