Archive for the ‘Annual Town Meeting’ Category
TOWN OF WILMA, ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 9, 2010
March 14th, 2010
TOWN OF WILMA, ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 9, 2010
Clerk Paul Raymond called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:15 p.m. following the election and Board of Canvass.
Citizens present were Glen and Toni Williamson, Eldon Schmedeke, Bruce and Donna Filler, Gary Vink, Patrice Winfield, Barb Smith, and Paul Raymond.
The floor was opened for nominations for moderator of the annual meeting. Gary nominated Glen; Patrice seconded. There were no other nominations, and Glen was elected and took the gavel.
Glen asked for a reading of the record of last years’ annual meeting. Gary moved to approve the record; Patrice seconded. Passed.
Election results: Glen reported the results of the election of board members earlier in the day: Glenford Williamson, Sr., was reelected Supervisor; Paul Raymond was reelected Clerk.
TREASURER’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Paul presented the Financial Reports as prepared by Treasurer Patrice Winfield. Gary moved to approve the report and to waive the reading of all checks. Barb seconded. Passed.
ROAD REPORT: Township Supervisor Gary Vink gave the Road Report for 2009: The Schmedeke Lane Controversy has been resolved by the Pine County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on February 16th. Eldon will be able to purchase two 40 acre x 132’ parcels of land from the county to extend Schmedeke Lane; Bruce Greenley will be able to purchase the land between his land and the Schmedeke Lane right-of-way, and Bob Jensen will be able to do a land trade with the County for some land north of his land. Eldon said he had to accept the Board’s decision, although he says the survey is not right and everyone knows it.
These roads received gravel in 2009: North Duncan Road, north of Thiry’s hill, 12 yards by truck (because of the condition of the road, gravel trucks couldn’t reach here) and then another 14 loads, 196 yards, by Hopkins Gravel south of Hirty’s. The South Duncan Road got 5 loads, 70 yards. T&T paid for these damages, total $720.
Pete Anderson/Langstrom Roads: One load was put down at the end of both roads, as per our agreement with Arna Township.
McCullen Drive: Three loads; 42 yards. Vink Road: 6 loads 84 yards. Hopkins hauled a total of 420 yards at $4.30/yard.
Escrow Account: We continue to notify loggers and haulers about our escrow bonding requirement to haul on township roads, so we do not get stuck with damaged roads without any recourse when the loggers leave. We have received good cooperation from the DNR land dept. and from loggers and haulers. T&T Logging paid escrow payments for our Mink Farm and Short Roads, and have apparently completed their logging and hauling activities for this year.
Crooked Lake/Eagle Head Road: Danforth Township replaced a culvert on the Eagle Head Road and put down gravel on Crooked Lake Road. They are responsible for all road work and repairs on our west town-line roads, and they bill us half.
LEVIES FOR 2011: As the discussion and vote on our 2011 levies began, Eldon asked why the board is recommending so much in levies when we have large balances in these funds. He said our taxes are too high and if we’re not spending money on our roads, why are we continuing to tax ourselves? The proposed Road and Bridge levy for 2011 is $15,000. As per state law and the County Auditor, our Road and Bridge fund must be at least .04835% of the taxable market value of our township. Wilma’s taxable value totals $29 million; Patrice said this means we have to levy at least $14, 021.50, so our proposal is about where it needs to be. Gary moved that since we have this minimum, that we leave the Road and Bridge Fund at $15,000 for 2011; Barb seconded.
Park Fund: Donna said she is disappointed that the Park Fund levy is set at zero; she would like to see it grow in case future generations wish to do something with our park. Barb asked where this park is; it is the 40 acres directly west of the DNR Headquarters between the schoolhouse and the road on the west side. Patrice asked if we couldn’t do something to the park land, to make it more accessible and perhaps develop part of it. Donna moved that we levy $500 for the Park Fund for 2011; Paul seconded. This passed. Bruce moved that we put a culvert and build or improve the driveway access into the park land; Donna seconded. Bruce said there is a concrete culvert now, but it is broken. Paul said we have always banned hunting for everyone in our park land, but the board years ago passed a law allowing any township citizens to gather downed firewood in the park, but not to cut live trees. We had all the poplar logged off by Duane Glienke a year or so ago, but it is still forested.
Building Fund: The Board proposed a $1,200 levy for 2011. Glen said our Town Hall needs storm doors, new, double-paned windows, and ceiling blown-in insulation. We had the hall scraped and painted in 2009, and this should last for many years. Patrice moved to levy $1,200; Bruce seconded; passed. Paul moved that we recommend to the Board of Supervisors to use some of our building fund to put in new storm doors, new windows and more insulation in the ceiling. Toni seconded. Passed.
Fire Fund: This needs to stay at $3,500 because this is the amount of our fees to the Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department for protection. We have a cushion in the fund in case the Fire Department increases their fees. Toni moved that the levy be $3,500; Gary seconded; passed.
General Fund: The Board recommended not changing the fund, leaving it at $12,000. Eldon asked what the general fund is used for. Patrice said we spent $18,000 from the General Fund in 2009, and it goes for everything the other funds do not cover: insurance, fuel, propane, salaries, elections, etc. There was a discussion, and because there was a surplus in this fund after 2009, Eldon moved that the levy be lowered to $10,000 for 2011. Patrice seconded. This passed.
WAGES: Paul said that the citizens are only allowed to vote and authorize levies; the Board of Supervisors sets wages and salaries, but our board has always given the citizens input and the privilege of voting on wages. Any changes take effect after the Board approves them at the Board of Reorganization. Donna asked why the board is recommending increases in the Clerk and Treasurer’s wages when their work is almost all computerized now and much easier. Paul said it is much easier, and especially now that we are both on CTAS Accounting System, instead of manually entering every claim and disbursement into the big log book and doing all the figures manually, but we are also taking much less time to do the books, so this is saving money.
General Labor: Bruce moved to keep this at $15/hour; Donna seconded; passed.
Major Mechanic: Bruce said he was a professional mechanic in the cities and didn’t get $30/hour. Paul said Joe does a very hard job changing the grader chains and tires and doing lubrication and maintenance, and he moved to keep it at $30/hour. Eldon seconded; passed. Mechanic’s Assistant: Gary moved to keep at 415/hour; Patrice seconded; passed.
Grader Operator: Glen moved to increase this from $16/hour to $18/hour.
Election Judges: Donna said that as a judge, she sees no reason to increase it to $12 as recommended; she moved that it stay at $10/hour. Paul asked if she and the other judges would be willing to serve at that rate; it is often very hard to get judges. Patrice, Barb and Donna said yes, they would. Patrice seconded, and this passed.
OFFICERS: There was a discussion on the wage increase proposals; Eldon and Donna questioned the $10/meeting increase for the Clerk and Treasurer. Patrice said she would be very satisfied with a $5 increase, as long as the clerk got the same. Paul said neither he nor Patrice asked for the increase, and $5 would be fine. Donna moved to set the Clerk at $80 per meeting, and Treasurer $70 per meeting; Toni seconded. Passed. Toni moved to increase the Supervisors from $15/hour for meetings to $18/hour. Paul seconded, and said the meetings are usually two to three hours, so this isn’t so much per meeting; plus general labor is paid at the $15 rate. This passed. Gary moved to increase theChairman from $17.50 to $20.50 per hour; Patrice seconded. Passed. Annual Meeting Moderator: Paul said this has traditionally been $50, and he moved that it remain the same for 2010. Bruce seconded. Passed.
Out of Town Meetings: Glen said that he thinks that half-day meetings should be increased to $60. There was a discussion, and Patrice moved that half-day meetings remain at $50 and full-day at $100. Donna seconded; passed.
Mileage: This has been at the Federal Rate of .50/mile. Because the government can change this based on gas prices, Toni moved that it remain at .50/mile, but that it change if the Federal Rate Changes. Gary seconded; passed.
Snowplowing: Gary moved that it stay at $75 per season; $100 for driveways over 700’. Bruce seconded.
Bank: Patrice moved to keep First National Bank of the North as our bank of deposits and CD’s and checking. Gary seconded.
Notices: Paul moved that the Pine County Courier be our paper of record, with The Evergreen and Wilma website secondary notice sites, and that the Town Hall and the Duxbury Store be our posting sites for 2010; Gary seconded.
Annual Meeting: Paul moved that we follow the law requiring our next Annual Town Meeting be held the second Tuesday of 2011; Glen seconded.
Cell Phone Tower: Glen asked for input from the voters on concerns and ideas for our township, and said he’s heard talk that we should have more community activities. Barb Smith said they rely on cell phones as there are no phone lines, and asked if there has been progress on getting a cell-phone tower nearer to Duxbury for better reception. She said Verizon said there may be a tower in two years, but that is a long wait. Glen said we should start a petition for all the households west of Bear Creek Road (County 142) to Frontier to get high-speed internet out here. They go up 142 up to Askov now. Patrice said if Toni writes it, she would be glad to take a petition around.
Wilma Fall Fest: Gary moved that we allocate $400 for our annual Wilma Fall Fest. Bruce seconded. This will be the 3rd week of October, and everyone can join the committee to put it on. Toni and Patrice head up the committee.
Board of Reorganization: This will be next Monday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at the Duxbury Store. This is a short meeting to swear in the officers and set the wages for 2010.
Board of Appeal/Equalization: This will be Wednesday, April 14, at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall. The Pine County Assessor and our local assessor, Bob Brewster, will be there to hear appeals of property values for 2011.
Glen said that he loves Eldon and really appreciates his input in our meetings, and that he keeps the Board on its toes. He urged Bruce and Donna to return to their active participation in township meetings. He thanked Barb for serving as judge and participating in the meeting, and he urged everyone to come to more meetings. He also thanked Patrice, Paul and Gary for all they do for our township and said Gary’s knowledge about our roads and township issues is indispensible.
Toni moved to adjourn the meeting; Patrice seconded. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Paul Raymond, Clerk
Wilma Township Adopted Bugdet for 2010
March 31st, 2009
TOWN OF WILMA MARCH 10, 2009
Wilma Township Adopted Budget for 2010
2009 2010 Road and Bridge 20,000 15,000 Building Fund 1,200 1,200 Fire Fund 3,500 3,500 Park Fund 400 0 General Fund 12,000 12,000 Debt Service Fund 25,200 0 2008 2009 WAGES Chairman 17.50/hour 17.50/hour Supervisor 15.00/hour 15.00/hour Clerk 75.00/meeting 75.00/mtg. Treasurer 65.00/meeting 65.00/mtg. Clerk and Treasurer bookkeeping and reports 10.00/hour General Labor 15.00/hour 15.00/hour Major Mech. 30.00/hour 30.00/hour Mech. Asst.. 15.00/hour 15.00/hour Grader Op. 16.00/hr 16.00/hour Out of Town Meetings 35.00/half day 50.00/half 65.00/full y 100.00/full Election Judges 10.00/hour 10.00/hr. Mileage: $ .55/mile for officers, judges, delegated township representatives, for judges training, township officers training, and association meetings, etc. SNOWPLOWING: 75.00/per season 75.00 Driveways over 700 feet: 100.00/per season 100.00 No closed gates (operator will not get down from grader). Must have turnaround space. Fees due by 1st Wednesday of November, 2009. Year-round residents only. Special plowing, $150 per hour; one hour minimum.
WILMA TOWNSHIP ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 10, 2009
March 20th, 2009
WILMA TOWNSHIP ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 10, 2009
Clerk Paul Raymond called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:10 p.m., following the Township election and Board of Canvass. The first order of business was electing a moderator for the meeting. Patrice Winfield nominated Glenford Williamson, Sr. to moderate; Donna Filler seconded. Glen took the chair. Also present were Tony Williamson, Mark Pallow, April Filler, Gary Vink, Michael McCullen, Eldon and Marjorie Schmedeke, and Dennis Schmedeke.
Glen called for the Clerk’s reading of the record of last year’s Annual Town Meeting. Gary moved to approve the record; Dennis seconded. All aye.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Paul presented the Financial Report for 2008 as prepared by Patrice Winfield, Treasurer. Gary moved to waive the reading of all the checks and to approve the Financial Report as written. Tony seconded.
ELECTION RESULTS: Glen read the results of the election: There were 15 registered voters, including two new registrations. Michael McCullen was reelected Supervisor with 14 votes; Patrice was reelected Treasurer with 14 votes. Glen congratulated the candidates and the voters applauded them.
ROAD REPORT: Gary gave the road report for 2008. He said the grader is 100% paid off.
The following roads received gravel in 2008:
Eagle Head Road; Crooked Lake Road; Heller Drive; McCullen Drive; Tamarack Pine Drive; Duncan Roads North and South; Fust Road; Pete Anderson Road; Langstrom Road; The Mayfield Road; Little Tamarack Lake Road; and River Cabin Road. There was no gravel put down on Kenny Peterson Road, Schmedeke Lane, or Mona Drive. Mark said that the
Kenny Peterson Road needs gravel.
Gary said that most of the money to gravel Little Tamarack Lake Road came from the escrow deposits of ECE and Park Falls Hardwoods, since they did the damage to the road. The repairs to Crooked Lake Road came from Carlson
Timber’s escrow account. T & T Logging’s escrow account paid for most of the repairs on the North and South Duncan Roads. Gary said that after we had repaired the damage T & T did, putting down gravel and building up the crown and opening up the drainage lines, T & T came back in and logged again and filled the ditches in again and wrecked the road.
We haven’t gotten payment for this but Gary said he thinks they may have some more escrow monies for the Pete Anderson
Road that we can use for this.
Mark said that before winter started all our roads were in pretty good shape. The Supervisors will do a road inspection when the roads dry out.
Eldon said he wants a complete accounting of every penny that has gone into our new grader, including the trip and travel expenses when Mark and Joe went down to buy it, plus all repairs and equipment added or replaced since we purchased it.
Eldon said that Schmedeke Lane has not been plowed all winter, and that he nearly fell trying to walk up this road to get access to his camper, and that Marjorie fell trying to walk up this road. Gary said that he did not authorize plowing it because the county said this road was surveyed wrong and that they were going to move it eventually. Paul moved that until this road is actually moved that we maintain it equally to all other township roads. Patrice seconded.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: Paul said that Ronald McCullen had asked that we bring up the suggestion of pursuing having the Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department, which now serves three townships (Arna, New Dosey, and Wilma), be funded by a direct assessment of all the property owners in the three townships, just like the Tri-Township Disposal District is funded. They are an independent agency serving all the people in five townships, and every property owner is assessed an annual $30 fee, no matter how many parcels they own. This has been enough for the Disposal District to pay for the twice-monthly garbage pickups and to purchase a new garbage truck, and to reduce rates from $36/year to $30. There was a discussion. Eldon asked if we would still levy $3,500 from the taxpayers. Mike said this wouldn’t be necessary. Mike said that each town in the Volunteer Fire Department
has their own truck and fire hall, and including the other two towns has greatly increased the number of available trained firemen and women for fire calls. Paul made a motion that Wilma Township pursue this suggestion and write to the other town boards and ask for their feedback and input, and ask the County Auditor for the mechanics of doing this. Mike seconded and said that as a member of all three boards, the Town Board, the Tri-Township Disposal District, and the Volunteer Fire Department, he would gather facts and feedback and information to present to the Board. Proposal passed.
WILMA FALL FEST: Glen said that Wilma Days started three years ago to succeed Duxbury Days and has been held in October to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Wilma Township. This year we renamed it Wilma Fall Fest and set it for the third week in October, with a potluck dinner and d.j. and dance. Glen asked if we wanted to leave it to the Board to set the funding for this celebration or if the Town should do it tonight. Donna moved that we set a budget of $500 for this years Fall Fest; Tony seconded. Motion defeated 7 to 5. Mike moved that we set a budget of $400; Patrice seconded. This passed.
UPGRADING TOWN HALL: Paul said that we need to put siding on the Town Hall and repair the foundation and possibly put in double pane windows or get storm windows. Eldon gave reasons he believes we should build a new town hall and not put any money into upgrading or improving our existing one. He said he believes our Township is a county laughingstock, with our new outdoor bathroom set in front of the Town Hall, and that there is inadequate parking and no room for the fire trucks to get out. We have no signs against parking on the road which blocks fire trucks. He said we had an opportunity to have a new road put into our park land and have a clearing made when we let out the poplar timber bid, and we blew this opportunity by letting Duane Glienke access the timber from the back of the land. Glen asked Paul to read the record of last year’s Town Meeting where a committee was created to get information on the costs and logistics of building a new Town Hall; he asked what happened to this committee? Eldon said he felt that he had no support and that those who did not want a new Town Hall would prevail, so they didn’t waste their time. Glen said that the issue of bids and contracts has been resolved in that all new contracts must have the signature of all three Supervisors. He went around the room asking each citizen to give their feedback and opinion. Gary said he believes we cannot afford the taxes to build a new Town Hall, and that our existing one should be painted or sided, and that the park site would be much more difficult to watch and protect. Paul said he loves our Town Hall and has never heard anyone make fun of it; it does need siding and some foundation repair, but his taxes have gone up beyond what he can afford already, and a new Town Hall could cost over $100,00, plus heating it all winter would add more expense. April said that if we keep this Town Hall we need to heat it and insulate it and have indoor plumbing and move the privy. Mark said the new bathroom had to be put in that location. Donna said we should paint our existing Town Hall. Patrice said she hates vinyl siding and it cracks, and she would prefer paint. If we side it we should use steel siding.
Marjorie said that she and Eldon have vinyl siding and it hasn’t cracked. Tony said that our Town Hall has a long and wonderful history and that we should keep it but fix it up. Gary said that Melvin Elliot told him oil-based paint would last much longer than latex and that it should be thoroughly scraped first. Mike said he thinks scraping wouldn’t be enough; it needs a complete sandblasting. He said he thinks we have a great old building and he believes siding would last longer than our lifetimes and would be more economical in the long run than continual repainting. Mark said we lose 80% of our heat through the roof, and we should blow insulation up into the ceiling. Dennis said we should not put any more money than we absolutely have to into our current building. Marg said she just can’t see keeping this building.
TOWNSHIP WEBSITE: Paul said that we have two websites, Duxburynews.info and Wilmatownship.com. The Wilma Township site is our official posting site for minutes, records and notices, plus information about our town. So far the developer and maintainer of this site has worked voluntarily, but Paul said he believes this is such a valuable tool that the site creator should be reimbursed. He suggested $200 per year. Glen said that a site of our quality would have cost thousands of dollars if we’d outsourced it or contracted it, and we probably wouldn’t have a website. Patrice moved that we pay Aspire, Incorporated, $200 to continue to maintain and update our Township Website (note: Glen Williamson is the owner of Aspire). Dennis seconded. Passed.
2010 LEVIES: ROAD AND BRIDGE: Eldon asked how our levies are paid. Paul said that when the Township citizens approve a levy that he reports the amount to the County Auditor who then assesses each taxpayer for their part of the total levies, and this money is paid to the town twice a year. Eldon said that since the Road and Bridge Fund still has almost $28,000, we don’t need to levy $20,000 for 2010. He moved that we set the levy at $15,000. Paul seconded. Passed.
BUILDING FUND; FIRE FUND; PARK FUND; GENERAL FUND: The Board had proposed $1,200 for Building (no change from 2009); $3,500 for Fire (no change); zero for Park, since there is $4,500 in the fund now; $12,000 for General (no change). Dennis moved that all these proposed levies be adopted as proposed. Patrice seconded. The Debt Service Fund has been dissolved as the grader is paid off.
WAGES: The Board has proposed to keep all wages the same in 2010 as 2009: Chairman, $17.50/hour; Supervisors: $15.00/hour; Clerk, $75/meeting; Treasurer, $65/meeting; Reports, $10/hour; General Labor, $15/hour; Major Mechanic, $30/hour; Mechanic’s Assistant, $15/hour; Grader Operator, $16/hour; and Election Judges, $10/hour. Patrice moved to keep all wages the same for 2010 as 2009; Donna seconded. This passed.
OUT OF TOWN MEETINGS: The Board had proposed to increase the pay for full-day out of town meetings from $65 to $100. Eldon asked why the change; Paul said these meetings plus travel can last over 12 hours, and we currently are paying a little over $5/hour. Eldon said Arna is only paying $65 and he moved and Dennis seconded to keep full day out of town meetings at $65. Motion failed. Tony moved and Patrice seconded to increase the out of town meetings to $100 full day and $50 half day. This passed.
SNOWPLOWING: Patrice moved to keep the snowplow rate at $75 per season, and $100 for driveways over 700 feet. Dennis seconded. Dennis asked that he be plowed out rather than in; Glen gave him Mark’s phone number so he can tell him how he wants it done.
BOARD OF REORGANIZATION: This will be Thursday, March 19, at the Duxbury store. Glen said let Mike set the time since he has to be there to be sworn in.
2010 ANNUAL MEETING: Paul moved that next year’s annual Town Meeting be the second Tuesday of March following the Township election; Tony seconded.
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION/APPEAL: This will be Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m.
POSTING, PUBLISHING, BANKING: Paul moved that we keep the Pine County Courier as our paper of record, with the Evergreen and the Township Website as secondary publishers; that the Town Hall and the Duxbury Store be our posting sites; that we keep First National Bank as our bank of deposit; Patrice seconded. This passed.
April moved that we adjourn the meeting; Dennis seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Paul Raymond, Clerk
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Township Election and Annual Meeting
February 20th, 2009
NOTICE WILMA TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP ELECTION AND ANNUAL MEETING
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Polls open 5 – 8 p.m.
Vote for Treasurer and Supervisor
ANNUAL MEETING 8 P.M.
Bad Weather Date 3/17/09
Wilma Town Hall, Duxbury
Paul Raymond, Clerk
Proposed Bugdet, Town Meeting, March 10, 2009
February 16th, 2009
TOWN OF WILMA MARCH 10, 2009
Wilma Township Proposed Budget for 2010
2009 2010
Road and Bridge 20,000 20,000
Building Fund 1,200 1,200
Fire Fund 3,500 3,500
Park Fund 400 0
General Fund 12,000 12,000
Debt Service Fund 25,200 0
2008 2009
WAGES Chairman 17.50/hour 17.50/hour
Supervisor 15.00/hour 15.00/hour
Clerk 75.00/meeting 75.00/mtg.
Treasurer 65.00/meeting 65.00/mtg.
Clerk and Treasurer bookkeeping and reports 10.00/hour
General Labor 15.00/hour 15.00/hour
Major Mech. 30.00/hour 30.00/hour
Mech. Asst. 15.00/hour 15.00/hour
Grader Op. 16.00/hr 16.00/hour
Out of Town Meetings 35.00/half day 50.00/half
65.00/full day 100.00/full
Election Judges 10.00/hour 10.00/hr.
Mileage: $ .55/mile for officers, judges, delegated township representatives, for judges training, township officers training, and association meetings, etc.
SNOWPLOWING: 75.00/per season 75.00
Driveways over 700 feet: 100.00/per season 100.00
No closed gates (operator will not get down from grader). Must have turnaround space. Fees due by 1st Wednesday of November, 2009. Year-round residents only. Special plowing, $150 per hour; one hour minimum.