The Grey Cloud Island Township Board met Wednesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. in the town hall. Following roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, Town Treasurer Keshia Jones opened the
meeting business by reporting that the township had finished June with $241,876 in checking and another $258,700 invested through its UBS account, giving total assets of $500,575. The township's year-to-date operating deficit meanwhile increased to approximately $30,236,
compared with about $20,000 at the same point last year. Jones attributed most of the increase to heavier snow removal and road salt expenses during the winter. Jones also noted that the township's first property tax settlement is expected during July and should provide roughly
$20,000 more revenue than last year's payment.
The board approved payment of $11,637.05 in bills following the treasurer’s report, also approving the June meeting minutes. In town road items, Chairman Phil Dupre reported that reconstruction planning for 105th Street
had entered the final engineering stage, with bids expected soon. Construction remains on schedule for completion in late September or early October. The town board also discussed
erosion beneath a guardrail on Grey Cloud Island Drive, where the roadway embankment appears to be settling.
Supervisor Richard Polta suggested the township may eventually need to reinforce the slope with riprap, while Dupre said township engineers have already been asked to evaluate the area before any decisions are made.
Another discussion centered on roadside ditch mowing after mowing equipment struck large rocks hidden in roadside ditches. Another mowing is planned later this year.
Polta meanwhile responded to a recent resident complaint regarding roadside mowing, explaining that Minnesota township guidance gives local governments authority to maintain vegetation needed to preserve visibility and roadway safety even where formal right-of-way boundaries are unclear.
The town board received confirmation that Aggregate Industries has installed boundary signage required as part of its annual operating permit, satisfying a condition imposed earlier this year.
That wasn’t all, as the town board also approved revisions to its nuisance ordinance that will allow residents to stockpile aggregate for driveway maintenance while requiring those materials to meet setback requirements from property lines.
“I’m just kind of surprised this ordinance is even on the books,” Chairman Phil Dupre said prior to revision of the ordinance referencing Class 5 aggregate materials as a violation. Dupre said many island residents rely on aggregate to maintain long rural driveways and that the ordinance
should reflect that practical need. Resident Eduardo Valencia meanwhile challenged the proposed amendment and its approval that night, arguing the revised language had not been available long enough for public review and objecting to allowing aggregate stockpiles near township roads. He cited a neighboring property where gravel has remained near the roadway for several years, contending that owners of large
lots should store such materials farther from public view. Revised ordinance language was adopted following debate, with the change to ordinance 58.2 amending the end of ordinance subsection g to read “Aggregate materials used to maintain driveways are exempt. Aggregate materials that are stockpiled must adhere to all accessory structure setback requirements.”

"I think it gets the piles away from the road and still lets people have the material they need," Polta said of the revised language. The board unanimously approved the revised language, adopting Resolution 2026-10 to formally enact the amended ordinance. Also from Wednesday town board, members approved ordinance language requiring written
permission to hunt within 500 feet of neighboring homes, authorized a township-wide roadside tree trimming project, reviewed major road improvements and discussed future updates to the township's comprehensive plan during its monthly meeting. The clarification as regards hunting
follows report from past months of duck hunting near people’s houses and a visit by the DNR Conservation officer. The language of 500 feet puts something on the books for enforcement, with residents instructed to call the local police to lock a site down if violations occur. Local police are able to get to a site sooner, allowing evidence to be secured for the DNR. Chairman Phil Dupre said the ordinance allowed people to hunt their own own property, while hunting a neighbor’s property within 500 required permission.
“Anyone can hunt their property, as long as they have permission,” he said. “If you’re going to be within 500 feet of your neighbor’s house you need permission.”
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,” Supervisor Richard Polta said of the 500 foot requirement.
“We’re actually quite liberal compared to our surrounding communities.”
Following the hunting ordinance discussion, the town board unanimously approved hiring Tri County Services to complete roadside tree trimming of all brush over four inches, in particular on the triangle by 105th and Grey Cloud Island Drive. Quoted rates by Tri County includes $200 with skid with mower, $175 with bucket truck, $200 for tractor with arm mower, $65 per hour for labor, $190 for truck with Chipper, and a trip fee of $250 per piece.
“You guys agree on a ‘do not exceed’ amount,” Treasurer Keshia Jones said prior to approval.
“That’s my first recommendation. Also nothing that Xcel would do on its own dime.” Xcel does trimming as it relates to power lines. Dupre said the township has a responsibility to maintain safe travel conditions, noting that overhanging branches have blocked roads during past winter storms. "We have an obligation to keep our roads open," he said. "We don't have a public works department. Somebody has to clean
that stuff up." Several contractors had been contacted before the zeroing in on Tri County, the company that completed the township's previous trimming project. Other individuals and
companies considered along with Tri County included Rick Cook and Greenleaf as well as Monkey Business.
"They did an excellent job," Dupre said, adding that the current work is expected to be less extensive than the last project. Because the amount of trimming depends on field conditions, the town board elected to proceed
on a time-and-materials basis rather than a fixed-price contract.
Clerk Pam Dupre made a note for property owners.
“As far as the tree trimming, if you're a person that's concerned about what they're going to take
off out of your property, you know, what trees, what limbs, whatever, you might want to just take a look at it yourself and do your trimming to your specifications instead of somebody else’s,” she said. “Maybe you want a better job and you can see it differently.” If it looked like the township was going to take too much for trees or vegetation overhanging the roadway, property owners might consider their own tree services.
Looking ahead meanwhile, the town will soon need to update its comprehensive plan for 2050, with work likely to be needed outside the board's regular monthly meetings.
The board also reviewed comments submitted on the South Washington Watershed District's proposed 2026-2036 watershed management plan, with request for continued monitoring of Baldwin Lake, Morris Lake, Larson Lake and the river channel separating Grey Cloud from the mainland. A brief discussion was held on the possibility of reviving community events, including a township picnic and a community Halloween celebration, though no formal action was taken. The board also began considering changes to township hall rental policies after recent users left
food, spills and cleanup for township staff. Officials discussed establishing a refundable cleaning deposit or hiring a cleaner after rentals while emphasizing they want the facility to remain available for residents.
Also discussed was PFAs water filtration, with private well owners potentially eligible to receive filtration systems. More information can be found at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-gw1-09.pdf. In other business, Clerk Dupre reminded residents were reminded that the state primary election
will be held Aug. 11 at the township hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a public accuracy test of voting equipment scheduled for July 21. Last but not least, Washington County is accepting applications for its Planning Advisory Commission, with interested residents instructed to contact the town clerk. Clerk Dupre noted that one of the township's welcome signs was recently stolen.
“I wanted to just, I just wrote down this as an extra,” she said. “The ‘Welcome to Grey Cloud Island Township’ sign down by the first hill was stolen about a week and a half ago. So if
anybody finds one of them signs in their kid's bedroom, let me know. No questions asked. Thanks."