WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Grader Operator Alden Shute.

Meeting Record: Paul read the record of the May board meeting. Glen moved to approve; Gary seconded.

ROAD REPORT: Alden plans to do routine blading on almost every township road and shape them up before he puts down gravel. He asked if he should get red-rock gravel for the north roads like Heller Drive. We have two years of experience with the red-rock on Dollar Lake and McCullen Roads, and the driveway. Mike said it holds up better than class 5 and the cost isn’t that much greater. Gary asked how it is to blade; Alden said it blades well. The board said Alden had the discretion to use it; he said for now he’ll put it on Heller Drive after putting down pit-run gravel but not on every road. The board was not able to drive past a fallen tree on the South Duncan Road. After Alden and Gary cut the tree off the road, they drove the rest of the road and it needs 5 – 6 loads of pit-run gravel just before the turnaround.

Road Construction Projects for 2020: The road inspection meeting record was distributed. The big projects for 2020 are gravel on Mona Drive and Lost River Road and the culvert on Pete Anderson Road.

Road Inspection: The spring road inspection was on Monday, May 18. Mike found that he had a conflict and could not go on the scheduled inspection, and based on the new Township Insider article “Covid-19” (page 10: “If the road supervisor goes out to inspect and do their road tours, that is allowed. Supervisors can drive around by themselves in separate vehicles. Take notes of what you want to address,”) he chose to go out on his own the Friday before to be able to give his input into what is needed. He asked Gary to ride with him. Glen said that Gary still had to go on the scheduled and posted road inspection meeting. He said that we have to have two supervisors, and if didn’t doesn’t go, there could not be an inspection, so Gary did go along with the second inspection. Glen asked Paul to get a decision from the MAT attorney on whether Gary should be paid for both meetings. Karl-Christian said, “There is unlikely to be an issue, especially if only observations were made. Minn. Stat. 366.01, subd. 11 is a narrow exception to the open meeting law that allows for “on-site inspection” when no other employees or other staff are able to perform the inspection, thus the supervisors take on a staff role. This would include a road tour. As far as payment goes, that is to the town board’s discretion. If the supervisor is only paid for the second tour, it may seem like the town is trying to fix an improper meeting, if the supervisor is paid for both, this may concern the public as to why the supervisor is being paid twice for the same work.” Glen said he had a compromise: since Deputy Clerk Stefanie Rahn went along on the inspection but did not expect to be paid, Glen said that if we pay her as Deputy Clerk it will be ok for Gary to be paid for both inspections. She needed to be trained on road inspections in case Paul can’t attend one someday. There has to be a clerk at the road meeting. The Board agreed and approved her claim.

OLD BUSINESS: Wilma Septic Administrator: Patrice said she is not getting the support and help from Gale Kespohl she needs to be able to do the paperwork so she will not be doing it. Paul said we have to have a septic inspector since he has had a call from someone on Dollar Lake Road who have septic but want to enlarge their tank. We can’t put it off any longer, and the county will do it for free. Glen moved that we ask the county to take over our septic inspections until such date as we find our own inspector. Gary seconded. Paul will let Caleb Anderson know.

Filing Period for November 3, 2020 Election: Kelly Schroeder sent filing notice for all offices to be voted on 11/2/2020: From 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 19 until 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2020, including our District 3 County Commissioner. May file by mail to Pine County Courthouse until courthouse re-opens.

Mandatory Judge Training for 2020 Elections: Head Judge/Clerk, Monday, June 29, either 9 am or 1 pm in Askov. Regular Judge Training: Monday, July 27, 2-4 p.m., North Pine Government Center, Sandstone. May be moved to Askov or even be done only online. Patrice and Gary and Stefanie will take the training in August, and Glen, if he wants to.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the treasurer’s report. Total bills for June $4,122.95, and she wants to transfer $4,100 from savings to checking. Gary moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds; Glen seconded. Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned 8:30 p.m.

Report by Paul Raymond _________________________________

Attest: Glen Williamson, Chair______________________________