Minutes: April 9, 2019 Regular Board Meeting
Presented for approval at the May 14, 2019 Board Meeting
April meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Michelle Meis with the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisors present included, Brandon Mell, Betsy Rising, John Paitl, and Jared Landon. Also present were Clerk Stan Iskierka, Treasurer Mary Dillner and Deputy Clerk Kelli Storck.
Agenda (Additions or Changes)
- Additions to new business:
- Decision Making
- Tracking Hours
Motion by Paitl seconded by Landon to approve Agenda. Approved.
Approve Minutes
Motion by Landon seconded by Rising to approve March Minutes. Approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Motion by Paitl seconded by Rising to approve Treasurer’s Report. Approved.
Bills
Motion by Landon seconded by Paitl to approve paying bills. Approved.
Liquor License
- Flickabirds Resort
- Rush Point Store
- Grumpy Minnow
- Rush Lake Resort
Motion by Landon Seconded by Rising to approve Resolution 3-2019 Liquor License renewal with an amendment to exclude Rush Lake Resort until they submit their renewal paperwork. Approved.
Open Forum
- Fish Lake Twp – Fish Lake Twp Road Supervisors, Cory Johnson and Bruce Fitzwater would like to discuss a maintenance schedule with Nessel Twp for our joint-maintenance Blue Herron Trail road, in hopes of saving both Townships money.
Tabled until after Nessel Twp completes their Road Tour and then we can discuss setting up at meeting.
A resident asked and/or commented the following:
- Sand – Is it possible for the Township to get sand? He stated that other townships have 3-bins; trap rock, salt and sand. He stated that whatever we are putting down is not working. The resident would like the Board to consider adding another bin and get pure salt.
- Propane in the Garage – The resident does not think that the Township should pay to heat the garage for a subcontractor. Clerk Iskierka explained that the previous Board approved this so that it would be more efficient and cost effective for when there is a snowfall.
- Telephone and Internet Cost – The resident would like an explanation on the $384.00 telephone and internet cost for March. It was explained that the Clerk gets 50% of his home internet paid for because the Town Hall does not currently have internet and also, that part of this amount was for the cost of the website. This will be brought to the attention of our Treasurer to possibly add “website” to the “Telephone & Internet” description under the General Fund Disbursements.
- Picnic Shelter – The resident asked how does the use of the picnic area work? It was explained that it typically is rented, but if there is not anyone using it, then anyone can use it. If you rent the picnic area, then we give you the grid to use the grill.
- Fire Area – It was explained to the resident how the Board came about making the decision to re-district our fire zones.
Maintenance Report
- Unplugged culverts and road washouts
- Cut ice and salted roads
- Plowed and salted tar roads
- Cleaned up garbage and tires from the road
- Hauled gravel to fix road washouts
Motion by Paitl seconded by Landon to approve the maintenance report. Approved.
Road Committee
- Anchor – Residents are concerned about the condition of Anchor Road and also asked what the future maintenance plans are, if any. Mell asked if we can overlay Anchor? Mell asked the residents that live on Anchor, if they were interested in a Subordinate District. They stated they missed that opportunity (County paying for some of it), because the residents did not have enough support from the other residents on Anchor Road. A resident stated that he did not think they should go back to gravel and believes that it is mostly Fish Lake Township residents that use the road. The Anchor Road residents are also concerned about the speed that vehicles are traveling on the road. John Sutcliffe stated that the road is not an asphalt road, but is actually an auto-seal road, which is basically gravel with oil. Board will talk to Joe Triplett about what the County’s opinion is on overlaying the auto-seal, grinding it, or what our options are. This will be discussed further before the road tour is completed. The Road Committee will report to the Township Board and it will be discussed at future Board Meetings.
- Compensation – Landon asked what the policy is for wage compensation and was concerned that it was not voted on or previously approved. The policy states that the Vice Chair on the Road Committee will be compensated an additional $50.00 a month. The Treasurer will be notified of this.
Contract Committee
- Muddy Gap Hollow Inc. Contract – The Maintenance Contract expires August 12, 2019. The contract is written that “The Township may extend for a 3rd option year as long as we provide written notice to the contractor on or before May 1, 2019.” Board approval is needed for Iskierka to provide written notice to the contractor that we intend to extend for a year.
Motion by Rising seconded by Paitl to extend Muddy Gap Hollow an additional year for maintenance services. Approved.
- Contract Increase – The contract includes language for escalation and it is written that it is 2% or it’s the Consumer Price Index for Minneapolis for the previous year. The 2018 Consumer Price Index for Minneapolis/St. Paul is 1.4 percent index. This will be put on the Agenda for the May meeting to discuss the contract price sheet which would go into effect on August 13, 2019.
- Braham Fire – Mell asked the residents at the meeting if it was their assumption that Braham Fire Department wanted to renegotiate their contract. The residents thought that they did. Our current contract with Rush City Fire Department expires in December 2020. This is something that can be discuss before the December 2020 contract expires.
Old Business
- Board of Appeal – Reminder that the Board of Appeal meeting will be held at Nessel Township on April 16th at 9:30 am.
New Business
- Lawn Service – The 2019 contract for lawn service is the same price as last year which is the rate of $65.00 for each time.
Motion by Landon seconded by Paitl to approve the L & L Lawn Service contract for the 2019 season. Approved.
- Gravel – Approval needed to advertise in the paper for quotes for gravel.
Motion by Mell seconded by Paitl to place the ad in the paper for gravel quotes. Approved.
- Dust Control – The Cost for dust control is going up. The Township will pay 10-percent of the cost for dust control and will also pay for dust control cost for the heavy traffic (major) intersections.
Motion by Rising seconded by Mell to place an ad in the paper for dust control. Approved.
- Resolution Supervisor Contract – Approval needed to approve Resolutions 04-2019 and 05-2019 Authorization Contract with Interested Officer.
Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve the Resolution 05-2019 Authorization Contract with Interested Officer John Paitl. Approved.
Motion by Mell seconded by Rising to approve the Resolution 04-2019 Authorization Contract with Interested Office Jared Landon. Approved.
- Decision Making – Landen brought to the Boards attention that per State Statute, the Township can be fined if the Clerk makes decisions that should be done by the Road Committee. If the Clerk gets a phone call regarding the roads, the Clerk will be required to refer them to the Road Committee. The Board also has to approve the ordering of culverts.
- Tracking Hours – Landon requested that we come up with a better system for tracking Board Committee hours. Landon suggested that each committee’s hours should be accounted for, including the first 20-hours that are expected. Mell stated that he does not see in the policy where it states expected hours. Mell recalls that it was talked about in the past, but was never documented in the policy. The tracking of hours will be added to the Policy Committee agenda for the May meeting.
Motion by Landon seconded by Rising to adjourn at 8:30 pm. Approved.