MINUTES:   14 November Regular Board meeting

Presented for approval at December 12, 2017 Board Meeting

 

November meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Michelle Meis with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Supervisors present include, John Paitl, Betsy Rising, Branden Mell and Tom McKenzie.   Also present was Clerk, Stan Iskierka and Treasurer, Mary Dillner. 

Agenda (Additions or Changes) 

 

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Rising to approve Agenda.  Approved. 

Approve Minutes 

                                                                           

Motion by Rising seconded by McKenzie to approve October Minutes with the correction to read:  Board decided not to place no parking signs on Alpine Ave. but to install posts with reflectors in that area. This is in the Maintenance report.  Approved.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Motion by Paitl seconded by Rising to approve Treasurer’s Report. Approved. 

Bills

Motion by Rising seconded by McKenzie to approve paying bills. Approved.

  • Dillner met with a member at Unity Bank to discuss a new investment that Nessel Township could use in investing the Township funds. It is similar to a CD but it will attain a market rate of return while preserving and protecting the Township funds and could mean a higher interest rate on Township investments.  The Budget Committee will meet at Unity Bank on Thursday 11-16-2017 at 9:00 am. 
  • Mell would like to know the cost per foot on the new bituminous roads for Alpine Ave and Belle Isle Rd. Iskierka will furnish this information ASAP. 

Alpine Ave. North Subordinate Service District

  • Alpine Ave. N. Subordinate Service District’s first payment of $128,699.75 for their bituminous road was approved by the Board. Five percent is retained until next spring ($6773.67).  

 

Maintenance Report

  • Graded various roads
  • Snowplowed blacktop roads
  • Unplugged culvert
  • Removed tree in road
  • Picked up garage
  • Mowed ditches
  • Sutcliffe would like to know who would contact him when snow plowing is needed. Board discussed the question and made the following motion.

Motion by Mell second by Rising that Muddy Gap Hollow seek approval from a Road Committee Member prior to snow plowing and if he cannot reach a Road Committee Member he should use his own discretion when to snow plow.  Approved.   

Open Forum

   

  • Resident from Almond Ave would like more gravel installed. Board will check the road in spring. 

Road Committee

  • Rising sent a letter to Rock Creek City that Nessel Township does not replace culverts in driveways.
  • Traffic Control – McKenzie suggested installing no parking signs on the pond side of Clover Trail. When Flickabirds has an event, cars would only be able to park on one side keeping the road open for emergency vehicle. He will check with the County Sheriff if they would enforce this project. 

Policy Committee

  • Mell would like to work on the Policy Book on Wednesday November 22 at 1:00 pm. along with Rising, and Iskierka. 

 

Old Business

  • Acacia Way – Randy Kirschman from Acacia Way complained that a culvert is on the property that he recently purchased as well as a drainage pipe that goes across his property to the lake and would like it removed. The drainage pipe has been in the ground for many years and it drains the property above his property, the previous owner did not disclose the existence of this underground drainage system to Kirshman at the time of purchase. If Randy now plugs up the culvert or drainage pipe system, the water may back up and flood his neighbor’s land and sewer system. Some of this drainage system is on Township property (the culvert under the road specifically) and Kirschman worked on it without a permit or permission from the Board. The Board decided not to move the culvert or pay to install a drainage system across Kirshman’s property. The Nessel Township board told Kirschman that in the future, if water backed up in the culvert, the township has the right to work on the culvert within the road right of way to allow proper drainage through the culvert. The fact that he altered the existing drainage system on his property does not change the Townships responsibility to maintain its culvert and the flow of water through that culvert.  The Township is responsible to maintain the flow of water through its culvert and will do so even if that means opening up the end of the culvert within the road right of way that he buried without approval from the Township

 

  • Advertise for Deputy Clerk – Iskierka placed an ad in the paper for a Deputy Clerk with no response for the position. He contacted two residents that may be willing to accept the Deputy Clerk position and will arrange to interview them along with the Board after the Thanksgiving Holiday.
  • Braham Fire Dept. – Iskierka explained that a change in the fire line boundaries would improve the response time and the cost could go down by moving the Braham fire line. Six sections on the south west side of Nessel Township would be transferred to the Rush City Fire Dept. 
  • Iskierka read Resolution 13-2017 stating that the Township Board discussed and approved the change in the fire protection boundaries lines of the two cities as indicated on the map. 

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Paitl to change the Fire Protection line in Nessel Township. Approved.

  • Belle Isle Subordinate Service District – Bell Isle road has surface rocks showing in different areas. The SEH Engineer will have Hardrives contractor place a seal coating in the areas that need the coating. Some of the residents have complained about asphalt edges breaking off also. Iskierka will try to get Greg Anderson, SEH Engineer, to come to our December meeting and he may have some suggestions on how to fix the edges of the asphalt, who will pay for the work, what type of seal coating and the distance that Hardrives will place on the road.
  • Board will need some type of plan to fix the problems and whatever work is needed will be done in the spring of 2018.
  • Branden Mell Campground – There was discussion about the Conditional Use Permit for dust control and what would be fair. County has requested the Board to draft a permit as to what the Township wants the County to enforce. 

  

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Paitl that Branden Mell campground is responsible for dust control from Bayview Ave to Clover Trail on 500 St, minus the first 1000 feet of 500 St.  This will commence on the first day of occupancy of the campground. Approved.

New Business

  • 2019 Budget – Board needs to work on the 2019 budget. Meis, Paitl, Dillner and Iskierka need to check their calendar to work on the budget. 
  • Park Fund –McKenzie discussed building a park shelter on the west side of the Town Hall. He stated that the County is holding $15,600 for the Nessel Township Park Fund and this can be used for the park shelter. He is also checking with the Rush Lake Association and Sno Bugs Snowmobile Club to see if they would contribute money for this park. The park shelter would be 30 ft.by 40 ft. with a concrete floor. McKenzie will continue working on the cost for the park shelter.
  • Snowplowing Policy – Iskierka would like approval for the snowplowing policy and then he will place the ad in the paper.  He also needs approval of a letter that will be mailed to 

non-compliance residents. 

Motion by Rising seconded by Paitl to approve the snow plowing policy to be placed in the paper and approve the letter to mail to non-compliance residents when needed.

  • 2017 Audit- Reminder that an Audit of Township Funds will be held at 6:30 pm before the regular Township Meeting in January. 

Motion by Rising seconded by McKenzie to adjourn at 10:00 pm. Carried.