Regular Meeting, October 3, 2007

Wilma Town Board Meeting October 3, 2007

Chairman Gary Vink called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Wilma Town Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Michael McCullen, Glenford Williamson, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Eldon and Margorie Schmedeke, Eric Vathne, and two citizens.

Paul read the record of the September meeting. Mike moved to approve; Glen seconded.

OLD BUSINESS: Pete Anderson Road Culvert: Mike said we need to put in the culvert in our service year, so we don’t have to pay a lot more next year if Arna puts it in. Gary got quotes from Land and Cabins for culvert prices. Arna hasn’t yet marked the culvert location. There is an old steel culvert on the side of the road at the possible location. We may need a full 18″ culvert. Marg said that the town put in a couple of plastic culverts back when George Anderson was on the board, but these have deteriorated and been torn out. Eldon said he would pay half of the cost of a culvert leading to his land that was torn out by the grader, if the town puts in a full-size 18″ culvert at the county rates. Eldon had a report from Judy Soderstrom on the cooperative purchasing agreements the state offers to counties and townships; if the county pays the $1500 rate, the townships can be included in the agreement. When Paul contacted them, they said we had to pay $500, but he will call the county to see if they paid the $1,500, so we can participate in it. Gary will contact Slamka to put the culvert in the Pete Anderson Road. Gary got the tax-exempt number so we don’t have to pay taxes on the culverts.

Dollar Lake Road Work: Eric Vathne said that the Dollar Lake road needs some class 5 gravel as it is very slippery. Eric asked if the township would widen the approach to the road so he can get a semi-truck in easier. Mike said this is in the county’s right-of-way and we can’t touch it; Eric will need to contact the county highway department. Eric asked if the township would widen Dollar Lake Road. He hopes to build on the road and trucks will need to haul trusses in, and they can’t make it in the way the road is now. Mike said our road budget for this year and next year is set, and we may not have the funds for a project this large. Eric asked if he could do the work himself. Paul will call the township attorneys and ask if there are liability issues with private citizens working on township roads. The project would involve tree removal, ditching and gravel. Gary said he would look into what is involved in the project; we didn’t put down gravel earlier because it was too dry, and then it was too wet, and in the window during September Hopkins Gravel was tied up and couldn’t haul gravel for us. Gary said we don’t allow private citizens to grade our roads because they scrape off the crown and the roads can’t drain.

Mike asked Eric about the deep ditch he put in at the end of the road. He asked Eric to fill it in or at least to put reflectors and barricades so people won’t drive into the ditch. The ditch is now full of water, but Eric said he could take dirt from his moat and fill in the ditch.

WILMA TOWNSHIP 100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Glen said that because we didn’t have Duxbury Days this year, that some private citizens are organizing a 100th Birthday Celebration for October 20 at the Duxbury Store Bar. They are asking citizens to contribute food for the party. Glen moved that the town board donate $100 to the celebration for a cake and some refreshments. Mike seconded. Paul will contact the township attorneys to make sure that it is legal for the town to contribute.

Glen said he will post information or a link about the party on the township website. He sent stories about Wilma’s history and 100th anniversary to all the area newspapers.

Road Signs on Duxbury Road: Mark LeBrun said that the county will put up road signs on the Duxbury Road designating the town “Duxbury” and that there is a fire hall/station here.

Carlson Timber Crooked Lake Road Repair: Carlson’s graded the road without our permission and graded off the crown and flattened the road. Now more trucks are using the road. Mike said Paul needs to write to Carlsons and tell them they cannot grade our road and destroy the crown. Gary said that someone also dozed off the South Duncan Road and tore off the crown, and he believes it was T & T Logging. Paul also need to write to T & T and tell them they cannot grade or work on our township roads, and to tell them to pay the $500 escrow deposit. Gary said they tore up boulders from the county side of the road and dumped them on the private property side, where they can damage our grader. So far, T & T hasn’t started logging on that road.

Danforth Bill for Eagle Head Rd.: Gary asked Paul to bill Danforth township $75 for their half of one hour of blading the Eagle Head Road on 9/21/07.

NEW BUSINESS: Town Website: Our domain name is up for renewal. Glen moved that we pay for 3 years at $27; Mike seconded.

Tri-township Disposal District: Mike attended the annual meeting as a citizen, and he asked that the garbage district pay board members, so townships don’t have to. They offered to reimburse townships for them to pay board members at $50 per meeting. They will send the reimbursements at the end of the year, $350. Gary will continue to bill the town.

Grader Use and Road Work Policy: The grader was taken out and was used to do some ditch work and got stuck, and had to be hauled out with the tanker. The tanker hit the fire hall garage door and did about $380 of damage to it. Mike said the fire department feels that the township should pay for half of the repair costs as it was a township use, and he moved that the town pay half. Glen seconded.

This brought up the issue of road work authorization. Presently Gary checks the roads, often with Mark Pallow, and determines what needs to be done and calls out the grader. Mark is the primary operator and Joe Vink is the backup. Glen moved that it be put in writing on the record that all road work needs to be authorized by the Town Board or the board member in charge of road work, Gary, and that any unauthorized work will not be reimbursed and the operator will be liable for any damages. Mike seconded.

Mike asked if we may be grading the roads too much. In the past they were graded once or twice a year, and now it seems that it’s twice a month. Glen said that if we let the roads get as bad as they used to, it will cost a lot more to bring them back up. Mark does not go out without Gary’s approval. Glen moved that Mike and Glen be second in command in road decisions and that if an emergency comes up that Gary be able to contact Glen or Mike without violating the open meeting law. Mike seconded.

Zoning and Planning: Mike got a copy of New Dosey’s Zoning Ordinance. They felt that Markville’s is too complicated and big.

Snowplowing: Snowplowing fees are due. At the annual meeting it was voted that fees be paid by November 1st. Mike moved that we grant an extra week so that people can bring their payment to the November 7th Town Board meeting. Paul will post and publish the notice.

Treasurer’s Report: Patrice gave the Treasurer’s report (attached).

Bills were presented:

ECE $ 31.89

Mark Pallow 44.32

US Treasury 452.18

Joe Vink 27.00

Mike McCullen 27.70

FNBN 2,000.00

Paul Raymond 101.57

Gary Vink 143.14

Glen Williamson 27.70

Patrice Winfield 101.02

Total all bills: $ 2,956.52

Gary moved to approve the treasurer’s report, pay all the bills and to transfer $2,900 from savings to checking. Glen seconded. Passed.

Glen moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk