Year: 2010

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REVIEW/EQUALIZATION 04/14/2010

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WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REVIEW/EQUALIZATION  04/14/2010

Chairman Glenford Williamson, Sr. called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. at the Wilma Town Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Also present were Supervisor Michael McCullen, Clerk Paul Raymond,  Wilma Township Assessor Robert Brewster, Pine County Assessor Representative Lonna Meier, and Eric Ternes, Joe Vink, Eldon and Marjorie Schmedeke, and Carl Kratzke.

Paul read the record of last year’s Board of Equalization.  Mike moved to approve; Glen seconded.

First up, Eric Ternes, Parcel 32.00166.002 and .003, south on Crooked Lake Road, the last parcels at the end of the road.  His first parcel, .002, has no utilities or water.  There is a 10’x56’ mobile home and a pole garage.  Bob checked his assessment and said that it should be appraised with only a 25% site amenity, not 100%, so there should be a ¾ reduction on the trailer.  The parcel is on the west side of Crooked Creek, with 125 acres high ground, 20 acres swamp.  Eric says no one stays in the mobile home and he will dismantle it if it can’t be reclassified.  It is now valued at $2,000, $1,000 for the roof cover, for an annual tax of about $20.  Bob is willing to cut the trailer to half, or $1,000. Eric said he wants 45 acres designated swamp instead of the current 20.  Bob said that high ground is valued at $1,425/acre according to the sales study.  Lonna said that based on all sales from October 2008 to Oct. 2009 the high ground price was lowered $75 from $1,500/acre.  Swamp land is $575/acre.  Bob said that for the two sales  in Wilma Township during the sales study period the county was 6 ½% too high.

Eric just bought the adjoining 42 acres with a furnished cabin.  It has two bedrooms but is assessed for three, and two bathrooms, but it has 1 and a half.  This was appraised at $263,800 last year and $235,100 this year.  He paid $195,000 for it complete.  Bob says he can’t base an assessment on what anyone paid; some get good deals and some pay more than the land is worth.  Mike said these above value sales hurt everyone, driving all values up.  The county does not count foreclosures and bankruptcies.  Bob said they could reduce the bedrooms and the baths to one ½.  There are 10 acres swamp; Bob said this could be closer to 15 acres.  Lonna said that swamp must be wet year around and incapable of growing trees. They also have a pasture/timber class called “fair” that is a little less than high ground.

Lonna asked Eric if he knew about the managed forest classification.  Eric said he already has some land in this, and would like to enroll 42 more acres in sustainable forest.  The requirements have changed to require a forester to come out and inspect the land.  Lonna said that with the new legislation, the foresters are deluged with requests.  The requirements are that it be wooded and not subdivided, and the owner gets a rebate, but has to report it as income.  It’s run by the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue.  Bob said that if the swamp is increased by 5 acres it could be a difference of around $4,250, from $235,100 to $230,000

Next, Eldon and Marjorie Schmedeke, Parcel 32.0008 on the Pete Anderson Road. He asked if he was being assessed more because this land is on the section line, because the assessor had asked him if this was on a section line.   Bob said no, but it is at the section lines at the northern and western tiers where adjustments are made.  This land had a $68,900 value in 2009; $81,300 in 2010; and for 2011 it is $74,000, and Eldon wants it reduced to $68,000.   Eldon said he would have appealed last year, but couldn’t attend the meeting.  Eldon does have a recorded easement into the land, and this site amenity makes it worth more.

Eldon had another parcel, in Section 12, the SE ¼ of the SW ¼, which was valued at $94,100 last year but is now $84,200.   It is now $2,100 per acre, and he thinks it should be $1,900 based on land he sold nearby.  McDermott Creek goes through the property and is on the county road.  Bob said there has to be a factual reason to change the value of any parcel, and waterfront properties are going very high.

Mike asked if they take into consideration private assessments?  Lonna said they like to see these private assessments, but without sales they don’t change the township values.  Also private appraisers use foreclosure sales and bankruptcies, and out-of-county sales, which the county doesn’t.  Lonna said that land closer to I-35 corridor is appraised higher, and land south is higher. We are higher than Arna and even higher than New Dosey.  Rock Creek land is $2,150/acre.

Carl Kratzke, Parcel 32.00126:  On the South Duncan Road.  Carl said it used to be classified as timber and is now seasonal/recreational and rural/vacant.  Lonna said they count the first 10 acres as recreational if there are buildings, and the rest as rural/vacant land.  Carl said it’s been filed for sustainable forest since 1999; they have 240 acres in sustainable acres.  There is a small mobile home valued at $1,897, and a junkier one. Carl said he thought the buildings were appraised at $5,000 value.  The total assessed value is $341,700, the land $338,000 and buildings $3,700.  Carl said he is disassembling the larger mobile home.  Bob will check it out in the fall.  Carl said he was sure the board agreed that he had 50 acres of swamp a few years ago (it’s now 20 acres swamp).   Glen and Mike checked the aerial photos and agreed that it should be 50 acres swamp.  Carl said the County Surveyor checked South Duncan Road and determined that the road is on Kratzke’s land.  They cut some of the trees on Kratzke’s land and their own land.  Bob said that Carl should not be taxed for the 6 acres of road as it is a township road.  He said the valuation can be reduced from $341,000 to $250,000 due to the road and the swamp.

Paul Raymond, Parcel 32.0138, five acres north of his section line.  Paul asked if he is being charged for a site amenity, even though the land is connected.  Bob said the site amenity was removed a few years ago.

Glen Williamson, Parcel 32.0074, on the east side of his campground. Glen said he has no access to this land and it is all bog and swamp.  Lonna said they could call it no access and take 15 acres off the high ground classification.  Because Glen could not recuse himself, Lonna said he should write to the assessor explaining the situation and get a ruling.

Thomas Desile, 120 acres on the north and west shores of Little Tamarack Lake, called the assessors, but did not attend the meeting.

William Ramsey, Parcel 32.0219.000, by Grace’s Lake.  This land is landlocked with no access except by boat or on foot.  Bob said he is not paying any site amenities and is appraised less because it is landlocked and no access, and it is as low as it can go.

Board Decisions: Eric Ternes: On the first parcel, Mike moved that it be reduced by ¾ site amenity, approximately $9,750.  Glen seconded. Glen moved to change Eric’s second parcel from 3 bedroom, 2 baths, to 2 bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, and to increase the swamp to 15 acres.  Also to change the mobile home to a storage shed.  Mike seconded.

Eldon and Marg Schmedeke: Mike said that the recorded easement makes the land worth more, and this increases the site amenity. Mike moved to change 8 acres on the NW corner across the river to no access, about a $3,200 reduction from limited access to no access.  Glen seconded.  Mike said that if they change the second parcel from swamp to no access, this would actually increase the value, so he recommended there be no change.

Carl Kratzke, S. Duncan Road: Glen moved to change the swamp to 50 acres, from 20, and to remove South Duncan Road from the tax rolls, approximately 6 acres.  Mike seconded.

William Ramsey: Glen moved that there be no change; Mike seconded.

Mike moved to adjourn; Glen seconded.   Meeting adjourned at 1 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REORGANIZATION, MARCH 15, 2010

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WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REORGANIZATION, MARCH 15, 2010

Chairman Glenford Williamson, Sr., called the meeting to order at 11 a.m. at the Duxbury Store.  All three Supervisors attended, including Gary Vink and Michael McCullen, and Clerk Paul Raymond.

Glen signed his financial campaign affadavits and received his certificate of election and was sworn in for a three-year term.  Paul will be sworn in at the St. Cloud Short Course Monday, the 22nd.

Glen moved that the wages, mileage rates, and snowplowing rates for 2010 as voted on at the annual Town Meeting be approved.  Mike seconded.

Gary nominated Glen to serve as Chairman for another year.  Mike seconded.

Two meetings are coming up:  the Short Course in St. Cloud that Paul and Patrice will attend, and the County Township Officers meeting in Hinckley March 27th.   Glen will attend the Tower Short Course April 2nd.

Gary had some plowing for Paul to bill:  New Dosey, Heller Drive, February 15, $75 (1 hour divided by 2).  Arna, for Pete Anderson and Langstrom Roads, 2/15,  1 hr. divided by 2:  $75.

Also Lost River Road escrow account:  2/15, $75;  and Mona Drive escrow account, ½ hour, $75.

Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

TOWN OF WILMA, ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 9, 2010

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TOWN OF WILMA, ANNUAL TOWN MEETING,    MARCH 9, 2010

Clerk Paul Raymond called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:15 p.m. following the election and Board of Canvass.

Citizens present were Glen and Toni Williamson, Eldon Schmedeke, Bruce and Donna Filler, Gary Vink, Patrice Winfield, Barb Smith, and Paul Raymond.

The floor was opened for nominations for moderator of the annual meeting.   Gary nominated Glen; Patrice seconded.   There were no other nominations, and Glen was elected and took the gavel.

Glen asked for a reading of the record of last years’ annual meeting.  Gary moved to approve the record; Patrice seconded.  Passed.

Election results: Glen reported the results of the election of board members earlier in the day: Glenford Williamson, Sr., was reelected Supervisor; Paul Raymond was reelected Clerk.

TREASURER’S FINANCIAL REPORT:  Paul presented the Financial Reports as prepared by Treasurer Patrice Winfield.  Gary moved to approve the report and to waive the reading of all checks. Barb seconded.  Passed.

ROAD REPORT:   Township Supervisor Gary Vink gave the Road Report for 2009:   The Schmedeke Lane Controversy has been resolved by the Pine County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on February 16th.  Eldon will be able to purchase two 40 acre x 132’ parcels of land from the county to extend Schmedeke Lane; Bruce Greenley will be able to purchase the land between his land and the Schmedeke Lane right-of-way, and Bob Jensen will be able to do a land trade with the County for some land north of his land.  Eldon said he had to accept the Board’s decision, although he says the survey is not right and everyone knows it.

These roads received gravel in 2009:  North Duncan Road, north of Thiry’s hill, 12 yards by truck (because of the condition of the road, gravel trucks couldn’t reach here) and then another 14 loads, 196 yards, by Hopkins Gravel south of Hirty’s.  The South Duncan Road got 5 loads, 70 yards.  T&T paid for these damages, total $720.

Pete Anderson/Langstrom Roads: One load was put down at the end of both roads, as per our agreement with Arna Township.

McCullen Drive: Three loads; 42 yards.  Vink Road: 6 loads 84 yards.    Hopkins hauled a total of 420 yards at $4.30/yard.

Escrow Account: We continue to notify loggers and haulers about our escrow bonding requirement to haul on township roads, so we do not get stuck with damaged roads without any recourse when the loggers leave.  We have received good cooperation from the DNR land dept. and from loggers and haulers.  T&T Logging paid escrow payments for our Mink Farm and Short Roads, and have apparently completed their logging and hauling activities for this year.

Crooked Lake/Eagle Head Road:  Danforth Township replaced a culvert on the Eagle Head Road and put down gravel on Crooked Lake Road.  They are responsible for all road work and repairs on our west town-line roads, and they bill us half.

LEVIES FOR 2011:   As the discussion and vote on our 2011 levies began, Eldon asked why the board is recommending so much in levies when we have large balances in these funds.   He said our taxes are too high and if we’re not spending money on our roads, why are we continuing to tax ourselves?  The proposed Road and Bridge levy for 2011 is $15,000.   As per state law and the County Auditor, our Road and Bridge fund must be at least .04835% of the taxable market value of our township.   Wilma’s taxable value totals $29 million; Patrice said this means we have to levy at least $14, 021.50, so our proposal is about where it needs to be.  Gary moved that since we have this minimum, that we leave the Road and Bridge Fund at $15,000 for 2011; Barb seconded.

Park Fund: Donna said she is disappointed that the Park Fund levy is set at zero; she would like to see it grow in case future generations wish to do something with our park.  Barb asked where this park is; it is the 40 acres directly west of the DNR Headquarters between the schoolhouse and the road on the west side.  Patrice asked if we couldn’t do something to the park land, to make it more accessible and perhaps develop part of it.  Donna moved that we levy $500 for the Park Fund for 2011; Paul seconded.   This passed.  Bruce moved that we put a culvert and build or improve the driveway access into the park land; Donna seconded.   Bruce said there is a concrete culvert now, but it is broken.  Paul said we have always banned hunting for everyone in our park land, but the board years ago passed a law allowing any township citizens to gather downed firewood in the park, but not to cut live trees.   We had all the poplar logged off by Duane Glienke a year or so ago, but it is still forested.

Building Fund: The Board proposed a $1,200 levy for 2011.   Glen said our Town Hall needs storm doors,  new, double-paned windows, and ceiling blown-in insulation.  We had the hall scraped and painted in 2009, and this should last for many years.  Patrice moved to levy $1,200; Bruce seconded; passed.  Paul moved that we recommend to the Board of Supervisors to use some of our building fund to put in new storm doors, new windows and  more insulation in the ceiling.  Toni seconded. Passed.

Fire Fund: This needs to stay at $3,500 because this is the amount of our fees to the Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department for protection.  We have a cushion in the fund in case the Fire Department increases their fees.  Toni moved that the levy be $3,500; Gary seconded; passed.

General Fund: The Board recommended not changing the fund, leaving it at $12,000.   Eldon asked what the general fund is used for.  Patrice said we spent $18,000 from the General Fund in 2009, and it goes for everything the other funds do not cover:  insurance, fuel, propane, salaries, elections, etc. There was a discussion, and because there was a surplus in this fund after 2009, Eldon moved that the levy be lowered to $10,000 for 2011.   Patrice seconded.  This passed.

WAGES:  Paul said that the citizens are only allowed to vote and authorize levies; the Board of Supervisors sets wages and salaries, but our board has always given the citizens input and the privilege of voting on wages.  Any changes take effect after the Board approves them at the Board of Reorganization.  Donna asked why the board is recommending increases in the Clerk and Treasurer’s wages when their work is almost all computerized now and much easier.  Paul said it is much easier, and especially now that we are both on CTAS Accounting System, instead of manually entering every claim and disbursement into the big log book and doing all the figures manually, but we are also taking much less time to do the books, so this is saving money.

General Labor:  Bruce moved to keep this at $15/hour; Donna seconded; passed.

Major Mechanic:   Bruce said he was a professional mechanic in the cities and didn’t get $30/hour.  Paul said Joe does a very hard job changing the grader chains and tires and doing lubrication and maintenance, and he moved to keep it at $30/hour.  Eldon seconded; passed.  Mechanic’s Assistant: Gary moved to keep at 415/hour; Patrice seconded; passed.

Grader Operator: Glen moved to increase this from $16/hour to $18/hour.

Election Judges:  Donna said that as a judge, she sees no reason to increase it to $12 as recommended; she moved that it stay at $10/hour.  Paul asked if she and the other judges would be willing to serve at that rate; it is often very hard to get judges.  Patrice, Barb and Donna said yes, they would. Patrice seconded, and this passed.

OFFICERS:  There was a discussion on the wage increase proposals; Eldon and Donna questioned the $10/meeting increase for the Clerk and Treasurer.  Patrice said she would be very satisfied with a $5 increase, as long as the clerk got the same.  Paul said neither he nor Patrice asked for the increase, and $5 would be fine.  Donna moved to set the Clerk at $80 per meeting, and Treasurer $70 per meeting; Toni seconded.   Passed.  Toni moved to increase the Supervisors from $15/hour for meetings to $18/hour.  Paul seconded, and said the meetings are usually two to three hours, so this isn’t so much per meeting; plus general labor is paid at the $15 rate.  This passed.  Gary moved to increase theChairman from $17.50 to $20.50 per hour; Patrice seconded. Passed.   Annual Meeting Moderator: Paul said this has traditionally been $50, and he moved that it remain the same for 2010.  Bruce seconded. Passed.

Out of Town Meetings: Glen said that he thinks that half-day meetings should be increased to $60.   There was a discussion, and Patrice moved that half-day meetings remain at $50 and full-day at $100.  Donna seconded; passed.

Mileage: This has been at the Federal Rate of .50/mile.  Because the government can change this based on gas prices, Toni moved that it remain at .50/mile, but that it change if the Federal Rate Changes.  Gary seconded; passed.

Snowplowing: Gary moved that it stay at $75 per season; $100 for driveways over 700’.  Bruce seconded.

Bank: Patrice moved to keep First National Bank of the North as our bank of deposits and CD’s and checking.  Gary seconded.

Notices: Paul moved that the Pine County Courier be our paper of record, with The Evergreen and Wilma website secondary notice sites, and that the Town Hall and the Duxbury Store be our posting sites for 2010;  Gary seconded.

Annual Meeting: Paul moved that we follow the law requiring our next Annual Town Meeting be held the second Tuesday of 2011; Glen seconded.

Cell Phone Tower: Glen asked for input from the voters on concerns and ideas for our township, and said he’s heard talk that we should have more community activities.   Barb Smith said they rely on cell phones as there are no phone lines, and asked if there has been progress on getting a cell-phone tower nearer to Duxbury for better reception.  She said Verizon said there may be a tower in two years, but that is a long wait.  Glen said we should start a petition for all the households west of Bear Creek Road (County 142) to Frontier to get high-speed internet out here.  They go up 142 up to Askov now. Patrice said if Toni writes it, she would be glad to take a petition around.

Wilma Fall Fest: Gary moved that we allocate $400 for our annual Wilma Fall Fest.  Bruce seconded.   This will be the 3rd week of October, and everyone can join the committee to put it on.  Toni and Patrice head up the committee.

Board of Reorganization:   This will be next Monday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at the Duxbury Store. This is a short meeting to swear in the officers and set the wages for 2010.

Board of Appeal/Equalization: This will be Wednesday, April 14, at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall. The Pine County Assessor and our local assessor, Bob Brewster, will be there to hear appeals of property values for 2011.

Glen said that he loves Eldon and really appreciates his input in our meetings, and that he keeps the Board on its toes.    He urged Bruce and Donna to return to their active participation in township meetings.   He thanked Barb for serving as judge and participating in the meeting, and he urged everyone to come to more meetings.  He also thanked Patrice, Paul and Gary for all they do for our township and said Gary’s knowledge about our roads and township issues is indispensible.

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

Paul Raymond, Clerk