NOTICE WILMA TOWNSHIP: ROAD INSPECTION, WEDNESDAY MAY11, 2016
NOTICE WILMA TOWNSHIP: ROAD INSPECTION, WEDNESDAY MAY11, 2016
Meet at Duxbury Store at 10 a.m.
Open Meeting
Paul Raymond, Clerk
WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION, APRIL 11, 2016
WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION, APRIL 11, 2016
Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 1 pm at the Wilma Town Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance. County Assessor Kelly Schroeder and Wilma Assessor Bob Brewster attended, plus Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink and Clerk Paul Raymond, plus Micki Johnson Simicek.
Paul read the record of last year’s Board of Equalization from Glen’s smart phone. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.
Micki Johnson Simicek, Parcels 32.003000 and 32.003500. She inherited this land from her father Joe Vink after he died a year ago, some with joint-ownership. She said the taxes have doubled since it is no longer classified as agricultural/homestead. She also said she cannot access the 120 acres at the end of Vink Road, unless James Doody leaves his gate open and she can use his road.
Before he died, Joe had this land clear-cut, and the stumpage and brush make the land inaccessible, even if there is access. She asked if the value would change, now that the trees are gone, and if she can retain the agricultural status. Kelly said the tax difference is significant, from 1/2% for agricultural homestead to 1% for high ground. The county does not consider the value of trees in assessments, so a forested plot is the same as a clear-cut one. If a sibling or immediate family member farms 10 tillable acres of the land, it could be classified agricultural. But Bob said if you don’t have homestead status (because you have another homestead elsewhere), there is no advantage to agricultural status. Kelly said a better option for Micki is to get a forest management plan drafted on the property and enroll in one of the two forest management programs. There is a 2C classification for forest land management. Her taxes would only go up 15% instead of double. The other program is the sustainable forest program, which does not change her taxes, but would give a payment of $7 per acre, however if she sells the land, the new owners must stay in the forest management program and it takes 4 years to get out of it. She will give Micki the information how to enroll. The deadline to apply for the 2C plan is May 1, and for sustainable forest September 30. The deadline to get a separate appraisal and appeal to the county is June 20.
Mike said there is access into these acres from the end of Wilma’s Vink Road and the west end of the Tamarack Pine Drive. That was a township road all the way from Co. Rd. 24 across the Tamarack River to the Vink Road, and the township never vacated or abandoned the road. Gary said all the trails and paths in the land are gone because of the logging, and Micki said she had a forest agent come out to evaluate and confirm the timber sales, and he couldn’t even get in to count stumps. Gary said part of Doody’s road may be on the Vink side of the property line, but Joe was conservative with his fences. Bob said if you don’t have to cross any one else’s land to get to your land, it is not no- access.
Gary said that a property owner can get a real estate agent or private appraiser to come out and do an appraisal of their land, and file an appeal with the county. Gary said his land was worth $5,000/acre when it was forested, and is only worth $200/acre now.
Bob said one reason the county doesn’t differentiate between land with trees and clear cut land is because people would buy land, clear cut the trees, and then when the land was worth less they would stop paying taxes so the land went forfeit.
Bob says when the county sells tax-forfeited land they assess it differently from the tax assessment. He said after the big blowdown in 2011, the assessed value of land didn’t change, but in sales Markville is the lowest valued township in the county. Kelly said the St.Croix Boys Camp sold to Zachary Hanson for $213,000. The state originally wanted $1.1 million for the camp two years ago, and then went down to $839,000. It sold for $213,000. The county appraised it at $493,000, and Zach will pay taxes based on the county’s appraisal, not what he paid.
Kelly had one letter from a camper/RV at the Two Creeks Campground that had been charged for another person’s camper, and for out of date plates. They send proof of license and got the tax changed.
BOARD DECISIONS: Re: Micki Johnson’s land, inaccessible. Since she does have access from Wilma Township Roads, Glen moved that there be no change in the assessment, but that she can get into the Sustainable Forest Program. Mike seconded. Gary abstained. Re: Removal from Agricultural/Homestead status, Glen moved that since it is not homestead or agricultural, that there be no change. Mike seconded. Gary abstained.
Camper at Two Creeks: Since they documented that they were being taxed for neighbor’s trailer, and that they do have current plates, Mike moved that the correct trailer/RV be assessed; Gary seconded. Glen abstained.
Paul asked why his property value went from $92,000 to $99,000? Kelly said there were six sales in Wilma Township, which forced a change in everyone’s value to remain in the 95%-105% range. We were at 88% so she increased everyone by 6%, and we’re now at 94.4%. If she values too low, the state moves in and does the assessments. Dean and Carol Dixon’s cabin had been valued at $161,000 and sold for $177,000. A sale down by Tamarack Lake had been valued at $74,000 and sold for $94,000 for 2 ½ acres. Scott Jamieson’s near the lake was valued at $43,400 and sold for $63,000. A sale in Tamarack River Preserve on River Cabin road also sold for above appraised value.
Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
_____ _______________________
Paul Raymond, Clerk
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Attested to: Glen Williamson, Chair
WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REORGANIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEEETING 4-6-2016
WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REORGANIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEEETING 4-6-2016
Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Jeff GrandPre, Alden Shute, and Eldon and Marge Schmedeke.
BOARD OF REORGANIZATION: Mike nominated Glen to be Chairman of the Board for another year; Gary seconded. Passed. Glen nominated Gary to be Vice Chair; Mike seconded. Passed. Mike moved that the board approve all the wages and meetings pay and election judge pay that the voters authorized at the annual meeting. Gary seconded. Passed. Glen moved that Northview Bank be our bank of deposit; that the Pine County Courier and the Evergreen and the township website, Wilmatownship.com, be our papers of publication; that the Duxbury Store and Wilma Town Hall be our posting places. Mike seconded. Passed. Mike moved that we keep the charge for snowplowing private drives the same as the 2015-16 season. Gary said that at the Township Short Course on Friday, they said townships cannot limit snowplowing to full time residents. Glen said they also said that we can charge residents different from non-residents. Mike amended his motion to keep snowplowing rates the same, except to designate that they are for full-time residents, and that non-residents will be charged the regular plowing rate of $150/hour.
Donations to Civic Organizations: Mike moved that Wilma township enter into a contract with the Seven County Senior Federation, with the Old School Arts Center, and with the Pine County Historical Museum for services and to pay them $100 each, as approved by the voters. Glen seconded. Gary voted nay; Passed. Gary asked how the old high school could be deemed unsafe for students but it’s ok for the Arts Center? Paul said they cleaned it up and it is safe now.
TOWN BOARD MEEETING: Paul read the record of the March board meeting. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.
ROAD REPORT: Alden gave the report and said little was done this month. Roads are still very wet. Glen asked if there were any trees down with all the wind we’ve had lately. Alden said none that he has seen, but he hasn’t driven out all the roads. The road inspection will be next month.
Wilma Township WIFI: Glen gave a report on the WIFI Committee developments and future plans. Pat Story is no longer on the committee. Glen made a new proposal and presented it to the ECRDC for approval. His proposal is limited to providing broadband internet for the Town Hall, but will have directional antennas to reach in all directions, so it would likely reach Alden’s, Glocke’s,the Duxbury Store, Duane Glienke, Fillers, and possibly even the campground. Glen’s proposal to Penny at the ECRDC totaled $9,000. Paul said we should still go for the full $10,000 grant to cover misc. unforeseen expenses and also for the wages and time of the committee, which can’t come out of Township funds as per the agreement. Paul said that at the Short Course and the County Township Officer’s Meeting, and at last fall’s MAT State Convention there was a lot of talk about bringing broadband internet to every rural household. They weren’t specific about how this can be done. Jeff and Patrice both worked for the phone company and said there is no way that Century Tel can afford to bring DSL to our area. We have a fiber-optic line running right through our town, but it won’t be used for internet.
Spring Short Course, Mn Assn. Of Townships: Was Friday, April 1, in Carlton. All board members attended but Mike. Paul gave Mike the Power Points and handouts for Supervisors. All the board members who attended said this year’s trainings and sessions were some of the most valuable and informative ever.
NEW BUSINESS: Pine County Environmental Assistance Grant: The County is applying for a grant to improve recycling facilities in the county and ask the board to send a letter of support. Glen moved that we send the letter; Mike seconded. Gary abstained. Glen signed it.
Board of Appeal and Equalization: Wilma Township’s Board will meet Monday, April 11, 1 p.m. At least two Supervisors needed. Both Glen and Gary are certified currently. Gary’s certification will expire after this year’s Board, so he needs to take the certification course at the Summer Short Course on Thursday June 30, 2016, starting at 1:30 in Carlton. Gary had the registration form for Paul to mail. This may be the last time certification is offered at a Short Course, so Glen also signed up to renew his certification.
Township Web Site: Mike moved to renew our contract for the WilmaTownship.Com website. Gary seconded. Glen abstained. Jeff said it is a very good site and he uses it a lot to keep up with announcements and township events.
Schmedeke Lane: Eldon said that Schmedeke Lane was recorded as a 66′ wide road and he insists that the road be widened to the full width. Paul will research the records.
Town Hall Site: Eldon and Marg went to the County Courthouse and got a document where Albert and Barb Glienke donated the site for the town hall filed May 29, 1980. Eldon said this document proves that the township owns the land all the way to the fence. Paul said he measured it out based on the documents the County gave us back in 2013, and our border ends at the edge of the town hall. Duane Glienke had said he put the fence further east only as a courtesy, but he never gave that land to the Town. Paul said he would take the new information and if necessary do another survey with his measuring wheel.
Meetings and Short Courses: Eldon said he thinks the board is wasting money with multiple officers going to training meetings and Township Officer’s Meetings and election judge training, and he wanted to know how much these last two meetings cost the town. He said one or two officers could go and report to the rest. Different board members spoke that the information gathered at these meetings is valuable and benefits the whole town. Some training is mandatory, such as judge training and assessor certification. Paul said that the township’s part of the total property tax bill is only about 11%, with almost 90% going to county and school district taxes, although the town does a lot more for our people with roads, etc. He said school officials and state and county officials also attend taxpayer-paid training conferences and meetings and events and we don’t question them.
Treasurer’s Report and Bills: Patrice gave the Treasurer’s Report (attached) and claims were presented and signed. Glen moved that we pay all the claims, totaling $3,279.66, and transfer $3,300 from savings into checking. Gary seconded.
Mike moved to adjourn the meeting; Glen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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Paul Raymond, Clerk
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Attested to by Glen Williamson, Chairman