Clerk Paul Raymond called the meeting to order at 8:15, following the township election and the Board of Canvass. Ten citizens voted and Glen Williamson was re-elected Supervisor for three years and Paul Raymond was re-elected as Clerk for two years. Glen and Mike canvassed and approved the votes. Thirteen citizens attended the Annual Meeting: Mike McCullen, Glen Williamson, Patrice Winfield, Alden Shute, Kim Felton, Stan and Tracy Riley, Steve Menth, Bryan Vink, Derek Nelson, Logan Nelson, Nick Mattson and Paul Raymond.
Nominations for Moderator for the meeting: Mike nominated Nick Mattson; Glen seconded. No other nominations. Voice vote; Nick was elected and took the floor as moderator.
Paul read the record of the March 2021 Town Meeting. Glen moved to approve; Kim seconded; Approved.
Financial Statement: Patrice presented the 2021 Wilma Township Financial Statement. Patrice again broke down payroll and other compensation for officers to show what each officer is receiving in salary, and for other compensation like insurance, conferences, short courses, mileage, internet, and for judging elections. At the end of the year the township carried over a balance of $179,298.83 in all funds and CD’s. Balance starting 2021: $162,917.61; receipts in 2021: $66,779.56 total revenues; disbursements: $50,398.34. Mike made a motion to waiver reading of all checks. Steve seconded, passed. Stan moved to approve the report; Mike seconded, passed.
Road Report: Alden said the grader maintenance in 2021 was normal, with routine maintenance and greasing and oil changes, plus cutting edge.
Culverts: One on Dollar Lake Road; new culvert on Pete Anderson Road; one on Mayfield Road. Pit run put on Mayfield Road in low spot.
All township roads were mowed, and Alden said the board will have to make a decision whether to have it done again at the annual road inspection. If it is done, Alden said it should be later than June this year. There were some complaints about the mower being set too high because of rocks in the right-of-way. We had a beaver problem on Eagle Head Road again, but that has been mitigated for now. Alden has no major road projects planned for 2022, except spreading more gravel on Tamarack Pine Drive, pending the board doing the road inspection in May. Little Tamarack Lake Road has a problem with rocks coming up at the hill and he wants to put pit-run there and Class 5 over that.
Mike moved to approve his report; Patrice seconded.
LEVIES AND BUDGET FOR 2023: Township Funds: Paul said the Board is not recommending any increases in any of our funds or levies for 2023, and that the board has not increased taxes for at least a decade, yet we still have a balance of $179,000. Mike moved to waive the reading of checks in 2021; Patrice seconded. Mike moved to keep the funds and levies for 2023 as proposed: R&B, $16,000; Building Fund at $5,000; the Fire Fund at $4,500; the Park Fund at $100; and the General Fund at $10,000. Steve seconded; passed.
Wages for Reports, Moderator, Meetings, Judges, Mechanic, Grader Operator: The Board has final say on wages at the Board of Reorganization. No changes or increases proposed by the board for meetings, but a new $20/hour rate for General Labor and Mechanic Assistant, and an hourly rate increase for the Chairman to $24.50 and Supervisors $22; Clerk and Treasurer, $20; and election judges to $18. Mileage: Glen said we’ve always used the federal rate, which is $.58.5 for 2022. Patrice moved that we continue to follow federal guidelines; Kim seconded; passed.
Snowplowing: No change was proposed for standard driveways, $75. Over 700’: $100/season; 1,000 ft. to ½ mile: $175; Over ½ mile, $350. “Must have turnaround space. No closed gates. No overhanging trees that can hit the grader. Wilma Township not liable for inadvertent damages while plowing private drives. 2021-22 snowplowing fees due by Nov. 3, 2021.” Alden said two drives have obstructions and he will not plow them next year unless they are removed. Mike moved that snowplowing rates and policies remain the same for the 2022-23 season as this past season. Patrice seconded. Passed.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: The Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department is a separate organization from the Town of Wilma, but every year our citizens pay the fire department $4,500 for fire protection and medical responses. Chief Mike McCullen gave a report on responses and training drills in 2021 and on developments and status of the fire department, and projections for the future. We have three new firefighters who are taking the Firefighter 1 & 2 class to be certified. He said we had a relatively quiet year with a few structure fires. Our most critical need now is for volunteer responders and firefighters, especially in the satellite companies in Markville and Cloverton.
Wilma Fall Fest: Voters have authorized the town to sponsor this event every October since our 100th year, 2007, except for 2020 when COVID shut us down. Paul moved that the fund remain at $500 for 2022. Patrice seconded. Passed. We will hold it this year on the fourth Saturday, October 22rd and the Procrastinators are already booked but with a smaller band. We usually pay them $300.
Donations to Old School Art Center, Pine County Historical Museum, The Seven County Senior Federation and Family Pathways: In 2019 the voters voted to cap donations at $300 for all groups for the next 10 years. The Board of Supervisors has final authority on how to distribute these expenditures at the Board of Reorganization. Mike moved to continue the $300 total donations for 2021; Patrice seconded, passed.
Board of Reorganization: The Board will hold the Board of Reorganization to swear in Glen and to make decisions for the township on wages and notice and posting sites before the regular April 6th board meeting. Paul will be sworn in by another town clerk before the meeting. The two Supervisors and the Clerk will appoint Supervisor to replace Gary Vink. Board will designate a bank of deposit and where notices will be published or posted: Wednesday, April 6, 2022, before April board meeting.
Board of Appeal and Review: For taxpayers to appeal their property assessments for 2023 taxes, Monday April 11, 1 p.m., at the Town Hall. The county assessor and our assessor Bob Brewster will be there in person.
Set Meeting Place and Time for 2023 Annual Town Meeting: This is a formality, but is required. Patrice moved hold the next annual meeting the second Tuesday of March 2023 and to adjourn this meeting; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
