WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, DECEMBER 4, 2013
Meeting called to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Duxbury Store, by Glen Williamson, with Pledge of Allegiance. Also present, Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Road Manager Mark Pallow, and Ben Glocke.
Paul read the record of the November meeting. Patrice said the actual transfer from savings to checking was $1,100 instead of $11,000 as needed and authorized. This caused some checks to bounce, but Patrice got it straightened out and asked that any future shortages be taken from our savings account (which has over $80,000 in it) and that she be notified. She made a second transfer of $11,000 so the total was $12,100; Glen moved to authorize that retroactively. Mike seconded. Patrice said that a snowplowing check bounced. Mike moved that they be informed and charged an additional $10, so if the bounced check was $70, they need to send $80 if they wish to have snowplowing. Gary seconded. Patrice called and left a message and gave the number to Paul so he can call also. Debate over whether they should be plowed anyway this snowfall, or not until they respond to calls. Mike moved to approve report as amended; Gary seconded.
OLD BUSINESS: Mike Road Inspection: Mike said he drove out several township roads, so he could see what condition they were in since we’ve had so many road issues lately with escrow accounts. He said someone drove logging equipment up Mink Farm Road, and he checked on loggers on DollarLake road. He also checked Crooked Lake Road. He said the loggers on Dollar Lake Road are still pushing stuff to the side. Mark asked that if any supervisor wants to inspect a road that they contact him first so he can go with them. Mike asked if he could be reimbursed for his time for these inspections; Glen moved that he be paid his time, but to let Mark know from now on. Gary seconded. Since some roads are getting logging activity without us being notified, Glen asked if we should put our sign on every township road. The signs cost around $100 each, plus installation time. Mark said there are 20 roads, and all the loggers are informed by the county and by the signs at the entrances to the township. Glen had one person ask why they hadn’t been plowed; Mark said he was waiting for this snow and would do it. Mark is plowing one “drive” off of Eagle Head Road that is well over 1,000 feet. Glen said he pays double for his drive from the road, and others with extra long drives should also. Moved to charge $175 per season for drives over 1,000 feet up to ½ mile; and over ½ mile up to ¾ mile $350. Mike seconded. This will be the policy for the 2014 season, and it can be put on the annual meeting agenda.
Mark said someone snowplowed the Mink Farm Road, and dug up the sides of the road.
Schmedeke Lane Extension: Paul wrote up a resolution for the board to adopt the extension to Schmedeke Lane as part of our existing township road. There was a question about the road description, because Schmedeke Lane was built in a different place than the original survey lines. We recorded Schmedeke Lane in May, 2001, as “Commencing at County Road 141 with the center line being the line between the SW ¼ of SW ¼ of SE ¼ of Section 11 in Township 42, North of Range 17 West, thence traversing due north for a distance of one-fourth (1/4) mile.”
Cathy Clemmer recommended we use: “West 66 feet of the East 132 feet of the NE ¼ of SE ¼ and the West 66 feet of the East 132 feet of the SE ¼ of NE ¼, Section 11, Township 42, Range 17.” She said that the total Schmedeke Lane will be 2,640 feet, the length of two 40’s, but we need to be aware that the current road is not built on all of this retained easement because it runs into the swamp. The board also wants to vote on an agreement between the board and Eldon Schmedeke for the county affirming that in return for the $10,000 worth of county repairs, neither the board nor Eldon will make any further demands on the county; also that Eldon will not make any demands on the board beyond the routine grading and maintenance we already do on Schmedke Lane and other town roads. Because of the snowstorm, Eldon is unable to attend this meeting, so action will be deferred to next month. We need a clear description of the road for the county recorder. The county has agreed to let Wilma do the work to build up the Schmedeke Lane extension to their specs, up to $10,000. Glen moved that the board adopt the resolution: “Be it resolved by the Town Board of Wilma Township that the road and road right-of-way listed below is hereby determined to be a duly established four-rod township road in Wilma Township,” with the description as approved by Cathy Clemmer for the road. Gary seconded.
Town Safes: Pat Story got an estimate to open the top safe for a maximum of $300, which would include bore holes into the two bottom safes to see what might be in them. There was no motion to pay this, so Paul will notify the locksmith. Discussion on missing township records from 1906-1978. Paul said he talked with Becky Niedzielski, Roz Hanulla, and Sylvia Anderson, former clerks and chair, to see if any of them know of town records prior to 1978, and none of them do. Paul said he’s been clerk since 1994, and if he had ever seen meeting records from the old days, he would have read them, since his dad was once a supervisor. We do have all our road records, as far as we know.
Little Tamarack Lake Road: We had asked Ogema’s Town Board to help us with the maintenance of Little Tamarack Lake Road, since the only full-time residents of the road live in OgemaTownship. We got a letter that their Supervisor Raymond Thieling drove out the Little Tamarack Lake Road and said there are multiple driveways of cabins, and that the Holter’s drive is a private drive. They said if we want to talk any further about it their meeting is December 12 at 8 at their hall.
Diesel Key: Glen moved that the fire chief be given a copy of the diesel key so the fire dept. can get fuel, and that the chief keep track of and report any withdrawals. Gary seconded. The fire dept. needs a bill from the town for the diesel they took, 44 gallons at $3.519/gal., $154.84.
Vink Road Damages: We will deduct one load of gravel for repairs to Mink Farm Road from T&T Logging, $220, plus two inspections at $100, total $320. Because they also hauled loads of silage out of Crooked Lake Road, we had to put gravel on that road as well, which used up the balance of their escrow. Paul will write them. Mayfield Road: Bethhaume Logging did 2/3 of the damage on Mayfield Road and punched the road in; all the gravel we’d put on the road was ground into the road by their trucks and Carlson Timber’s trucks. Paul will write to Bethhaume and tell them their escrow was used and then some, with a copy of the bill from Hopkin’s gravel who put 35 loads of gravel (485 yards) to rebuild the road. Carlson’s logging did more damage than their $500 deposit as well, with the gravel and blading to rebuild the road.
NEW BUSINESS: New County Septic Ordinance: Land Services Director Kelly Schroeder sent us a draft of the county’s new proposed SSTS ordinance, which will be adopted by February, 2014, and the township must adopt an equally strict ordinance within a year of that. Paul has the draft if anyone is interested in reading it. There are discussions on December 9 and 12, and a public hearing on January 7, 2014.
State MAT Convention: Glen said the primary focus of the convention was protecting Minnesota’s rural way of life and defending Minnesota’s land and water from invasive species. Glen said almost 400 township officers attended from 187 townships and 58 counties. Glen said they encouraged him to attend the national convention in Washington, D.C. and said our town should make more of an effort to get more officers to the state convention, and that he believed the clerk at least should be one of them. Paul said Glen earlier didn’t want to share a room with him to save expenses. Glen submitted a resolution that was ultimately adopted, to change Supervisors to Township Officers in the notice of who is eligible for state offices. Glen read a poem that Loren Ingebretsen wrote and read at the convention, about cooperation and the power of grassroots government. Glen was re-certified to officiate at our boards of equalization and review for three more years, and brought study manuals for the other supervisors. Glen brought a resolution for the board to adopt in support of a comprehensive omnibus transportation finance bill.
Treasurer’s Report and Bills: Patrice gave the Treasurer’s Report (attached) and claims were presented:
ECE $ 46.68
Patrice (expenses) 10.00
MATAT tuition 504.00
Mark P. (expenses) 10.17
Paul (expenses) 10.00
Joe Vink (expenses) 30.00
Glen Williamson (expenses) 217.15
Mike McCullen 58.18
Mark Pallow 285.36
Paul Raymond 159.76
Gary Vink 101.58
Glen Williamson 241.50
Patrice Winfield 123.78
Total Bills $ 1,798.13
Gary moved to pay the bills, approve the Treasurer’s Report, and transfer $1800 from savings to checking. Mike seconded. Gary moved to adjourn the meeting; Glen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Paul Raymond, Clerk