WILMA TOWNSHIP ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
March 11, 2014 

       Clerk Paul Raymond called the 107^th Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Wilma to order at 8:20 p.m., following the Board of Canvass, with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Also present were Patrice Winfield, Glen, Toni and Mason Williamson, Jeff and Jeane Grand Pre, Mark and Maureen Pallow, Gary Vink, Barb Smith, and Mike McCullen.

Paul asked for nominations for Moderator.  Gary nominated Patrice; Mike seconded.  Mike nominated Jeff; Patrice seconded.  Patrice was elected Moderator.

Paul read the record of last years’ annual meeting.  Gary moved to approve; Glen seconded.  Approved.  Patrice announced the election results:  Supervisor, Gary Vink 12 votes, one blank, one write-in; Paul 13 votes, one write-in.  Certificates of election given.

Patrice gave out the financial statement and fund balances for 2013. Paul moved that reading of all checks be waived.  Gary seconded.  Gary moved to approve the report; Jeff seconded.  Passed.

ROAD REPORT:  Road Manager Mark Pallow gave the road report.  It’s been a hard year for snowplowing, and all township roads were plowed, and received routine grading and maintenance in 2013.  Repairs were completed on Mayfield Road, for FEMA, and more repairs were done due to intensive logging activity on the road.  The North Duncan Road project was completed with two culverts installed and gravel put down.  Pat Story requested township approval to plant trees in his cul-de-sac on Lost River Road.  2013 was Wilma’s year for the east Range Line Roads, Pete Anderson and Langstrom.  Mark would like to remove some trees shading and overhanging Mayfield Road.

LEVIES:  Road and Bridge Levy:  Gary moved and Glen seconded to keep the fund at $16,000 for 2015.  Passed.

Building Fund:  Mike said we still need repairs on the Fire and Grader Garage and some repairs on our town hall.  Paul moved that it remain at $5,000 for 2015; Glen seconded.  Passed.

Fire Fund:  We don’t have discretion for this fund as all townships are billed $4,500.  Glen moved that we set the levy at $4,500; Glen seconded.  Passed.

Park Fund:  Gary moved that we keep the fund at $100; Toni seconded; passed.

General Fund:   We always run short on this fund, but we are able to transfer from other funds.  Mike moved that we keep it at $10,000; Jeff seconded; passed.

WAGES:  Although the Board of Supervisors has the final vote and decision on setting wages, we have always had a public voice and vote on these.  Supervisors’ wages were changed to an hourly rate when we once had a long-winded Chairman and meetings would last many hours.  Glen said other townships have a straight meeting rate, like we do for our Clerk and Treasurer.  Mike moved that we set a meeting rate for Supervisors at $50 per meeting, $55 for the Chairman, for meetings up to three hours; overtime would be paid at the current hourly rate of $20.50 and $18.00.  Jeff seconded.  Passed.  This applies to regular board meetings and Boards of Equalization, not for road inspections, which Gary said can last all day.  Glen moved that other wages, Clerk, Treasurer, General Labor, Grader Operator, etc. remain the same as 2013.  Toni seconded.  Passed.

Out of Town Meetings:  Discussion on the length of half-day meetings, which usually require more than half a day, and full-day meetings, which often run until late.  Patrice moved that out of town meetings be raised to $75 for half-day meetings and $150 for full day meetings.  Mark seconded.  Passed.

Election Judges:  This has stayed at $10/hour for many years.  Glen moved that it be set at $12/hour for 2014.  Mike seconded.  Passed.

Mileage Rate:  Glen moved that we continue to use the Federal Mileage Rate, which has gone down to $.56 for 2014.  Toni seconded.

SNOWPLOWING:  Discussion on whether we should increase this due to the heavy snows this year.  Mike reminded us of the history of our grader and how it was purchased to serve the people of our township.  We originally did private drives for free, until the law said the town could not lose money doing private drives.  Mike said the citizens have already paid hundreds and thousands in taxes for maintenance, grader operators, fuel, and insurance for the grader.  This year was an unusually heavy one, but other years we have had as few as one or two plows.  Mike moved that we leave snowplowing for the 2014-15 season the same as this year, but that for driveways 1,000’  to ½ mile, the rate be $175, and for over ½ mile, $350 per season.  Jeff seconded.  Passed.

OTHER DONATIONS:          The township received three requests from community groups for support.  Seven County Senior Federation:  Patrice explained the benefits and services Seven-County provides.  Paul moved that we again donate $100, like last year.  Glen seconded.  Gary said the law says townships can only support groups that work within that township; Patrice said 7-County does work in Wilma, including meetings of the Pine County Wanderers.  Passed.

Pine County Historical Society:  They’re in their third year at the AskovMiddle School; we have given $1 per citizen in the past; Mike moved that we change it to $100 like the other groups.  Jeff seconded.  Passed.

Old School Arts Center:   The OSAC had to close for the winter when Lourey’s couldn’t keep the building heated.  They found a new buyer, and the OSAC will reopen with an exhibition on March 21.  They also will be teaching pottery, with a kiln Barb and Rick Smith donated.  Last year the people voted to donate $100, but when Gary said the Loureys had received a grant of $46,000, the Board rescinded the donation. Barb said the grant was actually $4,000, not $46,000.  Glen moved that we donate $100 this year; Toni seconded; passed.

TOWNSHIP SEPTIC ORDINANCE:  The County will adopt a revised Sewer and Septic Ordinance on April 1^st.  The Township must revise our ordinance to make it at least as strict as the County’s by April 1, 2015, or we can let the County take over all septic inspections and licenses.   We have already drafted a new ordinance, but the board may not act on it until they have to, since our current ordinance is fine.  Copies are available for inspection, or can be downloaded by email from the Clerk.

TOWN PARK LAND:  The State, County and Wilma Township always believed that we owned the full 36.5 acre Park west of the Eagle Head VFD Station.  When we were researching the Park last year when we were discussing building a new town hall, the County discovered that we only owned the bottom half of that 40, minus the School House and Eagle Head Station.  The State Legislature and Pine Co. Board of Commissioners have to authorize a conveyance to the Township of the north 20 acres under conditional use, since the TamarackRiver runs through it.  The Board has made this request.  We will get full and clear rights to our lower half this year, no longer conditional use, and the Duxbury Fire Dept. has a lease on the Eagle Head Station.

COUNTY LAND SALES:  The County has several parcels of County land in WilmaTownship that they want to auction off in the next few years, including our Park.  The Board of Supervisors have passed a resolution that whereas there is a finite amount of public land; and whereas now any citizen has access to State and County public lands; and whereas some of these parcels are now landlocked and the township would have legal hassles granting and guaranteeing easement; and whereas any benefits obtained from adding these lands to our tax roles would be offset by denying our children and their children the freedom to use these lands, we oppose the sales of any public state or county lands, except for our public Park.  The County has said that these parcels will be withdrawn from sale if the Township objects.

BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION:  The meeting to appeal property tax assessments for 2015 taxes will be Wednesday, April 23, 1 p.m. at the Town Hall.

WILMA FALL FEST:  We have authorized $500 the past several years for Fall Fest.  The Procrastinators Band costs $300 to $350.  All the prizes and labor and food and  many supplies are donated, and it has been a successful celebration for our Township.

Glen moved that we authorize $500 again for 2014 Wilma Fall Fest; Barb seconded; Passed.

Jeff moved that the meeting be adjourned; Jeane seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

WILMA TOWNSHIP ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 12, 2013

          Clerk Paul Raymond called the 106^th annual Town Meeting for WilmaTownship to order at 8:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Fourteen citizens were present:  Duane Glienke, Alden Shute, Jeff and Jeanne GrandPre, Patrice Winfield, Lisa and Mark Sisterman, Joeseph Vink, Toni and Glen Williamson, Mike McCullen, Mark Pallow, Gary Vink and Paul.

Nominations opened for meeting moderator:  Mike nominated Patrice;  seconded by Mark Sisterman.  Joe nominated Glen; Toni seconded.  Patrice elected, and took the gavel.  Paul read the record of last years Annual Town Meeting.  Duane said the fence on the east side of the hall does not necessarily mark the property line; he put it there because the town had stored picnic tables there.  Patrice said this is not a correction of the record because the board acted in good faith that the fence line was the property line, but it would be noted.  Gary moved to approve the record as written; Joe seconded.

ROAD REPORT:  Road Manager Mark Pallow said that in 2012 all township roads received routine grading and snowplowing.  There was a major project on Crooked Lake Road in cooperation with New Dosey township, where we brushed and made ditches for the road and applied many tons of gravel to bring that road up to standards. Wilma will be doing all maintenance on that and Eagle Head Roads.  Four loads of gravel were also applied on Little Tamarack Lake Road. Gary said we also put gravel to repair damage on Tamarack Pine Drive.  Gary said that Tri-State Lumber stopped payment on their escrow bond for N. Duncan Rd. because they said we were still holding an earlier bond when they were unable to log.  Gary said they did grade the road improperly. Forester Greg Beck said the county would repair the damages they did when they did log last year. Mark said the loggers on Little Tamarack Lake Road (Weidendorff) were the most conscientious we have ever had, and they left the road as good as before they logged, and their escrow bond was returned.  Last year was Arna’s year for Pete Anderson and Langstrom roads, and they brushed the road, but only on their side, and did not bill us.  Gary said the board passed a weight limit ordinance after the Tri-State issue, making all township roads off limits to over 7 ton axle weight vehicles, without a special permit from the township which would require posting a $500 escrow bond to cover potential damages.  Signs will be posted on county roads entering WilmaTownship.

LEVIES:  Road and Bridge Fund:  Last year we levied $16,000 for 2013, and the board recommended the same for 2014. The receipts and expenditures last year were read to give guidance on how much to set for 2014.  The FEMA payment was included in both, so it was misleading (+$56,000, -$49,000).  Glen moved that we keep it the same; Gary seconded.  Passed.

Building Fund:  Paul said if we build an addition or a totally new town hall, and if there are further fire hall repairs, we should increase the building fund from $1,200.  He moved that we set the fund at $5,000.  Mike seconded.  Patrice said we will have to get a loan and certificate of indebtedness either way; we have $4,500 in the fund now.   Passed.

Fire Fund:  There is no discretion on this fund, as all three townships in the Duxbury VFD are billed $4,500/year for fire protection.  Glen moved that we set the levy at $4,500; Patrice seconded.  Passed.

Park Fund:  The fund still has a $6,000 balance, and we have no plans to improve the park.  Joe said it is not a good building site, with drainage problems, one reason we never put a cemetery there. There was a question on dead timber; the board has voted that any citizen can remove any downed timber or firewood from the park, the 40 acres west of Anderson schoolhouse. Gary moved to set a $100 levy; Glen seconded. Passed.

General Fund:  This fund covers all wages and taxes and notices; all general business of the town.  We spent $22,000 in 2012 and had to borrow $10,00 from the Road and Bridge Fund.  Paul said if we always run a deficit on this fund, we should increase it from $10,000.    Patrice said we can always borrow from another fund, and moved that it stay at $10,000.  Glen seconded.  Passed.

Wages, Meetings, Election Judges:  There was an explanation of the wages and other payments that were on the proposed budget.  Technically, the Board of Supervisors has sole authority to set wages and fees, but Wilma has always allowed the people to have input and a vote.  Glen said he believes that election judges should be paid the same hourly rate as the clerk or treasurer ($12/hour) and we haven’t increased it in years.  Patrice said the job is so easy and it is tax-free, and we pay a lot for elections, so she doesn’t want an increase. Mike moved that we keep all wages in 2013 the same as 2012, except for a $10 per meeting increase for the treasurer, on par with the clerk.  Glen seconded.  Passed.

Seven County Senior Federation:  Patrice said she is vice president of the Federation, and Fran Levings is president.  She explained the work the federation does for seniors with education and Medicare counseling, secondary insurance and prescription drug assistance, plus help with medical billing and drug claims, and thrift stores in Mora and Isle, and statehouse lobbying.  Glen said almost everyone in our town is a senior.  Gary said he has the same reservation as last year, if we start giving to groups that solicit support, where will it end?  Patrice moved that we give $100 to Seven County Senior Federation;   Glen seconded.

Pine County Historical Museum:  Alden said he fully supports the mission of the HistoricalMuseum in Askov and he even joined.  He said if anyone wants to support them, they can do it personally, but he doesn’t want to be taxed for it.  Paul said the tiny donation they are asking for, $1 per citizen ($67 for Wilma) would hardly affect anyone’s taxes, and he moved that the town donate $1 per citizen, $67, in 2013.  Glen seconded.  Hand vote: 10 yea, 4 nea. Passed.

Old School Arts Center:  Paul explained that the OSAC opened in February, 2012, and exhibits work by 75 local artists (including Dave Baker, Dave Drake, Joe and Micki Vink).  They have had four major free art shows and have art and pottery classes.  Barb and Rick Smith donated a kiln for pottery and ceramics classes.  Paul moved that we donate $100 to the OSAC; Lisa seconded.  Hand vote:  9 yea, 3 nea.  Passed.

Town Hall Addition:  Blueprints and proposals were distributed with plans for an addition on the east side of the hall, and also for building an entirely new hall. Glen said as much as we love our town hall, it is old and bowed and the foundation is bad and the walls have nests of flies that come in whenever the hall is heated and cover the floor. The estimate of a 16’x50’ addition is about $87,000, plus almost $16,000 to repair the foundation on the present hall.  The estimate for an entirely new hall on the same spot is $121,000, not counting any demolition and disposal costs for our current hall.  Glen said we hope that someone will want the hall and will move it off site.  Duane said Wilma may not own enough land east of the hall for a 16’ addition, and that he does not want to sell the town any land on the west side between the Duxbury Store and the hall to build there.  Glen said that building it on the park site has been discussed, but there are security concerns, plus the need to build an entirely new septic tank and dig a new well and bring power to the site.  The Pine County Wanderers and other groups do not want to use our hall because of no bathrooms or plumbing, but they would use a new hall, as well as wedding parties and other events.  Jeff and Mike said they would like a show of hands to know if there is any interest by the citizens to proceed, or if the idea should be dropped. The majority (9-3) indicated that they wanted to proceed.  Glen made a motion that the town board of supervisors be authorized to research the feasibility and cost of building a new town hall on our existing site, with a maximum budget of $150,000, with a goal to build a new town hall. Patrice seconded.  Mike asked for a hand vote; 8 yea, 4 nea, 2 abstain.  Glen said that any project over $100,000 would require sealed bids, and the board would have to accept the lowest reasonable bid, but if a contractor had a history of careless or untimely work, that could make their bid unreasonable.  We would need to get a loan with a certificate of debt, and this would require a new levy on the taxpayers, and Paul said this would require a special town meeting for final approval, but he could check with the auditor about this.  Paul moved that if we get a final bid including all demolition and disposal costs and what the levy would be and for how long, that we call a special town meeting for a vote before the final decision is made.  Lisa seconded. Passed.

Pine County Regional Hospital Board:  Paul explained why this was on the agenda that Wilma did not join the board decades ago when it formed to get a $150,000 bond to build the hospital.  Mike and Joe said the reason we did not join at that time is they could give no assurances that the rates the township taxpayers would pay would remain stable, and the possibility of big increases.  Mike said he and Shawn give many hours as first responders to the hospital district, with no reimbursement.  Alden said he supports the hospital every time he uses it, with big bills.  Paul said Ron Osladil said the bond will be paid off this year, and they are not asking us to join, it just came up at the county township officers meeting.  New Dosey is also voting on it, but a town can only join if they’re adjoining a member town.  Once you join, you can never leave.  Patrice moved that we not join; Mike seconded.  Passed.

Wilma Fall Fest:  Glen said the Fest was started on Wilma’s 100^th anniversary in 2007, and has been a big success every year.  We’ve had live bands and lots of food and drink and prizes.  Toni said all the labor is donated, and many of the plates and napkins and all the prizes.  This year will be our 106^th anniversary.  We have budgeted $500 in past years for this, but have not spent it all.  The band, The Procrastinators, cost $350.  Paul moved that we sponser a Wilma Fall Fest this year on the 3^rd Saturday in October and that we budget $500 for this.  Glen seconded.  Passed.  We need to advertise and publicize more, to get more people.

Gary moved to adjourn the meeting; Toni seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk