Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisors Mike McCullen and Alden Shute, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Lori Shute, Michah Murray, Stefanie Williamson, Clay Heller, Jr., Zach Hanson, Kathleen Ackerman, and Daniel Calder.

Approved Ground Rules: Citizens must raise their hand to speak; No interruptions; If a speaker asks question of another person, they can answer but speaker holds the floor; Maintain respect and decorum.

Clerk’s Record of September Board Meeting: Paul read the Clerk’s record of the September Board meeting. Alden corrected the record, it was 9 loads gravel on Fust Lane, and 11 on South Duncan Road. Hesinius put 15 loads of redrock gravel on Little Tamarack Lake Road, 10 on the road. With these corrections, Mike moved to approve the Clerk’s record; Alden seconded. Passed. The record will be corrected on the website.

Road Report: Alden gave his report for October: He is trying to get the roads prepped for winter. So far this season he has spent $13,713 from the Road and Bridge Fund, but $814 of this is shared range-line roads, and Arna, New Dosey and Danforth will pay their half, so Wilma’s share is $12,899. This does not include the new 30” 30 foot culvert for Eagle Head Road or the grates to block beavers. Fornengo has completed the gates.

Alden recommends that in 2025 we brush all of our roads.

SNOWPLOWING FEES DUE Snowplowing for Private Drives in 2024-25:

Standard driveways, $100; Over 700’: $125/season; 1,000 ft. to ½ mile: $200; Over ½ mile, $375. At the annual town meeting in March, the voters approved moving the date up to October 3 of this year.  Paul did not get the notice on time so he emailed everyone with internet and will write to those on the list last year who he doesn’t have email addresses for.

Right of Way Permit for ECE: Michah J. Murry from Ecovillage on Tamarack Pine Drive: “We are trying to get electrical service down at the ponds, and ECE said the last thing they are waiting on is a permit from Wilma Township to cut in a new box on the right-of-way on Tamarack Pine Drive. The work order number is 202419004.” His application and Wilma’s ROW Policy (which passed in 2006 before Glen was on the board) was given to the board. We are holding $1,000 escrow for ECE. Mike moved to approve their application and to notify ECE; Glen seconded; passed. Glen said we need a new policy for future ECE requests. The clerk can approve them with consultation with the chair and notification of the road manager, so there isn’t a big delay until a board meeting. Mike so moved and Alden seconded; passed.

OLD BUSINESS: Township Websites: All Towns with websites must eventually change to the .gov address. Wilmatownship.com Site: We need to find a new provider/host by the end of our current contract with Aspire. Paul reported that Ervin Klienschmidt says he believes he can set up a site for us. Glen recommended another web-host, townweb: https://www.townweb.com/. Glen moved that we fill out the application to TownWeb.com and get a quote for creating and hosting a website for the town. Alden seconded, passed. Tammy Carlson has recommended Leslie Rosedahl who did her’s and several townships’ websites. https://rosedahlpublicaffairs.com/mat Ms. Rosedahl says, “If you just want the new domain to .gov, I can do that, but there is a cost. You can do that yourself; I can give you instructions. But you’d have to be pretty web-savvy to set it up. If you need a new website with a new host and a .gov address, I can also do that. Charge $1500 for website services, plus additional expenses to the township such as the domain name (website address) and site hosting with an estimated ongoing expense of approximately $250/year.” Sample website she has done: https://pinecitytownship.squarespace.com/home

NEW BUSINESS: Legislative and Research Fall Meeting 2024: Paul attended the meeting September 13, 2024 in St. Cloud, moderated by MAT Attorney Graham Berg-Moberg.   Graham researched and expanded Wilma’s resolution for the MAT to advocate with the state legislature for universal cell phone service, like we have for many years for universal broadband. Our resolution passed unanimously.

Every other resolution and issue impacted Wilma Township:   One, to monitor the transfer of public state lands to tribes, jeopardizing public access and PILT revenues. Many thousands of acres of state land have already been proposed to give to the White Earth Band and the Red Lake Band. This affects us because of the Lake Lena Reservation and Mille Lacs Bands which are very close to us.  Almost half of Wilma Township, sixteen sections, are all or mostly owned by the State as St. Croix Forest and MN Trust Land.  Like with the change of our state flag, we would have no vote. Mike said this is a very serious issue and we must continue to resist transfers of thousands of acres of public state land to the tribes. Paul said that MAT recognizes that this is a very sensitive issue and they are treading lightly, but it can seriously affect townships and public access.

Another resolution was for EMS services to be designated as essential services so EMS like Essentia can be reimbursed for lift assists and other responses that don’t require tranprtation.  These are not reimbursed now, and many township EMS services are going broke. Another, to change polling hours for township elections failed.

Township roads were still a big issue, with townships getting very little of the total state road and bridge budget, even though townships own and maintain 41% of all state roads, spending $380 million last year, but receiving only $42 million for all townships.

All of the MAT District Directors were there and most of them spoke. Photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Usp7dVD4ummbVa186

NEW BUSINESS: Couri&Ruppe 15^th Annual Township Legal Seminar: Will be this Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, Rutledge City Hall, 9 am – 4 pm, Free. Register at kathy@couriruppe.com. Paul, Mike and Alden plan to attend. We can get free legal advice from the attorneys.

Garbage Pickup: Mike said the trucks don’t go down Dollar Lake Road or Vink Road and the people have to bring their garbage out to the county road, which can cause wildlife to tear it up and scatter it. He asked Paul to contact the Board and ask them to go down all township roads. He said we need to bill them for the winter months for use of our hall and heat; they agreed to pay us $150 for winter. Paul will contact them.

November 5, 2024 Election: Need to appoint judges. Glen asked Paul who he recommends; Paul said he has to appoint Patrice and he’d like Cindy Kleinschmidt to judge. Mike moved to appoint Paul, Patrice and Cindy as judges; Alden seconded; passed.

Hazard Mitigation Plan : Pine County Emergency Management is commencing work on the update of the Pine County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP).  News release given to board. They ask us to post their news release and put it on the website to help notify the public about the plan update and to have an opportunity to provide feedback. Glen moved that Paul post the plan on the wilmatownship.com website. Alden seconded; passed.

Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting, Hinckley, Saturday, October 26: 9 a.m. At Hinckley Community Center. Any questions email PctaTreasurer@gmail.com Register at: PineCountyTownsips.com>login>register. Glen said all officers urged to attend.

MAT Annual Conference: Will be two days only (one night), December 13 & 14, at the River’s Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud.

November Meeting Change: The November meeting has been changed to the second Wednesday of November, the 13^th. Glen said he has another campground conference in December and will not be at the board meeting.

Wilma Fall Fest: Stefanie said Fallfest is October 19, 6 p.m. They have fliers and hope to get more children’s prizes. It’s our 117^th year as a town. Paul asked that they leave all the chairs and tables up after Fallfest for the Wanderers meeting Oct. 30. Mike moved that the Wanderers be allowed to use the hall with no fee; Alden seconded; passed.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills for October, $10,428.15, with transfer of $10,500. Mike moved to approve her report and transfer $$7,000 from savings to checking. Alden seconded; all aye. Passed.

Mike moved to adjourn; Alden seconded. Adjourned at 8:30.

Paul Raymond, Clerk