CLERK’S RECORD OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026 WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF AUDIT AND SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

Chair Mike McCullen called the continuation of the Board of Audit to order at 7:30 pm. with the Pledge. Also present, Supervisors Alden Shute and Maureen Rioux, Clerk Paul Raymond, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, J. Micah Murray, Daniel Calder, and Clay Heller, Jr.

BOARD OF AUDIT: Paul and Patrice corrected, coordinated and cross-checked their books before the audit. All three Supervisors checked and compared the records and signed off on their Schedule 1. The books of the Treasurer and Clerk matched perfectly. Patrice turned over the old township laptop to Paul for a backup for his CTAS in case his computer goes down with all the CTAS records.

Proposed Budget and Levies for 2027 to present to voters at Annual Meeting. The Board voted to approve the Clerk’s proposed budget. Only increase is Fire Fund, from $4,500 to $10,000 due to new contract with Duxbury VFD for fire and medical responses. Total levy proposed: $41,000. Board of Audit adjourned.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING: Mike called the board meeting to order with the ground rules as adopted, to maintain respect and decorum.

Clerk’s Report of February 4 Board Meeting. Paul read the report; Alden said he did plow a few roads in January. With this change, he moved to approve the report; Maureen seconded; passed.

ROAD REPORT: No major plowing. Alden did plow the north and west roads with school children, since the school bus was having issues with Vink Road. He replowed Heller Drive and the cul-de-sac on Lost River Road. He said Daniel may be needed for some road work soon.

Dumping: Alden said someone dumped a pile of a dozen tires at the end of Short Road. He does plow this road. We will have to have them moved to the Pine City dump.

Glen’s Tire Account: Alden and Patrice worked on an application to open an account with Glen’s tire to make it easier for them to be paid.

OLD BUSINESS: Township Day At The Capitol: Was Monday, March 2. Report packets given to board. Paul’s report: Paul spent time with Rep. Nathan Nelson and in Senator Jason Rarick’s office. Both were asked about the investigations into massive fraud in Minneapolis and other cities. Jason’s wife, Rep. Marion Rarick is a main lobbyist in D.C. on exposing the fraud. She fell in Washington and had a concussion and is still recovering. Wilma’s main advocacy at the MAT event and with our representatives is still about rural areas being underserved or not served with cell phone reception. MAT passed our resolution at the 2024 Annual Conference to add this to the advocacy of the association.

Jason and Nathan both said they are working with MN Dot to get them to allow cell phone repeaters or antennas on the tower. MAT Attorneys and lobbyists also meet with MNDot and said they will ask about it. They aren’t too optimistic.

House GOP leader Harry Niska was asked if the GOP takes the house and senate if they can get the flag changed back. Some cities and townships have said they will not fly the new flag. DFL Rep. Brad Tabke advocated for stricter gun control, citing the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. Paul asked what gun law could have prevented this and he had no answer. MAT’s full-time lobbyist at the Capitol, Shep Harris said he is busy advocating for transportation funding for townships, and for increased state aid. In 2023, townships got $9 million in state aid, and cities got $564 million. If townships got the per capita as cities, we would get $103.5 million. MAT is advocating for property tax rebates. Also to exempt townships from paid leave.

The whole MAT staff were there, Attorneys Fenske, Cash and Graham-Moberg, and the director and many district directors.  They said if it weren’t for MAT, the Senate and House would ignore township issues as if we don’t exist.

Contact info: Senator Jason Rarick, Capitol Office, 95 University Avenue W., Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 3413 St. Paul, MN 55155. 651-296-1508 E-mail: sen.jason.rarick@mnsenate.gov.

Rep. Nathan Nelson (R) District: 11B 2nd Floor Centennial Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-0518; Toll Free: 800-704-8185 E-mail: rep.nathan.nelson@house.mn.gov

NEW BUSINESS: Wilma Township Election, will be Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Alden and Paul are up for re-election and both filed, along with Steve Menth for Supervisor. The board appointed Patrice , Cindy Klienschmidt and Stefanie Williamson to serve as judges, from 5 to 8 p.m. All are trained. Ervin Kleinschmidt is trained as backup. Absentee Ballot Board: We are required to have a Board of Absentee Ballots to open and verify any absentee ballots. Two judged required; The board appointed Patrice and Cindy to serve as the ABB. Per Auditor: “You need to meet periodically through the absentee period to accept or reject them within 5 days. Within 2 weeks of the election, that decreases to 3 days.”

Board of Canvass and Annual Town Meeting: The annual meeting will follow the election after the supervisors canvass and approve the vote totals. All citizens can vote for their levies for 2027. Mike asked what happens if the citizens vote no levies? Paul said they can do that, but we have a lot of money to keep functioning. Wilma citizen taxes account for about half of our annual revenues, [$36,500 out of $66,000 last year.] Micah asked what the duties of the moderator are and what is the agenda if he should be elected moderator. Mike said just to keep order and allow everyone to speak. Paul will send him the agenda.

Board of Reorganization: To swear in newly elected officers and set wages, bank and posting sites for 2026. Usually done before the April Board Meeting.

Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting: Will be Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Hinckley Community Center in Hinckley, 9:00a.m. There will be an election of board members. The record of the October 28 meeting was finally posted. It will likely not be read at the meeting so should be read online.

Website: https://pinecountytownships.com/ The board decided that township officers who are also paid officers of the PCTOA cannot also be paid by the township for the meeting, when they are already paid by the PCTOA.

Assessor, Board of Review and Equalization: Wilma will have no Board of Review this year; we have to have open book meetings this year, and we can apply to hold them again in our hall by February 1, 2027 for the 2027 board of review. There will be an open book meeting for the northern tier townships including Wilma at the Pine County Government Center in Sandstone on Thursday, April 23^rd at 2:30 Mike and Maureen are trained. Alden can get training at: Board of Appeal and Equalization Training website.

Spring Short Course at Blackbear Casino, Friday, April 3. Federal mileage rate now $ .725/mile. We usually carpool.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the treasurer’s report. Total bills for March., $2,873.28. Total to transfer from savings to checking $3,000. Maureen moved to approve the report and make the transfer; Alden seconded. Mike moved to adjourn the meeting. Maureen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:30.

Paul Raymond, Clerk