Franconia Township Communications Committee
Monthly Meeting Agenda – 6/13/19
 
7:00 pm – Call to order
 
Agenda Items
1.     Resident Initiatives
a.  Broad Band Discussion –
 
Todd Hagen from Ehlers and Associates will attend to help us understand what a bonding agency does for helping fund projects.  
 
Sherry Stirling a Supervisor for Chisago Lakes Township will be in attendance as we consider a combined Grant Application.
 
b.  Update on County Solar Ordinance / Planning Commission
 
2.     New Business / Open discussion
       
3.     Adoption of New Resident Initiatives
 
4.     Adjourn Meeting


​​Franconia Township Communications Committee
Monthly Meeting Agenda  - 5/9/19
 
7:00 pm – Call to order
 
Agenda Items
1.        Resident Initiatives
a)     Broad Band – Resident Survey Drafting
b)     Solar Update – County Solar Ordinance under Review/Rewrite
 
2.        New Business / Open discussion
           
3.        Adoption of New Resident Initiatives
 
4.        Adjourn Meeting


Franconia Township Communications Committee
Monthly Meeting Agenda – 4/11/19
 
7:00 pm – Call to order
 
Agenda Items
1.     Resident Initiatives
a.  Broad Band - Committee brainstorming and action plan writing
b.  Solar Update - Overview of 4 new County Solar Projects just through Public Hearing
 
2.     New Business / Open discussion
       
3.     Adoption of New Resident Initiatives
 
4.     Adjourn Meeting


​Franconia Township Communications Committee
Monthly Meeting Agenda - 3/14/19
 
7:00 pm – Call to order
 
Agenda Items
1.    Introductions
2.    Overview of Committee Functions
 3.    Resident Initiatives
 
a.    Broad Band        
b.    New Townhall   
c.    Township Solar Ordinance
 
4.    New Business / Open discussion
 5.    Adoption of New Resident Initiatives
 6.    Adjourn Meeting

Franconia Township Communications Committee
Monthly Meeting Minutes - 3/14/19
 
FTCC held it’s March monthly meeting on 3/14/19.  Meeting commenced at 7:00 pm.  In attendance were:  Angel Phillips Permaloff, Wade Vitalis, Shirley Gustafson, Dennis Gustafson, Andy Hoover, Rebecca Adams, Pat Hanson, Debby Nelson, Wade Kilpela, Teresa Rongitsch, Jim Berkholz, Brian Linde and Karen Linde.
 
Angel Phillips Permaloff and Wade Vitalis conducted the meeting, gave introductions and an overview of the functions of the Franconia Township Communications Committee.
 
Current resident initiatives were discussed, including Broad Band, a Township level Solar Ordinance and the potential of building a new townhall on the land purchased in 2018 by the Township Board.
 
Broad Band Initiative – Wade Vitalis led a discussion about the resident need for Broad Band Service.  A feasibility/engineering study will be required to ascertain the potential cost of installation in Franconia.  Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) is willing to provide such a study for approx. $5,000.00. Chisago County HRA/EDA will put up 25% and there is a Blandin Foundation Grant available for 50% of the cost, with the remainder requiring a resolution by the Township Board.  This will be requested at the next Township Board meeting on 3/19/19.
 
Township Solar Ordinance Initiative - Angel Phillips Permaloff led discussion over a list of resident comments taken in the 2018 County Ordinance re-write process, which were not eventually included in the final County Solar Ordinance.  There was a proposal to consider a Township-level Ordinance with the cooperation of the County.  Xcel is granting interconnection agreements in other areas of Chisago County, (Specifically, 3 in Amador and 1 in Sunrise Township) in spite of previous reports that all of our substations were at capacity.  Dennis Gustafson suggested cooperation with other Townships to come to a group consensus and approach the County about fine-tuning the County Ordinance instead of creating a stricter Township Solar Ordinance.
 
New Township Hall Initiative – Angel Phillips Permaloff led a discussion about the potential benefits/uses of a new Townhall that could potentially be built on a 23 acre parcel of land that the Township Board purchased in 2018 for that purpose.  Resident suggestions included rental space for weddings, meetings, and events as well as a commercial kitchen that could be rented to residents when not in use for events.  An outdoor pavilion and play area was suggested.  Indoor/outdoor space for a local farmers market was also posed as an option, as was space for a community garden.  Jim Birkholz suggested we work with the Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District around land use issues and planning.
 
Meeting was adjourned @ 8:55 pm.