Brian Budenski--Weed Inspector?

Brian Budenski, former Chair, is nearing the end of his second term on the Board.  He ran for Dakota County Commissioner last fall with a platform opposing the heavy handedness of the CapX2020 project.  Unfortunately, it will soon span the Township.  His kids are almost launched, winters are getting long, and he is drawn to the Arizona desert.  Can he be talked into a third term?  We will have to wait and see.

Brian's experience is in real estate but his current assignments as Board Supervisor include being the contact to the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the Weed Supervisor.

He is coming up to speed on the noxious weeds the Township is obligated to control in our ditches and roadsides.  Help him out of the wild parsnip if you see him.  It can give the unsuspecting wanderer a nasty burn by making one's skin ultra sensitive to the sun.  Stay safe, Brian!

Kenny Miller--Miner

Kenny Miller owns Eureka Sand and Gravel. His term expires in 2016.  He has mined in the western part of the Township on his and leased land and in 2007, his Windmill Mine in the eastern part of the Township was the first to be permitted under the new, more stringent Mining Ordinance.  Kenny currently holds the contract for all gravel used on Township roads.  This was decided at the April, 2013 meeting:

Kenny Miller

Other Business 

A. Quote for Gravel 

Supervisor Kenny Miller recused himself from the Town Board on this matter, due to a conflict of interest. He is the owner/ operator of Eureka Sand and Gravel, one of the companies submitting quotes for gravel. 

Two quotes were received for Class 5 gravel: Dakota Aggregates, delivered price at $6.95/ton and 

Eureka Sand and Gravel, delivered price at $6.98/ton. 

Both submitters had persons in attendance to represent their quotes. Kenny Miller, owner operator of Eureka Sand and Gravel was asked if he was willing to drop his quote to $6.95/ton. He was willing to match Dakota Aggregates quote. The Town Board discussed issues relating to gravel in the Township. 

A motion by Supervisor Brian Budenski: To accept Eureka Sand & Gravel quote for Class 5 Gravel at $6.95/ton. Motion seconded by Supervisor Mark Ceminsky for discussion. Vote was taken on the motion. The motion passed with one dissenting vote by Supervisor Pete Storlie. 

Kenny has been on the Board and Planning Commission for many terms and has a great memory for the history of ordinances and actions by the Board and likes to tell those stories.  

Long story short, what is a conflict of interest and how does a Board member avoid entering into one? Here is how the Board dealt with potential conflicts during their March, Reorganizational Meeting this year.  

 L. Potential Conflict of Interest Issues.

 Supervisor Kenny Miller, Eureka Sand & Gravel has a potential Conflict of Interest and 

Supervisor Mark Ceminsky, Beaver Creek Companies Inc. has a potential Conflict of 

Interest. 

A motion by Supervisor Pete Storlie: If Supervisor Kenny Miller of Eureka Sand and Gravel 

or Supervisor Mark Ceminsky, owner of Beaver Creek Companies are awarded any work in 

the Township a Resolution will be adopted for any possible conflict of interest. Motion 

seconded by Supervisor Steve Madden. Supervisor Kenny Miller and Supervisor Mark 

Ceminsky recused themselves from voting on the motion. The motion carried by unanimous 

vote of Supervisors voting. 

Is that enough?  You decide.

Steve Madden--Listener

We can't say much about what Steve Madden does.  He is not "Linked in" or listed in the white pages.  He  has to have a Eureka address, otherwise he wouldn't be eligible to be on the Board.  Steve is up for re-election in 2015.

Steve Madden

Mr. Madden is the silent type.  He will contribute if called on but prefers to take a back-seat role.  If asked, he may even make a motion but last Monday asked someone else to insert the "number mumbo-jumbo" (parcel identification numbers, dates and street addresses).  He tends to vote in lock step with Mr. Ceminsky and Mr. Storlie.

Here he is plugging his ears during July's Town Board meeting as a member of the public sat before the Board, addressing them on an agenda item.  (Ceminsky had tried to delete the item from the agenda at the beginning of the meeting but was foiled by pesky rules protecting speech.)

What do you think Steve was intending to convey by taking this posture?  Was he merely overwhelmed? Was he being selective about what he took in? Was he deliberately trying to offend a member of the public?  I can't think of anything else and none of these seem an appropriate response from an elected official.

Mark Ceminsky--Builder

Mark Ceminsky has a Board seat until 2015.  He was formerly a member of the Planning Commission.

Mark Ceminsky

He is Pete's right hand man.

Mark's experience with construction comes in handy when reviewing building plans.  He owns and operates Beaver Creek Companies, an interior/exterior home remodeling and landscaping company.  You can even see some of his work on display at the Town Hall (counter extension).

Mark worked hard to increase the size of allowable accessory-use structures in the Township.  He had hoped to allow up to 25% of a person's lot to become an accessory building (wow, I own 120 acres--what would I do with a 30-acre building?  Indoor golf?).  He settled for the equivalent of 14, 2-car garages on a typical residential lot.

That's a lot of storage space!  Especially when you consider that the only thing allowed in these buldings is personal property for personal (not commercial or business) use.  What could a guy possibly want all that space for?

Mark is the current road supervisor.  He worked hard to get FEMA money to repair Township roads damaged in spring 2012 storms.  Hopefully the money can be used to cover some of his time as well because his second quarter time sheet amounted to nearly $4,000.  Other Board members' pay ranged from $450 to $950 for the Chair.  How could Mark make an order of magnitude more than any other Board member?  He charges $70 (plus mileage) for every inspection of the roads that he makes.  Pete said it was approved and discussed at the Reorganizational meeting.

A quick look at past payroll and our fee structure shows that this is a new policy.  How do you feel about Mark making a projected $12,000 per year?  Maybe its worth it for the job he is doing on the roads. It's your tax money.  Vote.

Chairman Storlie

Pete Storlie is the current Chair of the Board.  He is up for re-election next March.

His Board position features prominently on his linked-in page.  He has been a general constructon manager for hair salons and mattress stores.

Pete Storlie

Pete's brusque nature, stern manner and general impatience with public comment allow the Town Board meetings to move along at a quick clip.  He also appears to work behind the scenes with at least one other Board member (Ceminsky) and two Planning Commission members (Novacek and Hansen) to  push items through.  This could be viewed as a much needed efficiency.

Alternatively, it could be construed as shutting down public debate, bypassing the recommendations of the Planning Commission and ignoring public testimony from hearings.

You get to decide!  Come to see how Pete runs a meeting, then after you form an opinion, vote in the next election.

Hello Eureka Citizens! Welcome to Engaging Eureka in Goverance

Eureka Township in Dakota County Minnesota has an official website.  Please refer to that site (see links) for official postings and minutes of meetings.

This site is meant to let you know why you should care about Township governance.   I also hope that it makes some of you see how easy and satisfying it is to get involved.  We are always in need of citizens to serve on task forces and even to run or volunteer for office.

Eureka Township, unlike most other townships in the state, has planning and zoning authority.  We can control the future of the Township through the ordinances we pass.  The Board makes the final call on ordinance change and enforcement but it is supposed to take into consideration our Comprehensive Plan, the opinions of the public gathered through the public hearing process, and the recommendations of the appointed, 5-person Planning Commission.  In some cases, surrounding communities and even the Metropolitan Council also weigh in.

But in a very real way, the current board controls the direction the Township is headed.  We elect them in a March election.  Forgot to go to that one?  I think it was a snow day and it does kind of sneak up on you.

Well, if you have only a vague idea who is on the current Board and what the current issues, proposed ordinances and (gulp) lawsuits are, this blog is for you.

If you're frustrated with politics at the national level, try grassroots governance.  You, as an individual can actually make a difference.   The last Board seats were won by 3 or fewer votes!

Who is on the Board and what direction are they taking the Township?  That will be the subject of my first few posts.   You may be surprised.