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Paynesville Press - September 17, 2003

Paynesville Township Meeting, Sept. 8

By Michael Jacobson

The Paynesville Township Board of Supervisors took the following actions at their meeting on Monday, Sept. 8

•The board approved charging $500 for a fire call where a resident had a burning permit but did not call before burning.

To legally burn with a fire permit, residents must call to notify the 9-1-1 dispatcher that they will be burning. Otherwise - as in this case - if a neighbor or passerby reports a fire, the dispatcher will send the fire department. By calling before burning, these unnecessary trips can be avoided.

The township charges property owners $500 per fire call ($1,000 for burning without a permit if the fire is reported).

The township needs its residents to get a permit and to call before burning, stressed board chairman Don Pietsch. Fire department costs are divided on the basis of fire calls with each call costing the township between $3,000 and $5,000 depending on the number of calls that year and the number from the township.

Even with the charge to the property owners, the township subsidizes each fire call.

•The board approved an exhibition driving ordinance, as requested by the Paynesville Police Department. The township contracts for police protection from the Paynesville Police Department, which had requested the ordinance because they had a case that could not be prosecuted because of the township's lack of such prohibitions on exhibition driving.

•The board reviewed a Planned Unit Development for the Bug-Bee Hive Resort, as presented by owner Paul Bugbee. The plan contains existing structures at the Bug-Bee Hive Resort and at King Bee Camp and plans to expand, including a triplex at the resort and nine sites at the RV park.

With resorts across the state closing because their business value is less than their property value, demand is greater than ever. His family, which has run a resort since 1920, intends to continue, he said.

After the presentation, the township board approved a resolution that they had reviewed the Planned Unit Development and saw no problems with it. The Stearns County Planning Commission held a hearing on the plan later last week.

•The board approved a final plat for Country Lane Acres - owned by Larry and Sharon Wendroth. The plat includes 15 new lots of various sizes on 64 acres of land along NW Koronis Road.

•Board chairman Don Pietsch reported that both the road project - on Breezewood Road, Crestridge Road, and NW Koronis Road - and the stormwater sewer project on NW Koronis Road were proceeding well. Asphalt could be put down on the road projects starting this week.



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