WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING MAY 6, 2015

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING MAY 6, 2015

          Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Wilma Town hall with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Also present were Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Eldon Schmedeke.

Patrice said she will mount a locked mailbox at the end of her driveway for claims, and that any claims deposited after 1 p.m. the day before a board meeting will not be paid for a month.  She has to do this because the new CTAS program is more complicated and so she can enter bills before the meeting.  Payroll claims only can still be presented at the meetings.  Fire department mail can also be deposited in the box.

Paul read the record of the Board of Reorganization and the April board meeting.  Mike moved to approve; Gary seconded.

OLD BUSINESS:  Schmedeke Lane:  Eldon took the floor to appeal to the board to acquire enough right of way easement so that the first part of Schmedeke Lane can be built to county specs and be 66′ wide.  An easement will need to be acquired from Barbara Jensen on the east side.  Schmedeke Lane is now just 33′ wide, 16′ from the center of the road each side.  Glen said that township roads do not necessarily have to be 66′ wide. Mike said he wants to talk with Barbara Jensen in a friendly way, if we can avoid forcing her to sell land.  She may be willing to grant the easement.

Schmedeke Lane Extension:  Mark can start spending money according to the directions of the county guidelines to build up the extension, up to $10,000.  This money can’t be used for the first part of Schmedeke Lane.  Eldon said there are a couple of curves that should be straightened and he has marked them with stakes.

Board of Review Certification:  Officers signed the certificate; only Gary and Glen participated in the phone conference.  There were no new appeals so no changes were made at the phone-conference meeting, but Kelly said one of Vink’s properties should be reduced as no road access.

Spring Short Course:  Glen shared the info on “Understanding and Working With Your Local Fire Department.”  Glen said he thought doing a joint powers with the fire department would be a better course than now.  Mike said the fire department learned their lesson from the garbage board, formerly the Tri-township Disposal District.  The district had built up a large war chest, and two townships were allowed to join with full equal votes by donating only $5,000.  That’s why Wilma Township gets 3 votes on the Board of Directors, and the other two towns get one vote each, since when they joined, the Duxbury VFD already had a large financial balance.  Mike said expenses are increasing and that the contributions of the three townships will likely need to go up.  The new Eagle Head station requires expensive heating, and the department is buying trucks and PPE gear and other equipment to upgrade our readiness.

Glen also reported on “Culvert Installation and Maintenance,” and Paul reported on “Insurance Do’s and Don’t’s” and protecting township assets by internal controls, and “Revenue:  Source and Placement.”

NEW BUSINESS:  Little Tamarack Lake Road:  Solutions and Remedies:  Glen has been fielding many complaints from the Eric Holters over the condition of Little Tamarack Lake Road.  They have even threatened to sue the township.  Gary said some of the ruts on the road were caused by their delivery trucks.  Mike said they should drive north of Duxbury and see the condition of county roads that are almost impassable due to frost boils.  One solution Glen had suggested is Wilma annexing the Holter’s property for Wilma Township so we can get some of the tax revenue for the road.  Ogema township refuses to help us with any money at all, even though the Holters live in their township.  Eldon said that when Ogema built the Sky Blue Waters Drive, he and Joe Vink and Ron McCullen and Gary Vink had insisted that they extend the road to reach the Holters, so they weren’t dependent on Wilma’s road.  It was a very short easement they needed, but they refused.  Both the County and the Township Attorneys (Reese Frederickson and Kyle Hartnett) said that Wilma can annex or legally have the Holter’s land moved into Wilma Township.  Glen said we could let Ogema know we have this option, to maybe get them to help with the road. Mike said he opposes annexation because it will just increase the demands to treat this road better than we treat other township roads.  He directed Paul to ask the Assessor how much in township property taxes the Holter’s pay, to see what difference it would make for us; also to find out who owns the other properties in Ogema bordering Wilma and the properties just inside our border. Gary also opposes annexation;

Turnaround on Little Tamarack Lake Road: Glen got a letter from Dave Persons who has a cabin in Ogema Twp. next to the Holters, asking for a turnaround:  “I would like to see if it is possible to widen the turnaround at the end of Little Tamarack Road. It would benefit the road plow driver in the winter and summer. Currently, he needs to push straight onto my land and back up to turn around. Also, people would not need to stop to turn around; they could just make a circle. This benefits me, because I’d rather passersby not stop on my property to turn around.
“I removed the old shed/cabin and cut down many of the trees that were dead by this area – a big, ongoing project – so the end of the road is open. The only issue are some stumps. There is some brush and dead trees on the stumps now that can be pushed back onto my property, if this is something you are willing to do. I plan to block off the open areas at the end of the road so someone in a ATV or car does not just drive around the gate if closed.” He enclosed a map and claims part of our road is on his land.” Dave Persons-Home Owner, 46825 Little Tamarack Road, Sandstone, MN 651-278-8777.  He is on the west side of the road just before Holters in Ogema Twp.  Issue tabled for now.

2015 Road Inspection:  Will be Wednesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall or the store.

County Sales of Tax-forfeited Lands:  Sale scheduled for September.  In Wilma, 32.0041.000, W ½ of NE ¼  of 7-42-17, 80 acres.    This is at the end of the Vink Road, and where Doody has placed barricades.  The County allowed Carlson Timber to build a logging road into this land.  Townships have first right to buy properties.  The Board is not interested; no response required.

New Dosey Billing for Heller Drive:  Gary directed Paul to bill New Dosey for some flagging and culvert work on Heller Drive on April3 and 13:  Gary 1 hour culvert @ $18, half $9; 1½ hour flagging @ $27 = half, $13.50; Mark Pallow 2 hours flagging @ $15 = $30, half 15.  Total bill $37.50.

Backup Grader Operator:  Mike said we need to have a trained back-up grader operator.  Ben is often busy.  Mike moved that Gary be appointed back-up operator if he does not have to get a driver’s license.  The grader is not licensed.

Duxbury VFD Pancake Breakfast:  Glen moved to allow the fire department to use the hall on Sunday, May 24, for the breakfast.  Gary seconded.  Passed.

Treasurer’s Report and Bills:  Patrice presented the list of claims and payroll claims for the Supervisors’ inspection and approval, and gave the Treasurer’s Report (all attached).  Bills totaled $5,800.03.  Glen moved to pay all the bills and to approve the report, and to transfer $5,800 from savings to checking.  Gary seconded.  Passed.

Diesel Fuel:  Mike asked that the record record that the fire dept. took 15 gallons of diesel fuel from the township.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

 

 

 

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attested to by:         Glen Williamson, Chair

 

 

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION, APRIL 6, 2015

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION, APRIL 6, 2015

          Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 1 pm at the Wilma Town Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance.  County Assessor Kelly Schroeder and Wilma Assessor Bob Brewster attended, plus Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink and Clerk Paul Raymond, plus Pat and Helena Story.

Kelly said that Wilma had no sales in the period from Oct. 2013 through September, 2014, so property values had to be determined by sales in Arna and New Dosey, which had a .38% increase in values determined by new sales, and a ½ of 1% increase in parcels over 34 acres.

Kelly said the statute states that valuation notices for 2016 have to be mailed ten days before the Board of Appeal, and since there were only seven days today’s meeting can’t be adjourned but must be continued after voters have another opportunity to appeal their taxes in Sandstone April 14 or at the Courthouse April 15. Then the board can meet again to continue the meeting or have a conference call with all the Supervisors and Clerk and Assessors after these appeals.  Mike moved that the Board meet by conference call on Wednesday, April 22, at noon.  Gary seconded.

Pat and Helena Story,  Parcel 32.5084.000:  Pat said he didn’t understand why his property taxes have increased so much since he moved here permanently.  He wanted to know how the tax values are determined, and what he is getting for his taxes.  He doesn’t feel he is getting the services he pays for, e.g. the very inadequate warning reflectors on McDermott Creek dropoff.  Bob said Pat’s tax valuation did go up by $9,000 in 2015, from $160,000 to $169,000.  Bob said the county had valued his home as fake (half) log siding, when in fact it is whole logs, which increased the value.  Also a new cement slab patio increased the value by $570, which meant a $5 tax increase.  The increase is not retroactive, so Pat was paying lower taxes than he should have for the past 5 years.  Kelly said Pat and Helena’s home is not homesteaded and asked why.  Pat said when he first moved here he also had a home in Washington County that was homesteaded, so he wasn’t allowed to homestead the Wilma home.  Kelly said homesteading no longer cuts taxes in half, but Pat would save $282 in taxes if he homesteads, and she gave him the application forms to do it.  This also can’t be made retroactive, but he will have this discount every year from now on.  Gary moved that there be no change in Pat and Helena’s statement property value except for the homesteading credit.  Mike seconded.  Passed.

Mike McCullen:  Mike said he isn’t contesting his value, but he thinks the arbitrary categories of real logs/fake logs doesn’t take into account the great difference in value of a whole log home make from redwood or cedar or oak logs versus poplar logs, although they are taxed the same.  Bob said there would be too many categories if they tried to distinguish the kind of wood.

Kelly said the Board of County Commissioners are holding their meetings in various towns to give the taxpayers opportunities to voice their concerns and ask questions. The next community meeting will be the 4th Tuesday of May at the Duquette Community Center in Kerrick.  They will also be holding them in Sandstone and Hinckley.

Glen moved that the Board of Appeal be continued on Wednesday, April 22 at 12 noon by conference call to vote on any appeals made at the two county Boards of Appeal.  Mike seconded.  Kelly will call all the Supervisors and the Clerk to set up the conference call.  No adjournment.

APRIL 22, CONFERENCE CALL CONTINUATION OF MEETING:  Assessor Kelly Schroeder reconvened the Board of Equalization and Review by conference call with Glen Williamson, Gary Vink and Paul Raymond.

There were no more appeals at the courthouse or by letter since our meeting.  Gary asked about two Vink parcels and how the agricultural tax values went up $6,500 in value.  Kelly said part of this increase is that all river-front or lakefront property went up to $30 per foot, on both sides of the river.  Kelly said that one of Gary’s parcels would be reduced because there is no road access to the property.  Gary said their land in Sections 5 and 8 have been clear-cut, and should get a reduction in value.  Kelly said they do not consider trees in property values, whether it’s forested or clear cut, only if it’s high-ground or swamp.

Kelly reminded Paul to have the Board of Review certification form filled out at the May 6 board meeting.

Glen moved to adjourn; Gary seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk