Regular Meeting, June 6, 2007

WILMA TOWNSHIP TOWN BOARD MEETING, JUNE 6, 2007

Chairman Gary Vink called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Michael McCullen, Glenford Williamson, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Bob Jensen, Barbara Jensen, Mark Pallow, Jim and Carol Laumer, Eldon and Marjorie Schmedeke, and 2 citizens.

Paul read the minutes of the May meeting. Gary moved to approve; Glen seconded.

Marjorie Schmedeke questioned the expenditure for the township attorney. Paul explained it was for legal work and calls regarding the grader levy for 2007.

Road Report: Gary said that the culvert on the Mayfield road was rotted out and was a road hazard and needed to be replaced. He said that East Central Electric did ditching work on the Little Tamarack Lake road without notifying the township as required. Gary said they have already punched out a trench and have created some rough spots. When they trenched the Vink Road, they allowed Gary to mark the culverts before they started work, but no notice was given this time. Mike asked Paul to write ECE and remind them of our notice requirement and that we are holding them liable for any damages on this road, and if they don’t repair and restore the road, we will and bill them. Mike also asked Paul to ask ECE for the same $500 escrow deposit we require from logging companies. Eldon Schmedeke said he believes there is a culvert on Little Tamarack Lake Road, and they may have cut it. We will remind ECE of the requirement to notify us of any trenching they do on township roads.

Township Laptop Computer: Glen purchased the Everex Stepnote for $498 plus $28.98 for a three-year extended warranty. The total, with tax, was $559.25. Patrice has learned the CTAS program. Glen said it is vital that we backup the data, and that a flash drive would be enough. Mike moved that Glen be authorized to purchase a flash drive. Gary seconded.

Schmedeke Lane: There was a County Commissioners’ meeting in Sandstone where Eldon was allowed to make a passionate defense of his survey and placing of Schmedeke lane. The Commissioners have not made a decision on what survey they will accept and what the future of Schmedeke Lane will be. Barbara Jensen said that she would not contest the road or ask for damages if the road could be renamed after her husband and called Tiny Lane. Eldon rejected this option. Barbara said they were not notified at the time the Township recorded Schmedeke Lane as a township road. Eldon took the floor to show the Board his survey and said that at the time the road was built the Jensens agreed to the survey and in fact helped measure it.

Barbara Jensen took the floor to say that her memories are different from Eldon’s. She said that she is not at war with anyone. She said that the County Attorney said that the original surveys are binding, even if they are not accurate. They cannot be changed except by Federal action. No later survey can move the section monument, even if it is wrong. Fust Lane is on the correct monument which was found by several different surveyors. Fust Lane and the South Duncan Road both had monuments, but none has been found for Schmedeke Lane or the North Duncan Road. Barb said that the road obstruction stakes in Schmedeke Lane are dangerous and they are in the part that is a township road, and that she would like the road to be renamed Tiny Lane in memory of her husband.

Jim and Carol Laumer who own land next to Becky Niedzielski’s old place said that she discovered that their survey was wrong, and that Bob Pulford said that he had to make a deal with Becky or he could lose part of his land. He thought the fences and walls on the west of his land were the property line. He used a GPS to measure the roads and said that they all lined up, but that Pulford said that they had re-surveyed it. Jim asked the county to give up 60 feet of their land, but that they refused.

Barb said that citizens and landowners need to be notified when there are survey controversies or issues.

Eldon said that as far as changing the road name, he pays over $12,000 annually in property taxes and that he values having his name on a road.

Mike said that none of this is in the Town Board’s hands, and that no action can be taken until we hear what the Commissioners’ decision will be. Mike asked that Eldon remove the stakes that are in the township road. Barb asked if the Schmedeke Lane road sign could be removed until the issue is resolved, but Mike said the signs are necessary for 911 and fire calls.

NEW BUSINESS: Duxbury Days: Patrice said that she has too many personal and family responsibilities to chair the Duxbury Days celebration, and that she is not the right person to organize and run the event.

Bills:

Joe Vink $ 137.61

Mark Pallow 181.01

ECE 35.70

Town and Country Oil 815.93

MAT Agency 2,380.00

Federated Coop 8.88

Mark Pallow (outhouse materials) 1,226.71

Dennis Shlamka (holding tank) 2,200.00

Paul Raymond 87.73

Gary Vink 187.00

Mike McCullen 96.96

Glen Williamson (incl. Computer) 734.37

Patrice Winfield 278.85

First National Bank 2,000.00

Total Bills 10,370.00

Treasurer’s Report:

General Fund Receipts 103.70

Disbursements 1,040.19

Balance 7,262.07

Road and Bridge Rec: 125.00

Disb: 5,177.60

Bal: 5,542.40

Fire Bal: 321.14

Park Bal: 719.53

Building Bal: 6,790.95

Escrow: Rec: 15.17

Bal: 4,880.04

TOTAL ALL FUNDS: $ 25,516.08

Patrice said that with the CTAS program that she can print out the treasurer’s reports and distribute them to the Board. Mike moved to approve the report and to transfer $10,400 from savings to checking; Gary seconded. Glen moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk