Reconvened Regular Meeting                                                                    June 27, 2012

The Crow Wing Town Board reconvened its June 26, 2012 board meeting at 8 a.m.  June 27, 2012 at the Pam Finch residence located at 7414 Burr Lane. In attendance were Mark Platta -township supervisor,  Dave Schultz- township supervisor and road supervisor, Beth Hippert –Technician for Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District, Pam Finch- resident, Brendan Donahue-neighbor, and Richard (George) Burton- neighbor.

Information about the wetland complex was provided by Beth. Pam and Brendan offered information on how the excessive water after major rain events and spring runoff is affecting their properties, with the necessity of sandbagging to prevent water from entering their homes.  Pam’s well at this point is still under the flood waters and concern was expressed about its portability and it’s placement in conjunction with the wetland.  George discussed the recent canoe trip in which he and Brendan explored the wetland up to the beaver dam located on the Robert Nibbe property.

Beth explained that the first step is for the property owners to get the original survey and have a surveyors locate the markers that were used to delineate the wetland. After that has been completed a meeting would need to be set-up with the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP). TEPs provide forums to discuss site-specific interpretations of laws, rules, and technical data. Proposals on what can be done to rectify this situation will come from that panel.

The group then moved the meeting to Ravenswood at the location where the road right-of-way borders the wetland. They were joined at this point by Trent Baumann- neighbor. A small amount of water was noted in the roadside ditch next to the wetland, the height of the water in the wetland was about 2 feet above level of the water in the ditch with no flow noted. 

Trent invited the supervisors to view the dry man-made trench that exists on his property. Trent’s property is adjacent to Ravenswood opposite the wetland. The trench is approximately two feet wide and 18 inches deep meandering through the area and appears to have been created by a “backhoe”.   Judging from the size of some of the aspens growing in the bottom of the trench it was likely constructed over 20 years ago. The trench was completely dry with no evidence of wetland vegetation in the area.

Meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.