WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING
MAY 4, 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 Steve Menth, and Assistant Grader Operator Alden Shute. Paul read the record of the April Board of Reorganization and town board meeting. Gary moved to approve; Mike seconded.
ROAD REPORT: Alden gave the report and said he has graded the Vink Road, Crooked Lake road, and Dollar Lake Road, building the roads back up with a crown. He said the weight limits were lifted on Monday, and Hopkins has been hauling on county roads. Alden said the culverts on Mink Farm and the Vink Road need a couple of loads of gravel to cover them. There was no flooding on the Mink Farm culvert this year. Mike asked Alden to try to grade all the township roads before the road inspection which the board scheduled for next Wednesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. at the Duxbury Store.
OLD BUSINESS: Wilma Township WIFI: Glen gave a report on the WIFI Committee developments and future plans. Glen had made a new proposal and presented it to the ECRDC for approval, and at the ECRDC meeting, Penny said they were still considering our proposal. His proposal is limited to providing broadband internet for the Town Hall, with directional antennas to reach in all directions.
Schmedeke Lane: Paul corrected the record of the April meeting, which mistakenly said that Eldon Schmedeke said that the original Schmedeke Lane was recorded as a 66′ wide road. Eldon did not say this, and acknowledged that it was built and recorded as a two-rod cartway. But he wants the township to build up and widen the original Schmedeke Lane so it is the same 66′ width as the extension, instead of a two-rod cartway as it is now. We may need to acquire land on either side of the road or get landowners’ permission. The Board discussed this and decided to table this for now.
Town Hall Site: Eldon re-measured the boundaries of our town hall site based on the records Marjorie got from the County Recorder, and he found that we do not own the lawn between the fence on the east and the hall, and he came and reported this to Paul.
Stair Railing for Back Steps: This was authorized last year. Mike said he will pick up lumber and have this done before the pancake breakfast.
Township Officers and Outside Meetings and Trainings: Mike said he has heard from at least two citizens that they question why so many officers have to attend outside training and information meetings. One question was why the Deputy Clerk needs to attend meetings that the Clerk is already attending. Glen said we have to have a trained Deputy Clerk, and when Paul moved to Puerto Rico, Toni was thrown into the job of clerk with no training other than Paul’s briefings on the job. He said if she were not allowed to attend trainings, she would resign. Gary said if we’re going to have a Deputy Clerk, we need to allow them to be trained. Patrice said the issue as she sees it is not with training meetings like the Short Courses, but with informational meetings like the County Township Officers’ Meetings. If the Clerk is attending and taking notes, why does the Deputy need to attend?
NEW BUSINESS: Election Judge Training: All election judges must complete an election judge training course before they serve. They need to attend a class at least two hours in length, and certification is valid for two years. Head Judges are required to complete an additional hour of training. Paul, Patrice and Toni can take the judge training at the summer short course June 30, or get the regular judge training on Wednesday August 3, 1 to 3 at Askov Community Center, or Thursday, August 4, 9 – 11 at Hinckley Community Center or 1 – 3 at the Courthouse. Paul will notify Jeff and Jeane GrandPre and Barb Smith.
Summer Short Courses Mn Assn. Of Townships: Will be Thursday, June 30, in Carlton. Glen and Gary are signed up for the Assessor training. Paul, Toni and Patrice can take the election judge training, or Patrice can attend the Supervisor/treasurer workshop. Patrice said she will see the agenda for the Supervisor/Treasurer breakout session to decide; both Supervisors may be in the Assessor Training so she will be the only one in the breakout session.
Township Records: Three years ago when we were researching the history of the Wilma Township Park land, we discovered that all our township meeting records from the founding of our township in 1907 to about 1984 were missing. Two drawers in our filing cabinets were empty. We debated hiring a safe cracker to see if the books were in there, but the cost was prohibitive. We consulted all known living ex-clerks and board members to see if any of them might have borrowed the books, but no one had any information.
On Monday, Glen found three boxes left at the end of his driveway, containing the missing record books. It was garbage pickup day, so it is fortunate that he found them before the garbage truck. Glen brought the records to the meeting. There was discussion on storage options. It was agreed that we need to protect these priceless records so this never happens again, and the board agreed to check on fire-proof safes or gun-safes large enough for the records. They said two people will be required to remove any books from the safe, and no books should leave the hall. If we store the safe in the storage closet, we can get a padlock and hasp to double-secure the records.
Glen moved that Mike be paid for two hours to check stores in the cities for safes and gun-safes. Gary seconded. Passed. Steve Menth said implement dealers have good deals, like John Deere and International, and Alden said we should also check on the Banning Pawn Shop as they have reasonable prices.
Town Hall Rental: Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department requests to use the hall for the Memorial Day Weekend Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, May 29. Lucy Downing Hager has requested to reserve it for Saturday, July 16, for a family reunion. She has paid the $50 deposit and $25 rental fee. Glen moved that the Duxbury VFD and the Dowager/Storwoito family be allowed to use the hall. Gary seconded. Mike abstained.
Township Pressure Washer: Mark had asked permission to buy a pressure washer for cleaning the grader after use some time ago. None was purchased. Paul bought a Sun Joe SPX3000 2030 PSI Pressure Washer this week for $118, plus a 2-year Square Trade Warranty for $9.74. and will sell it to the Town if we are interested. Steve Menth said 2030 PSI may not be strong enough to pressure-wash grease and grime off of the grader. Mike said he has one with 2500 PSI, and we may need more than 2030 PSI. Paul said he would like to wash off the dirt from the hall outside walls before the pancake breakfast, at his regular pay, $12/hour. Glen moved that Paul be authorized to wash the Hall, and that Alden come over and take the grader out and see if the 2030 PSI is strong enough to wash the grader, before the board votes to purchase it. Glen moved that Paul be reimbursed for use of the pressure washer, $20, to be refunded if the township buys the washer. Paul said he would also like to clean out the storage closet in the hall and the file cabinets, so we can use it for storage. Glen amended his motion to allow Paul to both clean the outside hall and the storage closed. Mike seconded. Passed.
MATIT Consolidated Coverage: Our policy is up for renewal. Glen moved that we make no changes to our coverage or deductibles. Mike seconded. Passed.
Diesel Fuel for Fire Trucks: Mike said the Fire Department used 20 gallons of diesel fuel after the Kingsdale fire on Saturday, and Patrice needs to bill the department.
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 $4,082.23, and transfer $4,000 from savings into checking. Gary seconded.
Mike moved to adjourn the meeting; Glen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
__________________________ Paul Raymond, Clerk
__________________________
Attested: Glen Williamson, Chair