News

Township tends to road, deals with junk complaint

By Mike Manston

10/15/2014

The Roland Township Board of Directors authorized a $7,000 expenditure to replace gravel on a road in the Thompson Lake area. Local school bus drivers have complained about becoming nearly impassable in muddy conditions during their monthly meeting at the Quilt Inn and Suites Monday.

Chairman Vern Jacobson and Director Mike Hall said they were planning a meeting with Brad Robertson of Wold Engineering to go over information regarding a paving project of the cabin roads around Lake Metigoshe. The board was given authority to pursue paving solutions by a survey of the Roland Township electorate a few months ago.

A junk complaint against a property owner in the Squaw Point area of Lake Metigoshe was discussed with the directors deciding to send a certified letter explaining the Township’s nuisance ordinance and possible fines of noncompliance to property owner Howard Smette. The directors said the property in question is believed to be occupied by Chris Smette.

Zoning Administrator Rob Peck said that the speed humps installed at various points around Lake Metigoshe will be taken out for the season in the near future, at least before the snow flies. 

Jim Dignan, who does the township mowing during the spring and summer, said he has been looking into possible tractor purchases as an alternative to leasing a tractor and presented some of that information to the board for consideration. Dignan pointed out that the township has spent at least $7,500 in the past two years.

“You’re spending a lot of money each year and it wouldn’t be too many years before you could have a tractor paid off,” Dignan said. “Plus, we wouldn’t have to wait for a tractor in the spring and we could get mowing a little sooner. I definitely think it’s something you should look into.”

Longview property owner Neil Schepp appeared before the board to request a vacation of a road on his property. Schepp said that he purchased the property near the Ski Nautique hill in 2007, but has had trouble getting an appraisal on the property because there is a question of whether or not the original deed, drawn up in 1960 and turned over to the Lake Metigoshe Improvement Association, has ever been amended to reflect the absence or existence of a roadway. The recorded deed indicates an easement was granted for the property in question and has never been amended to say anything else.

After following the paper trail, director Rick McGee asked Schepp what action of the board he was looking for and explained that the township board did not have authority to fulfill that request. McGee suggested that Schepp attain an attorney to seek legal advice in the matter and take the issue up with the Bottineau County Commission.

“Even if we could do what you want, it’s not in our authority,” McGee said. “I wish we could do something to help you, but we can’t.”

Director Mike Hall said that the final water samples of Lake Metigoshe have been taken and the results have been sent back with no significant contamination at any of the test sites. The water sampling has been a cost-sharing program with the Lake Metigoshe Recreation Service District and Lake Metigoshe Improvement Association as well as Roland Township. Approximately a half dozen sites at various points of entry into the lake were tested three or four times this summer and analyzed by the First District Health Unit of Minot. Results of the tests may be viewed on the Roland Township website: www.rolandtwp.com.

The next regular meeting is slated for November 10 at 7 p.m. at the Quilt Inn and Suites at Lake Metigoshe.