WILMA TOWN BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 5, 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 Joe Vink, Mark Pallow, David Swanson, Ronald McCullen, Ken Yager and Eldon Schmedeke and Bob Brewster, Township Assessor.

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

OLD BUSINESS: Carlson Timber Escrow Deposit: Carlson’s paid another $500 deposit for their work on the Crooked Lake Road. They had earlier paid two other $500 escrow deposits, in 2000 and 2004 for work on the Vink and Mayfield Roads. We used the first one for the Vink Road, and Carlson’s asked for documentation for how the second one was used. Gary said Carlsons bladed all the new gravel off of the Mayfield Road, which needed to be replaced. Gary will contact Carlsons and find out when they will be done on the Crooked Lake Road and tell them that we intend to blade and restore the road. Mike said many, many Carlson trucks are going up and down the road, and have degraded it badly. Carlsons asked for the opportunity to do any needed repairs; Gary is concerned that they don’t have the proper equipment and could further damage it. Joe said we can give them the chance to haul gravel for the repair.

FEMA Flood Damage Payments: FEMA sent a check for $71 and have closed out the account.

HAVA Improvement Grants: The government is offering grants to towns and cities to make their voting places compliant with the HAVA. The MN Secretary of State said that we cannot get retroactive funding for our outhouse, but we can apply for funds to build a wheelchair ramp at the 20:1 ratio for the Town Hall, with a sidewalk slab to reach the handicapped parking and the outhouse. Mark will give Paul an estimate so he can apply for the funds. The deadline is September 12.

Grader Rate: Gary asked Paul to bill New Dosey for 1 hour of grading on August 30, their half $50. Mike asked if we’re getting a fair rate for our grader, considering how much it cost us. Glen moved that Mark and Gary investigate our actual costs for grading town line roads, and what other towns charge, and to bring the information to the next meeting. Mike said we should increase it now, but Glen said we may undercharge ourselves. Glen amended his motion to increase our grader rate to $150 per hour now, pending the investigation, when a rate will be set. Mike seconded.

Pete Anderson Road Culvert: Gary asked Arna township to mark the culvert they feel should be replaced, which they have not done yet. Gary asked Eldon to also mark the culvert into his land that needs to be replaced. Eldon said that the county has marked the culvert at the entrance to the road, that it is their responsibility to replace.

Town hall Chairs: Mike asked Ron if he heard anything from Tanks Tavern about the chairs that they have for sale. The board had moved to purchase them, and they were supposed to deliver them. Ron said Pat has been doing the calling, and Mike asked Ron to have her call them and have them delivered.

NEW BUSINESS: Fire hall Sign: Ron said other towns have road signs indicating that there is a fire hall so that vehicles will slow down, and asked if we can investigate also getting signs on the Duxbury Road saying that there is a fire station here and to slowdown. Ron also asked if we can get a sign marking Duxbury so people know there is a town here. Paul will contact the highway department about the signs. Mike said we also need to tell them to cut the trees in the right-of-way in front of the town hall.

Duxbury Volunteer Fire Dept. name: Eldon asked why the name of the fire department is Duxbury and not Wilma. He said some taxpayers do not want Duxbury on the name but Wilma, since they pay taxes to Wilma and he feels Duxbury refers to the store. Mike said that when the fire department was organized, there were legal reasons to not call it Wilma for liability to the township, since it is an independent volunteer fire department, and not a Wilma Township organization. Ron said that the insurance would be higher if it were a township fire department, and there would be a lot of legal liability. Even Arna and New Dosey use the name Duxbury.

Bob Brewster on Township Assessments: Bob took the floor to explain how he does assessments and what properties are assessed in any given year. He does a five year rotation for most parcels, so each property is assessed every five years, per Minnesota Dept. of Revenue statutes and Pine County Assessor’s Office requirements. Many parcels are assessed more frequently, e.g., new construction, subdivisions, personal property, and changes in classification. Gary said he believes the supervisors are required by statute to notify Bob of any new construction. Ron asked if they find new construction by flyovers, but Bob said no, he relies on reports and his personal observations, since we do not issue building permits. Glen said he wants us to adopt some kind of building permit, but not a zoning ordinance as strict as Arna’s. Bob said technically, a building permit means that the township has adopted the Universal Building Code, which Arna has not. Glen asked if we could ask for site or construction permits without adopting the code. Bob said we can use MN Statute 366 or 462. Arna adopted 462 as it gives more power over junkyards and subdivisions. MS 366 has a list of what is allowed to be regulated. Bob said there has to be enabling legislation for any ordinance that is adopted. Bob said we need both a planning commission and a board of appeals, and the same people cannot serve on both. All are appointed by the Town Board, and in Arna the Board of Appeals is the Town Board.

Glen moved that Wilma Township renew the contract with Bob Brewster to do our assessments in 2008. Mike seconded.

County Junkyard Ordinance: Bob asked for time to explain the new proposed County junkyard ordinance. He said Arna and New Dosey are sending a petition to the County asking that toxic wastes be regulated under the ordinance, which now they are not. Bob Pulford had assured Arna that toxic wastes and hazardous materials would be covered, but now Dale Powers who replaced Bob says that they are not covered. Arna feels betrayed as they did not include hazardous materials in their zoning ordinance based on Pulford’s promise, and it is costly to amend and change the ordinance. There is a hearing on October 4 at East Central High School. Mike moved that Wilma Township join with New Dosey and Arna and support and sign the petition to include hazardous and toxic materials under the new County Junkyard Ordinance. Gary seconded. Eldon said he does not like the provision where people can squeal on their neighbors anonymously and get people in trouble without identifying themselves. He believes there are too many people snooping on each other.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Patrice presented the Treasurer’s report (attached)

BILLS:

Mike McCullen $ 27.70

ECE 32.62

FNBNS 2,000.00

Paul Raymond 115.44

Gary Vink 157.00

Joe Vink 244.73

Patrice Winfield 96.97

Glen Williamson 27.70

Total Bills $ 2,702.16

Mike moved to approve the Treasurer’s report and to pay all bills and to transfer $2,700 from savings to checking. Glen seconded. Glen moved to adjourn; Gary seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

WILMA TOWN BOARD MEETING AUGUST 1, 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 and Glenford Williamson, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Eldon Schmedeke, Ken Yager and two citizens.

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

OLD BUSINESS: Arna Range Line Road Work Proposal: An Arna Supervisor met with Gary to survey Pete Anderson and Langstrom Roads to reach an agreement on what needs to be done. They agreed that a 12″ culvert is needed, but Wilma can put it in for much less than Arna’s proposal. They also agreed that the roads don’t need two loads of gravel on the end of each road, but only one load. Any trees that needed cutting have already been cut by Gary. Eldon said that our grader tore up the culvert going into his property on the Pete Anderson Road, and needs to be replaced. Paul will call the Materials Management Division to see if we can purchase culverts under the cooperative purchasing agreement. We are covered under the county’s $500 fee.

Heller Road Work: Gary asked Paul to bill New Dosey Township for work done on the Heller Road on July 5: New Dosey’s half, 3/4 hour, $75.00.

Carlson Timber Escrow Deposit: Gary asked Paul to send a letter to Carlson’s Timber Products asking for another $500 escrow deposit for work being done on Crooked Lake Road.

Propane Pre-buy: Glen moved that the town purchase 1,000 gallons of propane at Federated’s offered pre-buy rate of $1.79 per gallon. Mike said that the fire department will kick in some for this.

FEMA Flood Damage Payments: Paul didn’t get contact with FEMA regarding their request for documentation for repairs done after the 2001 flood. Paul has the records and will write to Harold Christensen with copies of the invoice by Les Royer for $5,225 of repairs to township roads; our estimate to FEMA was for $4,720, and they paid $4,318 in 2003. We may get more funds once we give them the documentation.

Garbage Board: Glen asked how Gary got on the Garbage Board. Gary said board members have to be township officers, and he was appointed when he first got on the board. He has asked for several years that members be paid by the board, and not by their townships. Gary said the board has a surplus and plans to purchase a new garbage truck. There is a chance the state would take any surplus funds. There have been discussions about some of the surpluses going to the fire department or to a new transmitter tower for radios. Mike moved that the board go on record that they support having the garbage board pay members and that whoever goes to the annual garbage meeting let them know; Glen seconded.

Chairs for Town Hall: Mike got a call from Tanks Bar in Cloverdale asking if the township is interested in purchasing their used chairs. They are the same as our town hall chairs, and we need more. Mike moved that the town purchase up to 30 chairs for the offered price of $5 each. Glen seconded. They will deliver the chairs.

Township Law Book: The town gets one copy of the Minnesota Township Law Book whenever a new edition is published. Gary thinks he may have the most recent edition. Paul will bring in our older copies, and Glen moved that the township purchase two more copies so all the supervisors have copies. Paul will order them. Mike seconded.

Duncan Road: Ken Yager said that the new owner of the old Meyers property asked him when the township will be putting gravel in the hole in the second mile of the road. Gary said we will be putting at least two loads of pit run gravel in that area.

Bills:

FNBNS (grader loan) $ 2,000.00

The Evergreen 4.50

ECE 37.39

Michael McCullen 62.33

Patrice Winfield 123.23

Paul Raymond 143.70

Gary Vink 663.77

Joseph Vink 295.94

Glenford Williamson 62.85

Federated Coop 1,799.00

Total Bills 5,192.71

Treasurer’s Report: Patrice presented the Treasurer’s Report and the Chart of Accounts. Mike moved to approve her report, and to pay all bills, and to transfer 5,200 from savings to checking. Gary seconded.

Glen moved to adjourn the meeting. Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

WILMA TOWNSHIP TOWN BOARD MEETING, JULY 11, 2007

Chairman Gary Vink called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Michael McCullen and Glenford Williamson, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Frank and Bonnie Rehberger, Randy Michel, Mark and Lisa Sisterman, Joe Vink, Eldon Schmedeke, and two citizens.

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

OLD BUSINESS: FEMA Flood funds: Gary got a letter from Harold Christenson, claiming to be the fourth request, asking for invoices proving that we used the FEMA funds in 2001 to pay for our road repairs. Gary asked Paul to find the invoices and to verify that we did get the FEMA funds, and to contact Christenson and forward the material to him. Gary thinks the earlier requests may have been going to Bob Skorczewski.

Pine Co. Commissioners’ Meeting/Schmedeke Lane: Glen attended the meeting. The Board decided to move and rebuild Schmedeke Lane, including Shmedeke’s private cartway, 60 feet to the east at the County’s expense. They had two surveyors check the road and they said the road is 60-100 feet off from where it should be on the original surveyor’s section line. They will return the current road to forest land. Glen asked for Eldon’s feedback. Eldon said he was disappointed that the Town Board did not fight harder, as he believes they would have if it had been the west Range Line that was in dispute, and that he still believes that his survey is the correct one. The Board’s original specifications for Schmedeke Lane were that it would be placed on the section line, so the Board is not liable for it being wrong. Because Bruce Greenly’s home site will be affected, the County will fill in a building site for him. The Commissioners made it clear that only three properties are affected by this: Schmedeke’s, Jensen’s, and Greenly’s. This does not affect any other property lines or surveys. Eldon asked if they are going to build a full-fledged, full-platted 66′ road. Mike said the new Schmedeke Lane will be exactly as good as the existing one. The County paid $27,000 to do the survey. On June 21st, the Board met with Greg Bernu and the County Forester and explained to Eldon what they planned to do.

Little Tamarack Lake Road Sign: Glen got a note from Kari Holter saying that the road sign for their road is gone. Gary said it looks like the whole post is gone. The Tamarack River Road cross-sign is also gone, if there was one. Paul will write the highway department. Gary wants us to ask East Central if they know anything about it; it looks like the County replaced the stop sign. East Central paid the $500 escrow fee and repaired the road after our letter.

Laptop Flash Drive: Glen purchased the flash drive to back up files for $19.95 plus tax.

Arna Township Pete Anderson Road Proposal: Arna sent a proposal for work they want to do on the Range Line Roads totaling $1,280, with our half $640. Mike said to reply that 2007 is Wilma’s year for road work, and to ask that one of their board meet with Gary to do a road inspection and to agree on any needed work. They want to replace the plastic culvert up by Squib Creek that has collapsed.

Duxbury Volunteer Fire Dept. Donation: We got a check for $250 from the fire department to help defray the cost of the new outhouse.

NEW BUSINESS: Minor Subdivision: Randy Michel presented a request for a minor subdivision of his property to be able to sell two ½ acres to Frank and Bonnie Rehberger. Because the County thinks we have a zoning ordinance, they asked for our approval. Mike moved that the Board accept the County’s decision to approve the subdivision and to notify Pine County Zoning. Glen seconded.

Grace’s Lake Easement: Mark and Lisa Sisterman petitioned the Board to grant them an easement into the Barry Parrish property they are purchasing on Grace’s Lake (the old Grace place). They do have access from the DNR through the State Trust Land, but this access does not allow them to build any permanent structures on the land, or to live there. Glen moved that the Board grant the Sisterman petition and to allow them an easement into their land, and that we notify the DNR of this. Mike seconded. Joe said he can help the Sistermans remove an old trailer from the place that they do not want.

Contract for Township Assessments for 2008: Bob Brewster sent a contract for the Board to sign, to assess our 280 parcels at $5.50 per parcel, or $1,540. Mike asked Paul to write to Bob and ask why we are billed for all our parcels when he only inspects a portion of them, and to ask how many actual inspections he believes he will complete in our township in 2008. Mike moved that the contract decision be tabled until the next meeting. Glen seconded. Mike will ask other township officials how they are assessed.

Junkyard Ordinance: There will be an informational meeting at New Dosey Town Hall on Tuesday, July 17, for the county to present the new proposed junkyard ordinance. Gary urged Eldon to attend and to raise the same objections that he did so well at the earlier hearings. Eldon thanked Gary and said he would try.

Duxbury Days: Glen said that even if we don’t have Duxbury Days, that someone should at least write an article for the Pine County Courier about our 100th anniversary and a little history of Wilma Township and the Town of Duxbury.

Road Grader: Mike said that Joe has been out grading with our new grader and says it is a dream to drive. The supervisors are looking into selling our old graders.

Bills:

First National Bank $ 2,000.00

U.S. Treasury (2nd Quarter) 608.86

ECE 36.23

Mark Pallow 495.00

Paul Raymond 83.11

Glen Williamson 112.03

Federated Coop (tank rental) 11.85

Pine Co. Assessor 240.00

Pine Co. Courier 13.16

Patrice Winfield 166.23

Total all bills: $ 3,765.77

Patrice presented the Treasurer’s Report (attached). We received the June settlement, including the levy for the new grader: $31,870. Mike moved to approve the Treasurer’s report and to transfer $3,700 from savings to checking. Glen seconded. There was a discussion on whether we need to continue to use the claim forms as Patrice can print out a master claim sheet with CTAS. The board said they like being able to see the claims, and it saves time to have them ready before the meeting.

Glen moved to adjourn the meeting; Gary seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk