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•The township board approved modifying its zoning ordinance to lower the allowable sidewall heights for accessory buildings. The township ordinance had been more lenient than the county, which is not allowed under the township's agreement with the county.

For lots less than an acre, the maximum sidewall height is still 10 feet. For lots up to 5.9 acres in size, the maximum sidewall height is 12 feet. For lots between 6 and 9.4 acres, the maximum sidewall height is 14 feet, and for lots larger the maximum sidewall height is unlimited.

•The board voted to hire a wetland specialist (Greg Goeser) to delineate wetlands on the west side of NW Koronis Road and the north side of Breezewood Road. The township is doing a road construction project along these roads this summer and intends to add a separate pedestrian trail that could encroach on some wetland areas.

•The board approved having Duininck Brothers Ð who have the contract to do the road work on Crestridge Road, NW Koronis Road, and Breezewood Road Ð make some changes in the trail design at a cost of $3,000. The township board previously approved moving the trail to the west side of NW Koronis Road, but there are wetlands on this side.

•The board heard from Joe Voss, a member of the Paynesville Human Rights Commission, asking for a contribution for the Festival for Ethnic Traditions. The board took no action but plans to look at it at a future meeting.

•The board heard a proposal from East Side Oil Company to establish a used oil recycling center at the township garage. Such a center would give residents a place to dispose of used oil and used oil filters, paying on the honor system. SCORE funds could be used to pay for construction, along with a contribution from East Side, meaning the township would only need to pay if honor payments by users were not made or did not cover the disposal costs.

•The board was informed by police officer Kent Kortlever that the Paynesville Police Department lost a case because the township ordinance does not include making figure eights, fishtailing, or swerving in its ordinance for exhibition driving. The township board is going to check if they can amend this ordinance by resolution.

•The board approved the preliminary plat for ElMar Acres, owned by Eldred and Marilyn Lieser. The plat makes 15 lots on 41.85 acres between Highway 55 and 185th Avenue.

Four of these lots are smaller than two acres in size, the minimum allowed by the township, but the smallest lot is 1.96 acres. The township could approve a variance for these lots, but supervisor Pat Meagher suggested that the township may want to lower the minimum size in its ordinance to 1.95 or 1.90 acres for clustering.

In clustering, the county grants extra lots by limiting lot sizes to two acres maximum. This poses a problem since the township has a two-acre minimum. It is very difficult to get every lot exactly two acres, noted Meagher.

•The board approved a conditional-use permit for Ken Pinske, who erected a greenhouse on residential property. Part of Pinske's property is commercial, but the greenhouse was not built on that part.

The township board also supported redrawing the two-acre commercial portion of his property to include the greenhouse.

Pinske agreed to pay $100 for the conditional-use permit and $300 for an after-the-fact permit, since the greenhouse has already been built in order to have spring plants.

•The board approved moving its next meeting from Memorial Day (Monday, May 26) to Tuesday, May 27, starting at 8 p.m.

•The board accepted a petition from four homeowners along Breezewood Road who want the township to expand the road right-of-way ten feet to the north. This should make it easier to build a pedestrian trail without interfering with the road ditch. The township board set a hearing for this matter on Tuesday, May 27, at 8:30 p.m.

•The board set a variance hearing for John and Faye Hartert on Tuesday, May 27, at 8:45 p.m.

•The board also moved its first meeting in June from Monday, June 9, to Monday, June 2, also at 8 p.m. •The board set a hearing for a preliminary plat for Dennis Block on Monday, June 2, at 8:30 p.m.

•The board approved having Mike Jensen buy a fax machine to use for permitting.