WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WED. MARCH 6, 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, Pat Story, Dennis Schmedeke, and Dave Beadreau.
CLERK’S REPORT: Paul read the record of the February Board Meeting. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.
ROAD REPORT: Alden gave Paul all the times for range line roads to bill the other townships. Alden had to re-plow Crooked Lake Road due to drifting snow.
Proposed Road Projects: Alden had cost estimates for his proposed future road projects for culverts and gravel; Alden said these are not all for 2019 but some are for future years. He estimates $1500 for the three new and 1 replacement culverts on North Duncan and South Duncan Roads. Installation and gravel will be about $400 per culvert. He estimates River Cabin Road will need 35 loads of gravel @ $200 per load. Lost River Road, 20 loads; Mona Drive, 20 loads. Brushing estimates 25 hours in 2020 and then every three years after that, at $125/hour.
OLD BUSINESS: District 11b House Primary: Was yesterday, only for Republicans; Nathan Nelson got all but 2 votes which went to Tim Burkhardt, unopposed.
DSL Internet Coming: CenturyLink ditched fiber-optic cable for DSL internet past the town hall. The board voted to switch to CenturyLink but CenturyLink said they have no open lines, so can’t install at the hall. They would run a phone line, but not internet. We would have been paying $45/month instead of $118 and our internet fund would last over twice as long. We asked both Gary and Alden if they would allow the township modem in their homes, but neither could do it. Patrice said she will call them and find out why they can install phone but not internet.
MAT L & R Meetings: Patrice attended for two days, February 20 and 21 at the Best Western Hotel in St. Paul, representing Wilma Township. She met for a long time with Senator Jason Rarick, but we have no state representative now, so she sat in on some other legislator meetings. Jason supports the $20 million transportation bill which includes money for township roads, 13% for roads and 7% for bridges. The bill is for 2022, but townships need the money now, and Patrice urged Rarick to push for it now and to co-author a bill for this. The sessions focused on legislation affecting townships, like broadband internet, especially areas that have no service now, and annexation. They discussed ending political caucuses and going just to primaries, which Patrice supports since she said caucuses don’t really represent the voters.
NEW BUSINESS: Board of Review and Equalization: County Assessor Lorri L. Houtsma has scheduled it for Monday, April 8, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Bob Brewster will also attend. Glen said this is for property values next year, not this year.
March Township Election: Glen and Patrice are up for re-election. Election and annual meeting is March 12, 2019. Gary and Dave Baker will judge with Paul.
Board of Reorganization: Glen moved that we hold the Board of Reorganization the same night as the April board meeting, before the meeting, April 3rd.
State Election for Representative District 11b: The general election to fill the seat will be March 19. Hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Patrice, Gary and Paul will judge.
Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting: At Hinckley American Legion Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. Glen said he would be willing to car-pool.
MAT Spring Short Course: Will be Friday, April 5, at the DECC in Duluth. Our board meeting is two days before so car-pooling arrangements can be made then.
Deputy Clerk and Treasurer: We have lost both our Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Clerk. If anyone knows of anyone who might be interested in the positions, let the Clerk know. Patrice is able to run elections if Paul has to miss one, like she did the first primary in January, but she doesn’t want to do Presidential elections. Paul has no plans to go anywhere. If we found someone, we would likely only train them if we knew we would be absent for awhile and the deputy would have to take over the duties.
Snowplowing: Dennis Schmedeke said he wanted to go on record praising the great job Alden is doing plowing township roads. He said he understands why he was too late to get plowing this year. Paul also said his driveway is the best it has ever been after Alden plowed. Alden said there are at least two residents who will have to trim trees next year if they want to be plowed; he said we don’t have to name them now.
Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the Treasurer’s Report (attached to record); Total bills for February $3,128.28. She will transfer $3,100.00 from savings to checking. Mike moved to approve her report and to make the transfer to cover the claims; Gary seconded. Gary moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report and to transfer the funds. Mike seconded.
Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned 8:30 p.m.
Report by Paul Raymond____________________________________
Attest: GlenWilliamson, Chair________________________________