Board of Audit and Regular Town Meeing, February 6, 2008

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF AUDIT AND TOWN BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 6, 2008

Chairman Gary Vink called the Board of Audit to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Glenford Williamson and Michael McCullen, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Township Assessor Bob Brewster, Eldon Schmedeke and a citizen.

The Supervisors examined the financial records of the Clerk and Treasurer. Mike questioned a discrepancy between the Clerk’s and Treasurer’s figures for the Road and Bridge Fund. Paul’s books still showed orders paid and receipts in the Gas Tax Fund, but this fund was reabsorbed into the Road and Bridge Fund. When Paul made this adjustment the books agreed and Glen moved to approve the Summary Statements of the Clerk and Treasurer; Mike seconded, and the Supervisors signed off on the books.

Paul presented a proposed budget for 2009 which was the same as the 2008 budget adopted by the taxpayers last March. Paul suggested reducing the Park Fund to zero since there is a $1,000 balance in the fund and we don’t use the park, but Glen said he feels we should continue to fund this fund. Mike moved to recommend the mileage rate be raised from $.45 to $.50. Glen seconded. Mike noted that the board had already voted to increase the rate for special plowing to $150/hour, and the new budget should reflect that for 2009. Glen moved that the special plowing rate be $150/hour with a one hour minimum charge. Gary seconded.

Paul read the record of the January meeting. Eldon asked that the minutes be amended to say that he pays $5,000 every two years in township taxes, not every year. With that correction, Mike moved to approve the minutes; Glen seconded.

NEW BUSINESS: Review of the Pine County Sewer Code. Bob Brewster, who heads up Arna Township’s Zoning Commission, took the floor to discuss the proposed revisions to Pine County’s on-site sewer system rules to comply with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s recent revisions to the 7080 sewer code. Dale Powers, Pine County’s zoning administrator, is soliciting feedback from townships. The county has two years to conform to the state rules, or February, 2010, and townships have one year from the county making the change for township ordinances to conform to the county code. The new rules are 7080, 7081, 7082 and 7083. 7080 applies to individual home sites. 7081 is for multiple homes using one tank. 7082 involves township regulations on how tough their regulations are. 7083 covers licensing of system inspectors and installers and designers like Gale Kespohl and Dennis Schlomka. Bob said that Dale Powers wants septic systems to be twice the size as currently required. Mike said that we as a board need to notify our Commisioner Roger Nelson and tell him that we do not want Dale Powers to be involved in our township or to impose his ordinances on our township. Bob said that Dale is claiming a conflict of interest with Gale and Dennis as they live together and Dennis installs systems and Gale inspects and approves them. Mike said Dennis does not sell holding tanks or septic tanks; he just buries them. There is going to be a meeting at Tobies on February 14 for contractors, not for townships, but Bob plans to attend. Eldon said this is right out of the United Nations playbook to abolish all private property rights. Eldon said that James Obestar is proposing new regulations, HR 24-21, that would define even dry areas as wetlands so the U.S. Corps of Engineers can control our property and he does not want the township to pass any ordinances that would take away his rights to manage his property.

T&T and Tri-State Loggers: Both T&T and Tri-State Logging paid escrow deposits; T&T paid two for both the North and South Duncan Roads.

Election Judges: Patrice will be the head judge for the township election on March 11. Margorie Schmedeke and Tony Williamson will also serve.

Fire Department Tower Funding: Mike said that the Federal Government is providing funds for local fire departments to put up radio towers for communication. If the Duxbury Fire Department put up a tower on the townsite, they would pay $1,000 and the Government would pay $9,000. Pine County got $540,000 from FEMA and other fire departments are taking cuts of it, especially Pine City’s. Mike said a tower could be used for cell phones so we can have cell-phone reception out here, and that they would pay to rent the towers. Gary asked if the township could get revenue from a tower that was paid for by the federal government. Mike said that because it would be on township property, that we could collect revenues. Glen said that in Grand Marais the tower also provides wireless internet service. The sheriff or Fire Department could put a repeater on the tower.

Mike said he wanted the board to be informed because he intends to really push for this money on the fire department since other fire departments are getting radios and towers.

Tri-Township Garbage Board Meeting: Mike said that at the Garbage Board meeting they voted to reduce the yearly fees from $36 to $30 per year, as they have so much revenue. Glen moved to approve reducing the garbage fee from $36 to $30 per year. Mike seconded. Mike explained to Glen how he can get a refund from multiple fees. Paul said he thinks the garbage board should inform property owners who are paying multiple fees that they only have to pay one and how to get refunds. Mike said they also have four new garbage dumpsters that they are not using, and he is going to get one for the town hall to replace the one we have that can’t be dumped. There will be no charge.

Cigarette License: In 1998 the Pine County Board passed an ordinance taking over tobacco license issuance and compliance requirements. The ordinance stated that it would “apply only where local jurisdictions have not adopted their own ordinance.” Wilma Township has always handled our own licensing of tobacco, but Auditor Cathy Johnson could not find a copy of our ordinance in their files and said we needed to adopt a new one to continue doing the licensing. Glen moved that Wilma Township adopt an ordinance that the Town of Wilma will continue to be the issuing authority all licenses for the sale of tobacco products within the Town of Wilma. Mike seconded. Passed. The Minnesota Department of Revenue and the County Auditor want to be informed of the names of any businesses that we license. Paul will send a copy of our ordinance and the business licensed to the Auditor and the report to the state.

Treasurer’s Report and Bills:

Bills were presented:

ECE $ 35.00

Mark Pallow 36.94

FNBNS 2,000.00

The Evergreen 8.25

Joe Vink 40.00

Mike McCullen 73.88

Paul Raymond 193.93

Gary Vink 112.72

Glen Williamson 27.70

Patrice Winfield 242.54

Bob Brewster 1,540.00

Totals $ 4,310.96

Patrice gave the Treasurer’s Report (attached). Glen moved to approve the report and to pay all the bills and to transfer $4,300.00 from savings to checking. Mike seconded.

Glen moved to adjourn the meeting; Gary seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk