WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019

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, Grader Operator Alden Shute and Pat Story.

Paul read the record of the July 5th board meeting. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.

ROAD REPORT: Alden did routine blading on most roads. He ditched Fust Lane and South Duncan Road. The River Cabin Road project is completed. Crooked Lake new gravel leveled and spread. North Duncan Road got pit run and graded and spread. Dollar Lake Road is not done yet. He met with Carlson Timber on a strategy for Pete Anderson Road. Alden said he checks Eagle Head Road regularly, every other day or so, for any new beaver activity plugging culverts. So far after our rains the water is flowing well and not over the road. He is not charging for these trips, but if he gets a beaver would like the bounty. Gary said he also is checking frequently for beavers. Alden said we should not double up on the work and Gary will not do any more beaver abatement on Eagle Head Road.

Parking Lot Gravel Project: Alden asked if the board could give him a ballpark figure for a budget for this project so he doesn’t have to wait for another monthly meeting when he meets with Gus Roberts. Mike moved to budget $2,500 for this, with a 10% leeway. Gary seconded. Passed. The project involves scraping and leveling the lot with a skid-steer and putting 5 – 6 loads of red rock gravel down. Alden said Duane Glienke will pay for one load so we can cover his part of the lot.

Carlson Timber Escrow: They paid $500 for Schmedeke Lane logging and are planning to log on Pete Anderson Road. They ditched the end of Schmedeke Lane and put down loads of red-rock gravel and spread it. They want the road to be in good condition so they can sell lots, Alden thinks. He will watch them for logging on Pete Anderson Road. Gary said our ordinance requires a separate deposit for each road, even if Carlson has put a lot of their own money and work on the road.

Schmedeke Lane Culvert on Duxbury Road: This county culvert has been crushed and needs to be replaced. Paul will contact LeBrun.

Tamarack River Bridge on Markville Road and disintegration on road. The Board had Paul contact the Pine County Highway Dept about the bridge project and the road damage. Mark LeBrun responded: “The bridge is scheduled for August of 2021, the road will be closed for two or three weeks.  The plans and permits are done, just waiting for funding. We will be excavating and patching the frost boil areas on 25 next year.” Paul asked if they could do temporary patching and Mark sent out a crew last week. Pat said they are not done and have left one of the worst frost boils unrepaired near Lost River Road. Paul will ask LeBrun about this. He thinks the workers think they are done, since it’s been a week since they last worked.

CenturyLink Cable Not Buried: The phone cable is still strung over Glienke’s fence and over the town hall lawn. The board went out to check and both the buried cable and the original phone line enter the box for the internet. Patrice opened the box and will call CenturyLink to see if the buried cable is activated and if they will remove the old cable and take the wires, which are draped over the fence and up a tree and over the road.

OLD BUSINESS: Town Hall Stage Project: Mike showed the board his finished sanding project. He had hoped to sand the floor down to a uniform color, but the stain is too deep. Glen said it looks great, and with stain and poly will be very nice. Mike wants to stain it a light color. Paul said the deck/ramp stain was maple and that was light; Patrice has some stain Mike can try. Mike asked for authority to cut open the two safes and then taking them to recycling for steel scrap. He asked if he could give Doug Witta $20 to use his blowtorch. Glen said it’s ok. Mike asked Paul to research player pianos to see if they are worth anything and would like to get the piano and safes off of the stage. Paul can also ask the history museum if they’re interested. Mike built shelves to store equipment.

NEW BUSINESS: Annual Conference: Will be Friday, November 22, 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, November 23, 8 – 4 p.m. Verizon Center, Mankato. One night. Glen said it doesn’t seem worth it to go and he is busy. Paul also is not attending.

Relationship between Wilma Township and the Contract with DVFD, Inc. Pat Story said he has some questions: “What are the reasons that we pay and Ogema Township pays nothing for these services for medical responses? Page-outs for Ogema Township response are many times greater than for Wilma Township without any cost to Ogema Township. Long discussion. Glen said that this is a fire department issue more than a township issue, and moved to have Mike have the fire department board discuss billing Ogema or resolving this issue. Gary seconded; passed. Mike said the department has received some assistance from the Mille Lacs tribe, like AED’s and some financial assistance. Fire protection in Ogema is always by mutual aid, like whenever we aid other departments. Mike will report to the board what is decided.

Fire Protection Contract: Bill and contract due. The board approved the contract at the Board of Reorganization and the whole town voted at the annual meeting, $4,500 annually.

2020 Assessment Contract: Fees have increased due to classroom requirements and change in tax-exempt property assessments. 284 non-exempt @ $7. Also 53 exempt parcels @ $3.50 = Total $2,173.50. Mike moved to keep Bob as assessor and to sign the contract; Gary seconded.

2020 Certified Town Aid for Wilma: We will get $3,464 in 2020 in two installments, based on adjusted net tax capacity of agricultural compared to other properties and total land and water acreage and population.

Picnic Tables: We no longer use the three fiberglass green tables that were donated to the fire department. Alden would like to get them out of the back so he can put gravel down there. He’d like to take the tables. There are also two wooden tables in very good condition that Paul said belong to the township, and they will stay, but may need to be moved for the paving project.

Township Legal Seminar: Our attorneys, Couri and Ruppe, are offering the free legal seminar on Saturday, September 7 in Rutledge,. 9 am to 4 pm. Topics: Township Road authority; working with neighboring townships and county officials; pitfalls in contracts and financing; restrictions on use of township roads; conflicts of interest with township officials. Glen moved that Mike and Alden be approved to attend. Mike will get extra books for other officers.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the treasurer’s report. Total bills for July are $12,376.30 and she wants to transfer $12,000 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 8:45 p.m.

Report by Paul Raymond ___________________________________

Attest: GlenWilliamson, Chair_______________________________

WILMA TOWNSHIP  BOARD OF  SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

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, Grader Operator Alden Shute and Pat Story.

            Paul read the record of the June 5  board meeting.   Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.

          ROAD REPORT:  Alden said CenturyLink ditched the underground cable right through the driveway, but it is too deep to interfere with the driveway gravel project. Alden said he’s graded all the roads again.  He and Gary gave Paul the billing for Eagle Head Road for culvert cleaning and grates and for blading and 14 hours of beaver abatement. Hopkins ditched Eagle Head road at the culvert on both sides to make it harder for the beavers to plug the culvert, and Alden will hire Jim Anderson to trap out the beavers at $50 per beaver plus $75 for the set-up. Mike asked him to confirm that he is insured or how he handles liability for other townships so there is some protection for the town. Alden said the N. Duncan and South Duncan Road culverts are installed and rock and gravel put over them.  The culvert at the end of Mayfield Road was plugged and collapsed and was replaced with a 24” x 30′ culvert with a grate to control beavers and three loads of gravel. Alden had Hopkins do the gravel for River Cabin Road, which took 39 loads (13–14 yards each) at the bid price. Gus Roberts will do the town hall parking lot. Mike took the board outside to see where he dumped red-rock before the pancake breakfast and how hard it has settled.  Craig Summerland hopes to get Crooked Lake Road done in July. Lisenius will do the red rock on Dollar Lake Road.  Todd Elliot will put 4 loads of pit run on the North Duncan Road and 6 – 8 loads on the Schmedeke Lane Extension. Alden doesn’t think he needs class 5 on the last 300′.  Alden said the corduroy on the first part of the Pete Anderson Road settled back into the road so we won’t need the fabric for now, just gravel. Alden removed the tree over the road.

          OLD BUSINESS:State Park Road Account Grants:  The DNR is offering financial assistance to improve roads that provide access to state parks and state forests.  The board had said to find out what are the requirements for roads for these grants. Mark LeBrun said our roads probably do not qualify. “There are minimum standards and the project would need plans, permits and probably R.o.w acquisition.  This process gets expensive and can take two years to get completed.  The State Park Road account projects we have done in the past typically have involved paving or complete reconstruction.  For doing erosion control on Tamarack Lake, the Soil & Water Conservation District could assist and does grants for that work.” He said the minimum requirements are:  “If the traffic is 0-49 ADT: 24’-26’ wide gravel surface, 1:3 ditch slopes. 30 MPH horizontal/vertical curves 18’ clear zone from center of road. If you are just planning on raising the road with gravel, this would not be a project I would recommend for state park funds.  The cost for the engineering to get plans done, would far exceed placing gravel and doing minor improvements.”  Mike directed Paul to contact Mary Straka, the Moose Lake Area DNR Supervisor and Park Manager to ask if she agrees with LeBrun’s advice.  She had originally said she would provide a letter of support with the grant. Paul will contact Soil & Water to see what grant help they might be able to give.

          OLD BUSINESS:   Town Hall Stage Project:  Mike said he’d be doing it after things quiet down a little and he has everything covered including moving the grills. He showed the board the deep cracks between the boards on the stage to let them know it won’t look like the hall floor.

           Summer Specialized Training:   Was Thursday, June 27 in Duluth.   Supervisor sessions on road vacating and abandonment; use of drones in road and bridge inspections; culvert installation, maintenance and inspection. Paul got all the supervisor power-points and handouts for the board. Clerks/Treasurers on budgeting and CTAS budget process; handling special meetings, notices and posting; and process of road vacation, and Paul got all handouts for Patrice.

          Full Unencumbered Title to the Eagle Head Fire Station:  With new Senator and Representative Jason Rarick and Nathan Nelson, the Duxbury VFD is working to get new legislation to give Wilma Township full title to the part of the Eagle Head Station with the pole barn and offices and garage bays.  Session opens again in February, 2020. They can’t give it to the fire department but only to a township.

          Bridge on Markville Road:   Pat Story asked what updates we have heard about repairing or replacing the bridge on Markville Road half mile from Tamarack River Road.  It is deteriorating worse.  Mike said we did contact the county and it looks like they will replace the whole bridge, and may block off traffic on that road for a period.  Pat said we also need to contact the county about the terrible condition of the pavement on the Markville Road from Jeff’s house to Grace’s Lake Road.  It is alligatoring and crumbling and getting worse.  Paul will write to the highway department to find out their schedule for the road repairs and bridge replacement. The letter will be from the Board of Supervisors.  Pat also asked if the board had decided on his suggestion to purchase a back-hoe.  Alden said they did discuss this at the last meeting and he did find a backhoe for sale, but they did not think it was worth the debt and investment when we can rent a back-hoe an operator.

          Brush-cutting on Township Roads:   Pat asked what the schedule or plan is for brush-cutting.  Alden said many of the roads like River Cabin Road were done last year and he will have every road done next year and then every three years after that.  It’s much easier in the summer than the winter.

          NEW BUSINESS: Annual Conference:   Will be Friday, November 22, 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, November 23, 8 – 4 p.m.  Verizon Center, Mankato. One night. Glen hopes to go.

          MATIT Consolidated Coverage Policy:  Mike took the policy so he could review it.

          Township Legal Seminar:   Our attorneys, Couri and Ruppe, are offering the free legal seminar on Saturday, September 7 in Rutledge,. 9 am to 4 pm.  Topics:  Township oad authority; working with neighboring townships and county officials; pitfalls in contracts and financing; restrictions on use of township roads; conflicts of interest with township officials.

          DSL Internet:  Patrice contacted CenturyLink again about their bill and they  corrected it and will start automatic withdrawals from our bank account.

           Treasurer’s Report and Claims:  Patrice gave the treasurer’s report.  Total bills for July are $12,760.30 and she wants to transfer $13,000 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:  GlenWilliamson, Chair_______________________________

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

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, Grader Operator Alden Shute.

MAY BOARD MEETING: Paul read the record of the May 1 Board meeting. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.

ROAD REPORT: Alden said he’s graded all the roads, some of them twice, and did some ditching. He and Gary gave Paul the billing for the west Range Line Roads for culvert cleaning and grates and for blading. Alden said the N. Duncan and South Duncan Road culverts need to be installed. He ditched the south end of Crooked Lake Road and also the Mink Farm Road. The culvert at the end of Mayfield Road is plugged and he believes it has collapsed and needs to be replaced with a 24” x 30′ culvert. He asked if they need to locate utilities before working? He tagged the culverts with white stakes and pink flags. Gary said yes, and not just at the culvert locations but the entire road. Gary will take care of calling Gopher One for locate markings. Alden will have Hopkins do the gravel for River Cabin Road and Roberts do the town hall parking lot, and Lisenius do the red rock on Dollar Lake Road. Todd Elliot will put 4 loads of pit run on the North Duncan Road and 6 – 8 loads on the Schmedeke Lane Extension. Alden doesn’t think he needs class 5 on the last 300′. Alden said he will get estimates for the gravel for the work we need on the first part of the Pete Anderson Road so we can make a proposal for Arna Township. He already got quotes for the fabric, 6 rolls at $295/roll to put over the corduroy before gravel is applied.

Eagle Head Road Culverts: Beavers keep plugging the culverts; Gary got them cleaned out and Gary and Alden put grates over the culverts.

State Park Road Account Grants: The DNR is offering financial assistance to improve roads that provide access to state parks and state forests. Mary Straka, the Moose Lake Area Supervisor and Park Manager is giving us help and suggestions. She will provide a letter of support once we prioritize what roads we want help with. She said we can also get letters of support from Jeremy Fauskee, the DNR Forestry Supervisor and Mark LeBrun, County Engineer and Mark LeBrun, County Engineer. Alden said we should apply for assistance with Little Tamarack Lake Road first and the Mayfield Road. Priority given to improving access to outdoor recreational facilities. Mike said we need to contact Le Brun before we spend too much time writing a proposal to make sure our roads will qualify and ask if they have minimum standards for road width and quality in order to qualify. The DNR said that there are minimum geometic design standards for board to devise a qualifying project. Alden said Little Tamarack Lake is so high that the water is right up to the road where we did the shoreland build project, and we can ask for more rock and rip-rap, plus gravel. He estimates the two mile road would need 4” of lift plus rock on the shoreline, at least 400 loads at $200 per load, about $80,000. He will work up a proposal once we find out if this road will qualify.

OLD BUSINESS: Grader Hall Furnace: Federated repaired the furnace. Drilling Electric Bill: Finally got a bill from them and it will be paid tonight. Mike thought it was pretty high, over $5,000, but this was their estimate. Town Hall Stage Project: Mike said he’d be doing it after things quiet down a little. The Fire Department can help Mike clear stage for sanding and finishing at the drill next Tuesday at the Duxbury Hall.

Local Government Officials Meeting: Was May 28, 2019. First meeting in the new Sandstone Pine County Government Center, with the County Commissioners meeting with county township officers. Glen and Paul attended. Topics were foster care with Rebecca Foss, and how they place kids and help families, and veterans services and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program for reintegrating veterans, reserve and National Guard soldiers and helping their families while they are deployed. They got a tour of the new office building which has offices or cubicles for dozens of county employees.

Pine County Zoning Ordinance Public Meetings : Was Monday, May 13,

Pine County History Museum, Askov. Glen and Paul attended. Purpose:To provide residents, stakeholders, and township officials information related to the current full draft of the Pine County Ordinance and solicit feedback. It was a very informative meeting and copies of the ordinance brought back for the board. They said towns can opt in and opt out. Only three townships have no zoning of their own and five have opted into the county zoning so far.

DSL Internet: Patrice contacted CenturyLink again about their bill and they will correct it. They will be ditching our cable soon.

VFD Pancake Breakfast: Mike said it was a great success, grossing over $4,000. He got tables for the hall to replace the two big tables that were cumbersome, plus chairs for the hall at the Minnesota Surplus.

NEW BUSINESS: Summer Specialized Training: Will be Monday, June 17 (St. Cloud) or Thursday, June 27 (Duluth). All start at 7:45, breakfast and registration, 8:30 sessions, going until 12:30 p.m. Supervisor sessions on road vacating and abandonment; use of drones in road and bridge inspections; culvert installation, maintenance and inspection. Clerks/Treasurers on budgeting and CTAS budget process; handling special meetings, notices and posting; and process of road vacation. Must register by June 10 for St. Cloud or June 17 for Duluth. Glen said he can’t go on a Thursday and may not go at all. Paul plans to go to Duluth. Patrice said she doesn’t want to go that early.

Annual Township Association Conference: Will be Friday, November 22, 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, November 23, 8 – 4 p.m. Verizon Center, Mankato. One night and two days, unlike previous years. Paul said they cram too much into too short a time to get a real benefit and he won’t go. Glen said he may go, but has time to register.

State Demographic Report: 2018 Population estimate, 79; Household estimate, 39.

3.2 Beer License: Glen moved to approve the Duxbury Store application for a 3.2 beer license and Glen and Paul signed it and Paul with notarize it and send it to the Auditor.

Thank-yous For Donations: We got thank-yous from the History Center, OSAC, 7 County Senior Federation, and Family Pathways for our donations.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the treasurer’s report. Total bills for June are $10,447.47 and she wants to transfer $11,000 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 8:45 p.m.

Report by Paul Raymond ___________________________________

Attest: GlenWilliamson, Chair_______________________________