AIRPORT TRIVIA, ANYONE?

MARCH 27th: A meeting was held at Lakeville City Hall regarding the Airport LTCP---Long-Term Comprehensive Plan---Update. Neil Ralston, Airport Planner from MAC, presented the most recent information regarding the airport's future.

There were special meetings of both the PC and the TB called and posted by the Clerk. Commissioner Ralph Fredlund, Sherri Buss, and Commission Chair Nancy Sauber attended. There was not a quorum of the PC, so no "meeting" actually held. Cost for Sherri to attend still accommodated in budget of Boundary Protection Study.The airport is late doing its update and this is currently reflected in Eureka's Comprehensive Plan Update. The communication about this meeting came from Neil Ralston in response to Buss' second reminder of the Eureka Comp Plan review request to all affected jurisdictions.

In addition to a PowerPoint presentation, the following comments were made, mostly by Neil Ralston, A.A.E., airport planner:

*Do not see the role of the airport changing over the next 20-year period. They want to make improvements so that it can operate more efficiently. Need longer runway for small jets. 

* Need more apron to park aircraft.

* Existing land use "grandfathered in."

* In 2008, looked at a 5,000' runway. Would have cost $8-9 million, not including land acquisition costs.

* FAA does not want public roads in the protection zones. If move a public roadway, FAA says have to move it out of the protection zone entirely. Some discussion about whether there might be a way around this or not.

*When Cedar Avenue goes to 4 lanes, Cedar could be rerouted or even tunneled under. 

* Brian Sorenson, P.E., Assistant County Engineer, said County does not see Cedar going to 4 lanes at least through 2030. 20-yr forecasts do not expand it.

* If a railroad car is on the railroad tracks it is too high for airport. $5 million to move Railroad is not feasible.

* If were to relocate Cedar, it would cost $ 16-20 million, not including land acquisition.

* White Point Flight Services says there is a growing demand for business aviation in the south metro. Without increasing the runway, this is not likely to increase at AirLake.

* Slowdown in operations from projections due to 9-11, recession, and high fuel prices.

*  2035 forecast of 36-38,000 operations; although about the same as current level of operations, does include more jet traffic, proportionally. 

*The business/jet traffic would be taking up the slack from the reduction in recreational traffic.

* Small prop aircraft is not just recreational. Some are used for business because they are faster and longer range.

* MN State Statute-can't expand minor (< 5,000') w/o law.

* If AirLake is able to handle more business traffic, businesses would not have to go to Flying Cloud to get passengers and more fuel before going to, say, Kansas City.

*Extend runway 270' to NW and 480' to south. The runway will not be used in the same way in both directions; i.e., take-offs and landings. Landings will be about same place as are now. Take-offs could originate from the NW end of the runway as well.

* Do not want to study alterations to Cedar Avenue right now.

* 225th paved from just before Hamburg east to Cedar. Used terms like "our intent" and "likely" (Gary Schmidt) No firm commitment.

* $ 5.5-6 million includes repave runway. Much less than relocating Cedar.

* These improvements will add layers of complexity to airport use and pilots will have to be educated.

* FAA will approve with Cedar in same place.

* Would like to see Joint Airport Zoning Board with adjacent municipalities.

* Tributary to Vermillion River needs to be addressed.

* Add red lights on some hangars. They wouldn't be allowed there now.

* Clients want more access for hangars in the southern area. The airport hangars are currently full.

* There has been some displacement due to number of aircraft in a particular hangar. Could have gone from 3 or 4 down to one.

* No restriction on use in industrial park except for one little corner.

* Have money. It could happen in 2022, but may not.

* 45-day review period during June/July. Notice in local newspapers for Lakeville and Eureka for public comment and questions. Postcards to airport "neighbors." Asked at what distance? Answer-look to Eureka for help with that. Recommended holding one meeting at Eureka Town Hall.

*Met Council will review for "consistency."

* Need to determine engineering for the relocation of 225th St. W. Dakota County P.E. said they would be willing to work with Township Engineer.

* Intend to move 225th 750' south to Cedar and then back north to reconnect with where it is now east of Cedar.

* Mentioned Wat Lao Temple. Is it 750' south of the intersection? They do not want to have to deal with land acquisitions, Mr. Ralston stated.

Respectfully submitted to Town Board FYI for its April 10 meeting,

Nancy Sauber

TOWN BOARD RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

  
            On Wednesday, March 29, 2017, the Board of  Supervisors 
held their annual Re-organizational Meeting at the Eureka Town Hall.
In attendance were Supervisors Lu Barfknecht, Dan Rogers, Donovan 
Palmquist, Carrie Jennings and Charles "Butch" Hansen.

            Meeting dates, posting places, notices, financial items, policies,
professional services and Supervisor assignments were the major agenda
items discussed.

            The following are topics that might be of interest: (This 
information can also be found in the Town Board minutes when approved).
    
MEETINGS:
     The schedule of the Town Board meetings:
           April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, 
           October 10, November 13, December 11, January 8 (2018)
           February 12, and March 12.

     The majority of the Planning Commission meetings, by a majority
      vote and resolution, will be held on the first Tuesday of the month 
      unless otherwise indicated:
           April 3, May 2, June 6, July 3, August 8, September 5, October 3,
           November 6, December 5, January 2 (2018), February 6,
           and March 6.

NOTICES:
      The designated official newspapers are the Farmington/Rosemount
      Dakota County Tribune and the Lakeville Sun Thisweek.

RECORDING MEETINGS:
      The recordings of regular and special meetings will be used for
       transcription purposes and will be destroyed after approval unless
       specifically directed to preserve the recording. Recordings of Public 
       Hearings will be preserved. Recordings of the meetings can be obtained
       by the public upon written request, for a fee between the actual meeting
       and approval of the minutes for that meeting.

CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR:
      Supervisor Lu Barfknechs is the Chair and Supervisor Carrie Jennings
      is the Vice-Chair.                                           
                                                                                                  
COMPENSATION FOR TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, PLANNING 
COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES WILL REMAIN THE SAME:
      Supervisor Chair - $90 and Vice-chair $90.
      Board Supervisors - $80
      Special meetings - $70
      Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair - $70
      Commissioners - $60
      Special meetings - $60
      Liaisons - $50
      Head Election Judge - $15/ hour
      Judges - $12/hour
      Site Inspection rates - $25

TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY FIRM:

     Kelley & Lemmons Law Firm

ENGINEERING AND PLANNING:
     TKDA

OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:
     Broad View Tech, Town Web and Rack Space

SUPERVISOR ASSIGNMENTS:
     Supervisor Rogers - Lakeville Fire, Farmington Fire, (Butch
     Hansen is the backup) contact, Weed Inspector, Ambulance contact, 
     Road contact and Dakota County Sheriff contact.

     Supervisor Jennings - North Cannon River Watershed,
     Vermillion River Watershed contact (Planning Commissioner 
     Nancy Sauber is the Vermillion River Watershed and
     North Cannon River Watershed backup contact). 
     Wetlands/DNR contact, Airlake Airport contact, Dakota County
     contact and Soil and Water Conservation District contact.

     Supervisor Palmquist - Road contact, Compliance Official and
     Building Inspector backup contact.

     Supervisor Charles "Butch" Hansen - Town Hall Structure contact
     and Building Inspector contact.

     Supervisor Barfknecht - Professional Services contact.

For Supervisor contact information, visit the Eureka Township web site
or call the Town Hall clerk at 952 469 3736.

For additional information regarding adopted policies, financial items
and other business discussed, refer to the DRAFT minutes when posted
or the minutes which will be approved at the April Town Board meeting.
            
         

   

A TALE OF TWO CITIES...

It has often been said that it is in Eureka's best interests to be in touch with the surrounding municipalities and develop positive relationships with them. In that vein, on March 10th I attended the "State of the City" address by Farmington Mayor, Todd Larson, sponsored by the Dakota County Chamber of Commerce. Obviously, there are big differences between a city of Farmington's size (over 22,000) and Eureka Township (1500), but here are some bits of information that I learned that may also be of some interest to citizens of Eureka:

* Mayor Larson said that Farmington has some joint committees with and that it is "nice to go out to townships and meet with members." (In regard to Eureka, this type of meeting hasn't been done in my recent memory.)

*A HyVee grocery store is to be located on Highway 50, near McDonald's. The preliminary plat, CUP, and business subsidy agreement have been approved. They have been working on this for about nine months.

* For the first time ever, the Tamarack Retail Center is full.

* There were 65 new single-family building permits issued in 2016. This is considered low; they would like to have closer to 100 per year. They are looking for 300 new lots to be platted in 2017 if developers to clear land and build are secured.

* The city has given matching grants ($1500-2500 each) to downtown businesses to improve and upgrade their facades.

* Various Farmington businesses and organizations donate to city-wide efforts such as new chairs and cabinets for the senior fitness center, crack sealing trails, K-9 unit, and first aid kits for police and fire.

* Farmington sends out a city survey every two years.

* Highway 50 will be milled and overlaid between 3 and 52 in 2017.

* Farmington uses many means to communicate with its citizenry such as a new mobile app, a new website, e-notifications, on-line job applications, city calendars mailed every December, city news and rec guide mailed every quarter.

Of all the ideas above, I was perhaps most interested in the surveys sent out on a fairly frequent basis. It could be a good way to engage more Eureka residents and landowners and obtain some direct feedback. (The last time a Township-wide survey was sent was for the Commercial/Industrial Study. I will note that some did not want that survey sent out in the first place and then later questioned its validity, even though the return was actually quite good for surveys of that type.)

In a similar vein, I attended the Lakeville Public Hearing on March 16th for the preliminary plat of the property owned by Launch Property, represented that evening by Dan Regan. This is part of the 98-acre property that was annexed by Lakeville in 2006. At the time of annexation, it was said that a developer was all lined up and ready to go and they needed sewer and water.

Here are the points of interest that Mr. Regan made in his public testimony:

* This development has "been a long time coming."

* It has taken "quite a number of years."

* There are structures planned on Lot 1 (19 acres) and Lot 2 (20 acres).

* There will ultimately be two buildings with warehouse and office space built on these specific properties. The tenant for the western half of the first building to be built will be Menasha Paper. This business has been located in the AirLake Industrial Park for quite a few years. It was not made clear if Menasha is moving entirely to the Launch Property site, leaving open its current facility in the industrial park, or if this could be in addition to its current operation. If my notes are correct, they will have 3,000 sq. ft of office space and 136,000 sq ft of warehouse space in the new structure.

* Launch Properties is building the facilities with maximum adaptability/flexibility as they look forward to possible uses in the future. For example, there are 269 parking spaces planned, with room for 334. They intend long-term ownership.

* It was noted by the Commission Chair that this property is readily developable, being flat with sandy soils.

* They are obtaining a CUP for a deviation in the exterior architecture. Instead of concrete with vertical "corrugations" colored like concrete, the exterior will be smooth concrete that will, at least in part, be colored. This would be similar to the Shutterfly development in Shakopee, for example, and is the newer trend.

* There are 11 stipulations to consider in the review.

* The plan calls for a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that will not result in open water near the airport. Open water "attracts birds."

There were no comments from the public. There were two of us in attendance! It was interesting to see how city municipal matters move ahead when there is a full-time and complete staff to present information to the Planning Commission!