WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, MARCH 5, 2014
Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Gary Vink and Mike McCullen, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Road Grader Assistant Ben Glocke, and Pat Story.
Paul read the record of the February meeting. No corrections. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.
OLD BUSINESS: County Septic Ordinance: Patrice made copies of the county’s new ordinance so the Supervisors could study it. We must adopt this ordinance as a township ordinance within one year of April 1, or we can give our jurisdiction to the county and go under their ordinance. Glen asked Paul to find out if we can retain our own septic inspector and permit issuing under the county ordinance, or if we need to pass our own. Issue tabled until April meeting.
NEW BUSINESS: County Tax-forfeited land sales: Greg Beck sent a list and maps for two sales of lands in WilmaTownship. One, a large parcel in Section 11, north of Jensen’s and west of the new Schmedeke Lane extension, to be auctioned off on Sept. 19, 2014. Another list of parcels adjacent to public waters in Sections 8, 9, and 17, including our park land the town and state and county always believed we already owned. The Legislature needs to rule on these, and will be auctioned in the next 3 -5 years.
Mike said he personally opposes the sale of any state or county public lands into private hands. He said any tax benefit we may gain by having these properties back on the tax roles is offset by the loss forever of public-access hunting and fishing lands. Pat Story said there is a finite amount of public land, and any sales decreases this. Patrice said she agrees with Mike, that those lands that now are publically owned, either by the county or the state, should remain public. Mike said another issue with the county’s proposed sale is that many of the parcels are landlocked, and this leads to a lot of lawsuits and hassles for the township so people can get easements through other people’s land to get to their landlocked parcels.
Glen moved to pass a resolution stating that because of the above reservations to losing public lands and for easement issues, that the Board of Supervisors of Wilma Township oppose any sales of county land in Wilma Township to private owners, with the sole exception of the north 20 acres of our park, which we believed we already owned, and which we want to receive for public access for our citizens by conveyance through an action of the Legislature and the Pine County Board of Commissioners. Mike seconded. Passed. Paul will write to Greg Beck opposing the sales. The Land Department letter states that if the township disapproves of these sales, they will be removed from the listings. Paul will write to Beck.
Board of Reorganization: Last year we held the board of reorganization at our April meeting. The law according to the Township Association calendar states that the last date for this is March 31, and our board meeting this year is April 2. Glen directed Paul to write to the township attorneys and get a decision whether we can hold our Board of Reorganization on April 2nd.
Board of Equalization and Review: Scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, at the town hall, 1 p.m., to challenge property assessments for 2015.
County Township Officers Spring Meeting: At Hinckley American Legion on Saturday, March 29, 9 a.m. Paul and Glen will attend the planning meeting tomorrow.
Spring Short Course: At Black Bear Casino in Carlton on Friday, April 4. Glen will drive a carpool. We can make final plans at the April 2 board meeting.
Annual Town Meeting and Election: Next Tuesday, March 11. Polls open at 5 p.m., Board of Canvass at 8 p.m., and Annual Meeting following. Toni Williamson is head judge, with Patrice and Barb Smith.
DNR Fire Warden Dinner: The township got a notice asking for a RSVP for the Fire Warden dinner at the AskovCommunity Center on March 27, 5 p.m. Joe Vink is our Township Fire Warden, and Gary said he already got the notice and will be going.
Green Burial Seminar: New DoseyTownship is hosting a day-long seminar on green burials, either on ones’ own property or in the public cemetery, Friday, March 28, from 10 to 2, with a lunch break. They ask people to bring sandwiches to share.
ROAD REPORT: Ben gave the road report as Road Manager Mark Pallow couldn’t attend. Ben said it has been a busy month for snow plowing. There are no loggers active in the township at this time, and no new equipment issues. Mark is researching what chains to get to replace the old chains. Plus cables for the swing blade. Mark took 3 days to get everyone plowed in the last big snowfall. Gary said it took him 3 hours to do the town hall and fire hall parking lot and driveway. We’ve had 78” of snow so far, and 59 days below zero temperatures.
Town Hall Back Door: Gary said that because of settling or some other reason, the door jams are not air tight any more, and we need to fix them. Cold air is coming in. Pat Story asked what is the status of getting a new town hall. Paul said we found out that we do not own the land on either side of the town hall/fire hall; the boundaries are at the edges of the halls, so there is no room to either expand the existing hall, or build a new one. Glen said there is a lot of sentiment towards keeping our old hall, and it has been adequate for pancake breakfasts, weddings, Fall Fests, and board meetings.
Eagle Head DNR/Fire Dept. Station: Pat asked if there is interest in the fire department getting state bonding to replace the well and septic that MN Dot destroyed at the Eagle Head Station, which is now the Duxbury VFD Eagle Head Station. Mike said no. Pat said he is making progress on getting some grants for the fire department. He is corresponding with Shane Chatlain, who is in charge of the tower and tower building. Pat said all his experience with state contracts is that they gave 20 year leases, but Shane insists they can only give the Duxbury VFD a 10 year lease. Mike said this will influence any decisions to upgrade the pole barn or buildings. They took out the heater that was in the side garages we would like to heat.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND CLAIMS: Patrice gave the Treasurer’s Report (attached). Bills were presented:
Paul (expenses) $ 10.00
MN Benefit Association (Life Insurance) 229.00
Bob Brewster 1,529.00
ECE 61.37
Patrice (expenses) 13.86
Gary (plowing) 150.00
Glen 28.39
Patrice 242.88
Mark Pallow 494.54
Gary 67.87
Mike 24.94
Paul 145.91
Ben Glocke 34.63
Total Bills $ 3,032.33
Mike moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, and to pay all the claims, and to transfer $3,000 from savings into checking. Gary seconded. Glen moved to adjourn and meeting; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m. Paul Raymond, Clerk