Dear Dunn Township Board of Supervisors (2)

June 11, 2007

Office of the State Auditor
Suite 500
525 Park Street
Saint Paul, MN 55103-2139

Attn: Nancy J. Bode
Assistant Legal Counsel

Re; Your letter to the Dunn Township Board of Supervisors, dated May 22, 2007

Dear Nancy;

We acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 22, 2007 and would like to make the following observations;

The Dunn Township Board of Supervisors consists of 3 members. In March, 2006, a new supervisor was elected to the board. In late fall of 2006, our acting chairman/supervisor passed away, and a replacement supervisor was selected to fill out his term. In the past 14 months, 2/3rds of the member’s of the Dunn Township Board have been replaced.

We believe that Dunn Township residents would agree that the past Dunn Township Board supervisors have done much to improve the roads and conditions in Dunn Township over the years. The current board is attempting to follow that tradition, but also recognizes the importance of being in compliance with the policies and procedures laid out by the State of Minnesota and other authorities.

In the past 14 months the following actions have been taken by the current Dunn Township Board of Supervisors;

- Developed a Sectional map manual to identify roads, cartways, minimum maintenance roads, culverts, etc., to better enable the supervisors to maintain our township roads, and to track developing road issues and responses to those issues.
- Developed an orderly process to ensure brushing, striping and maintenance are address in each quadrant of our township on a rotational basis.
- Developed a 5 year budget to ensure that Dunn Township is adequately prepared for projected road costs.

- A comprehensive Dunn Township Road Policies and Standards manual has been reviewed by two road construction firms, and is currently under final review by the Otter Tail County engineering department before final adoption and approval expected in July or August of 2007.
- The creation of agreements for the division of maintenance responsibilities for town line roads to be addressed with the neighboring townships of Lida (completed), Scambler, and Candor.
- Dunn Township is currently in the process of hiring an engineering firm to assist in the bidding process and other road issues in our township. Two engineering firms have been interviewed, and a third interview is expected. We hope to have an engineering firm selected within the next few months.
- We have been in recent contact with the MAT attorney and with our township attorney regarding township issues, and will continue to use those resources as needed.

All of the above actions have been taken to ensure that Dunn Township is following correct policies and procedures and for the proper construction of roads and their maintenance in Dunn Township. In most cases the above actions are ‘first’s’ for Dunn Township. We believe that we have come a long way in the past 14 months, but acknowledge that we still have issues to address. In that light, we will make every attempt to follow the recommendations of your letter of May 22, 2007.

If we can be of further assistance in any way, please feel free to contact us directly.

Respectfully;
Wayne Johnson, Dunn Township Chairman
Mike Johnson, Supervisor
Bob Dalman, Supervisor

cc The Honorable Wayne Stein, Otter Tail County Auditor
The Honorable David Hauser, Otter Tail County Attorney