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, Road Manager Alden Shute, and Stan Riley. August Meeting Record: Paul read the record of the August meeting. Gary moved to approve; Glen seconded.

ROAD REPORT: Alden said he has graded all the township roads a couple of times. He had gravel put down on the North and South Duncan Roads. The culverts were put in Crooked Lake Road and Paul should bill Danforth Township for half of the cost of the culverts. Alden said he confronted a problem when doing a locate on Crooked Lake Road Google Maps says that the name of the road is South Range Line Road and that Crooked Lake Road is located in Danforth township a few miles west. Mike said that is obviously wrong and he can contact Google Maps to correct it. Alden said he will start working on digging out the frost boils on Tamarack Pine Drive and on the Vink Road.

Township Road Mowing: Alden said if citizens are going to complain about the job Jerry’s Mowing did on our township roads that he’d suggest we don’t do any mowing from now on. Mike said we just need to remind any citizens who complain that we only mow the right of way, not up to the tree line.

ECE Road Excavation on Dollar Lake Road: Alden said that on Dollar Lake Road that ECE only worked in the ditch, not on the road. They have not contacted him yet for an inspection on the Vink Road. We will return the $1,000 for Vink Road once they confirm that the work is done and Alden can inspect it.

OLD BUSINESS: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Pine Co. Planning Meeting. Paul attended the second meeting on July 27 at the North Pine Government Center in Sandstone. Wilma has already received half of our ARPA funds. Our dollar amount isn’t calculated based on our budget or our spending but on our population, which is 63 @ $105/person, $6,615. Mike said he thought we could ask for more funding and that the fire department can request funding from the township. Paul said we won’t get any more than the $6,000, but Mike can call Commissioner Terry Lovgren to confirm this. Possibilities for funding: Extension of our Town Hall broadband budget to give us more months of service. We can buy laptops for Mike and Gary and a printer for Patrice. Paul said Minnesota Surplus has Dell laptops with power cords for $70, with cameras. Mike and Gary said they aren’t interested. We can donate to the fire department for lost revenue. We need to document how we spent it.

Liquor and Cigarette License: Stan Riley has started a new business at the corner of Duxbury and Tamarack River Roads, selling propane, prepared lunches, and hopes to add liquor and strong beer and cigarettes. He needs Wilma Board approval to get the licenses. Mike said he has had anonymous complaints about people parking in the county right of way on Tamarack River Road. Glen asked who is doing the complaining and said he did not like anonymous reports. If someone has a concern about an issue, they need to come to a meeting and state it publicly. Stan said he is having his trailer moved tomorrow and that he will have almost 50 feet of parking off-road so the parking issue is over. Mike said he still will not vote for a liquor license for Stan until the parking issue is resolved, but he did second Glen’s motion to approve the cigarette license. Gary abstained.

Mowing Town Hall: The Board hired Stan Riley at $20/hour to both mow and weed-whip the hall lawn, and he will do it tomorrow. Hall Foundation: Paul reinforced the blocks with bricks.

District 7 Meeting: Was Thursday, August 12, 7 p.m. In Monticello. Paul attended by Zoom: The first hour was just the Monticello town board explaining how they treat roads for dust and maintain their roads. Also on the agenda was Government Relations update and discussion on how we can use our ARPA funds.

NEW BUSINESS: Couri & Ruppe Annual Township Legal Seminar: Will be Saturday, September 25, 2021, Rutledge Town Hall. Mike wants to go and Paul will register for himself and for Mike.

Town Hall Chairs: Patrice asked permission to borrow the town hall chairs for her birthday celebration for her father, Holace on Sept. 11. Mike moved to approve; Gary seconded.

2021 MAT EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL MEETING: Will be virtual online again, and free of charge, September 9, 10. 11. Agenda: Sept. 9, Thurs. 8-11 a.m. Town Law Review: four one-hour sessions on township government. (Septic Systems; Township legal issues; Town Road Law; Employment Basics for townships.) Friday evening breakout sessions from 6 – 9 p.m. (Veterans Services; Fire Departments; Clerk and Treasurer support and Q&A., Gravel Roads, Mental Health for Officers). Saturday, annual business meeting

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave treasurers’ report: Total bills for August, $3,712.39. Total to transfer, $3,700. Gary moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds. Mike seconded. Gary moved to adjourn the meeting; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9.00.

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisor Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Patrick Story, Stan Riley, and Rodney Sorgaard. Paul read the record of the July meeting. Gary moved to approve; Glen seconded.

ROAD REPORT: No road report. Township Road Mowing: Pat Story asked why we mowed township roads so soon after brushing them last year. Glen explained that we had all township roads mowed this year. Pat said he did a bad job on Lost River Road and asked if we have any specs to guide the commercial mowers.

OLD BUSINESS: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Pine Co. Planning Meeting. Paul attended the second meeting on July 27 at the North Pine Government Center in Sandstone. Wilma has already received half of our ARPA funds. Our dollar amount isn’t calculated based on our budget or our spending but on our population, which is 63 @ $105/person, $6,615. Possibilities for funding: Extension of our Town Hall broadband budget to give us more months of service. We can buy laptops for Mike and Gary and a printer for Patrice. We can donate to the fire department for lost revenue. We need to document how we spent it.

ECE Road Excavation on Dollar Lake Road: They don’t like paying escrow deposit every time. They say: “ECE has been doing this work for years and it is a process to get a check to the township for $1000 every time we need to install a new service.  ECE is good for our word and would pay any damage fees if there were any.  We have worked in this township for a long time. Maybe there is some type of yearly bond to make this easier.” Glen moved that we waive the escrow deposit requirement for ECE, but still ask that they schedule joint road inspections with Alden before and after excavating Wilma Township roads. Paul will write them. We will return the $1,000 for Vink Road once they confirm that the work is done and Alden can inspect it.

NEW BUSINESS: Liquor and Cigarette License: Stan Riley has started a new business at the corner of Duxbury and Tamarack River Roads, selling propane, prepared lunches, and hopes to add liquor and strong beer and cigarettes. He needs Wilma Board approval to get the licenses. Glen moved that the board approve his licenses to sell liquor, beer and cigarettes. There was no second. Gary said he abstains because this business directly competes with his own business, the Duxbury Store. We will not have another meeting until September 1^st. Glen moved that if Mike has a work conflict with September 1 that we move the meeting one week to September 8. Gary seconded. Paul was asked to contact the township attorneys to see if there is a limit on how many meetings a supervisor can miss.

Mowing Town Hall: Pine Co. STS no longer exists. Paul mowed the hall lawn and is willing to do it using his mower. Discussion on pay for mowing. Paul billed 3 hours at the labor rate, $16/hour. He said the board never changed the labor rate when they increased all the other rates, because it is rarely used. He asked what is fair compensation for using his own mower and oil and gas. Glen moved that he be paid $10; Gary seconded.

Stan Riley and mowing: Stan said he would be willing to take the mowing job for the hall, including weed whipping. Glen moved to hire him as a contractor at the rate of $20/hour, two hours max per job. Gary seconded. Pat reminded the board that we need to be named Additional Named Insured on his insurance. Stan said he would. Stan also said he would be willing to do the Eagle Head Station for the fire department. His number is 612-412-3973.

Hall Foundation: Supervisors checked southeast corner of hall; blocks slipping. Gary said they had an engineer check on it after the tornado first moved the foundation a little and he said there was no problem. Paul said he could bring some bricks to fill in the gaps under the blocks which should support them from collapsing.

District 7 Meeting: Will be Thursday, August 12, 7 p.m. In Monticello. Can attend by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81287262778. On agenda: Government Relations update; ARPA update; new laws and bills; new case law; new risk management system with MATIT. Glen said he’d like to attend by Zoom; Paul also. Any board members are authorized to attend.

Emergency Broadband Benefit ERB: Will pay $50 per month for internet if your gross adjusted income is less than $17,000, including from Centurylink. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.

Couri & Ruppe Annual Township Legal Seminar: Saturday, September 25, 2021, Rutledge Town Hall. Register at couiriruppe.com.

Pine County Wanderers and Town Hall: The Wanderers ask to use our hall for their October 27 meeting. Paul will guarantee the hall is cleaned. Glen moved to approve; Gary seconded.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the treasurers’ report: Total bills for August, $1,019.09. Total to transfer, $1,000. Gary moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds. Gary moved to adjourn the meeting; Glen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:30.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisor Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Road Manager Alden Shute. June Meeting Record: Paul read the record of the June 8 meeting. Gary moved to approve; Glen seconded.

ROAD REPORT: Alden bladed all the township roads. Jerry’s Roadside Mowing LLC: We got the bill from Jerry’s Roadside Mowing, which came in under his estimate of $1,200. He did 14.5 hours @ $75/hour = $1,087.50. Thanks to Alden, Jerry broke down the Range Line Roads so we can bill the other towns at ½ of $75/hour. Alden said Doug Witta graded the Pete Anderson and Langstrom Roads, and Alden will alternate with him and neither town will bill the other.
Crooked Lake Rd. Culvert: Alden said regarding Jason Palme’s request for a new culvert 7/10’s mile down Crooked Lake Road, it would be better to just put a second culvert in if the old one is still good.
North Duncan Road: There is a big pothole that needs a dumpload of gravel, and the culvert needs another load of gravel to cover it.
Tamarack Pine Drive: The whole road should be graveled next spring after the frost boil is dug out and rebuilt, a project for 2022.
Glen confirmed that the board hired Alden to manage our roads and that the board defers to Alden’s judgment on culvert size and placement.
Letter to Carlson Timber: Alden said that Carlson Timber did so much work on the Pete Anderson Rd. and Schmedeke Lane, even if it benefited their land sales, that he would like the board to formally acknowledge our gratitude to them for all they did. Glen moved to send a letter; no second so issue died.

OLD BUSINESS: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Pine Co. Planning Meeting on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Mike and Paul attended the meeting Tuesday, June 15 at the North Pine Government Center in Sandstone. Possiblities for funding: Extension of our Town Hall broadband budget to give us more months of service. Possibility of telephone companies putting up cellphone dishes on the Eaglehead tower. If the Fire Dept. increases the pension fund budget so each town pays $1,000 more per year, the towns can recover this from the ARPA.
There is a free online webinar on the American Rescue Plan Act and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations from the State of Minnesota. Paul has studied the seminar and has applied for our funds. https://www.lmc.org/learning-events/previous-events/recorded-webinars/road-to-recovery-series-requesting-american-rescue-plan-act-funds-minnesotas-process/
David Minke wrote us, “The Pine County City/Township ARPA Coordination Meeting #2 will be Tuesday, July 27 at 5PM, in person and via webex at the North Pine Government Center (1602 Hwy 23 N. Sandstone). The link to the webex option is: https://pinecounty.my.webex.com/pinecounty.my/j.php?MTID=m8248b2379bfb54bec0e6db967516273 Or Join by meeting Number: Meeting number (access code): 175 650 2268 Meeting password: ZrYqAP96mR9 Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-650-215-5226,,1756502268##
Commissioner Terry Lovgren wrote us: “I am following up with you concerning an email you received from David Minke for the township/city/county meeting on July 27th at 5 in Sandstone to discuss ARPA funds.  There is more information that has been given to how these funds can as well as cannot be used, but when looking into it there is something each one of our townships/cities will be able to benefit from with these funds.
I am hoping your township/city will make it a priority to attend this meeting where we will be able to share ideas with each other.
Jeff Krueger from MAT Says: “There has been a lot of confusion regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) lately, so I wanted to send out a quick email. There is no need to rush in applying for your ARPA funds. We don’t want people to delay too much but there is plenty of time. You have until the end of 2024 to obligate your funds. Unless you have an immediate need, don’t obligate your funds to your county or ANY organization until we’ve had time to get webinars out to answer your questions on what the funds can be used for.

Emergency Broadband Benefit ERB: Will pay $50 per month for internet if you are on food stamps or other government program or if you earn less than an adjusted gross income under $18,000. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.

NEW BUSINESS: Couri & Ruppe Annual Township Legal Seminar: will be Saturday, September 25, 2021, Rutledge Town Hall. Register at couiriruppe.com.

Mowing Town Hall: Pine Co. STS guys mowed the hall lawn once so far.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills for July, $3,325.87, and Patrice wants to transfer $3,300. Mike moved to approve the report and transfer the funds. Gary seconded
Motion to Adjourn: Glen moved to adjourn the meeting; Gary seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Report by Paul Raymond