MINUTES:   12 December Regular Board meeting

Presented for approval at January 9, 2018 Board Meeting

 

December meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Michelle Meis with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Supervisors present include, John Paitl, Branden Mell and Tom McKenzie.   Also present was Clerk, Stan Iskierka and Treasurer, Mary Dillner. Not present Betsy Rising. 

Agenda (Additions or Changes) 

 

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

Approve Minutes 

                                                                           

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Mell to approve November Minutes with the correction on Old Business regarding Acacia Way drainage complaint to read;   Randy Kirschman from Acacia Way complained that a culvert that is on his property, which he recently purchased as well as a drainage pipe that goes across his property to the lake, 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 Kirschman at the time of the 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 Kirschman’ s property. The Nessel Township Board told Kirschman, that in the future, if water backs 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 the 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.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Mell to approve Treasurer’s Report. Approved. 

Bills

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

Belle Isle Overlay Project

  • Iskierka would like an approval to pay for the overlaying of asphalt on Belle Isle Dr. from County Road 1 to the large culvert. The cost was $75,636.62. 

Motion by McKenzie second by Mell to pay $75,636.62 for the overlay of Belle Isle Drive from County Road 1 to the large culvert.  Approved. 

Certificate of Deposit

  • Nessel Budget Committee:  Meis, Paitl, and Dillner met with a representative of Unity Bank to discuss a new type of Market–Linked Certificate of Deposit.
  • Board discussed investing some of the Township’s Certificate of Deposit that are earning very little interest and invest with a Market-Linked Certificate of Deposit instead. Interest on our CD earns about .1%, whereas the Market-Linked CD may earn 5% interest. Our principle would be protected against losses, when held to maturity. It would be a seven-year plan and portions of our investment would mature at different times. We could not draw any funds out of the plan for 25 months. Budget Committee recommended that we would invest $100,000 in this Market-Linked CD and the other Certificate of Deposits that the Township has could be a backup if there were an emergency.
  • Board will have to approve the amount to invest in a Market-Linked Certificate of Deposit. In addition, to approve Resolution 14-2017, the individuals named in the Resolution individually or in combination, are authorized to sell, assign and endorse for transfer of certificates.

Motion by Paitl second by Mell that the Township will invest $100,000 in the Market-Linked Certificate of Deposit and Resolution 14-2017 gives the Treasurer authorization with Board approval to sell, assign and endorse for transfer of certificates. Michelle Meis and John Paitl will be the alternates if needed. Approved. 

Belle Isle SSD

  • Questions from the Belle Isle residents about the condition of the portion of Belle Isle road that is under the Subordinate Service District. One problem regarded areas that are experiencing raveling. Greg Anderson, Engineer for SEH, stated that the contractor will place a fog seal in the areas that are experiencing the raveling in the spring and it is a cosmetic appearance. The other problem is the cracking on the edges of the road where heavy vehicles are driving and the road has no shoulders. Board wants the road to last as long as possible therefore something needs be done now to repair the spots that have the cracking.  Anderson recommended crack sealing and in a few years, it would need to have a chip sealing application. Board member thought it should be the responsibility of SSD to pay the cost to take care of the problems not the Township. Board member thought that there should be money left over from the construction of the road. The project cost was $221,979 and the cost of the construction was $195,834, which left $26,145 that the SSD could use for the repairs. The $26,145 could be lower because there was cost for engineering work that was not included towards the expense of the project. 

Maintenance Report

  • Repaired signs
  • Snowplowed and salted blacktop roads
  • Repaired wash out at Birch Ave in road

Budget Committee

  • Meis would like the Board to review the 2019 budget and discuss it at the January Board Meeting, as there will be a 2% increase from 2018 budget.

Policy Committee

  • Mell is reorganizing the Policy Book and will scan the documents for future changes.

Old Business

  • Deputy Clerk – An ad was published regarding the Deputy Clerk position but there were no responses, therefore Mell will place the ad in Craig’s list. Board could place an ad in any social media. 
  • Rush City & Braham City Fire Dept. – Rising, McKenzie and Iskierka will meet with the the two cities on December 13, 2017 to notify them about the change of the fire protection line that will start in 2019.
  • Audit – Reminder of the 2018 Audit of the Township Expenditures of 2017 at 6:30 pm on January 9, 2017. Iskierka will place the ad in the paper to notify the residents of the audit.
  • Park Shelter – McKenzie has a donation from the Rush Lake Association of $5,000 for the park shelter. He would like to proceed with the plans to build the shelter but he will need the Board’s approval to proceed as well as approval for $100 as payment for Menards to draw up a plan and estimate the cost for materials.      

Motion by McKenzie second by Mell to proceed in getting a plan and cost of the park shelter and $100 for payment of a shelter plan with Menards.  Approved.

New Business

  • Shared Road – Royalton Township sent a Shared Road Agreement between Royalton and Nessel Township that concerns joint maintenance of 540th St.  Nessel already has a written agreement with Royalton with the same statement but it follows the Minnesota Association of Townships Model Road Agreement.  Board will look at it and have a recommendation at the January meeting. 
  • Election Equipment– Iskierka will have a meeting at the County to see how the new electronic equipment works for elections.
  • Grading and Material Cost – Mell put together a spreadsheet with the cost of grading and what it would cost for asphalt and explained the pay back. 
  • Broadband – Mell would like to find cost of installing broadband through the whole  Township, as it would be a faster speed with internet than what Nessel Township has now.  Iskierka will look into getting a grant to help pay for the cost of installing broadband.

Motion by McKenzie seconded by Paitl to adjourn at 9:30 pm.   Approved.