Clerk Paul Raymond called the meeting to order at 8:15, following the township election and the Board of Canvass. 35 citizens voted and Maureen Rioux was elected Supervisor for three years and Patrice Winfield was re-elected as treasurer for two years. Glen, Mike, and Alden canvassed and approved the vote; 10 citizens signed in on the sheet at Annual Meeting: Mike McCullen, Maureen Rioux, Glen Williamson, Stefanie Williamson, Cindy Kleinschmidt, Patrice Winfield, Clay Heller, Alden and Lori Shute, and Paul Raymond.
Approve Ground Rules: Nominations for Moderator for the meeting: Paul nominated Cindy Kleinschmidt; Mike seconded. Cindy elected and took the gavel as moderator. Cindy asked for a motion to approve some basic ground rules for the meeting: Citizens must raise their hand to speak; No interuptions; If a speaker asks question of another person, they can answer but speaker holds the floor; Maintain respect and decorum. Paul moved to adopt the groundrules; Maureen seconded. Passed. Cindy annouced the results of the Board of Canvass of the election: For Supervisor, Maureen Rioux, 19 votes; Glen Williamson, 16 votes. For Treasurer, Patrice Winfield, 34 votes.
Paul read the record of the March 12, 2024 Town Meeting. Mike moved to approve; Maureen seconded; Approved.
Financial Statement: Patrice presented the 2024 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 $200,006.85 in all funds and CD’s. Balance starting 2024: $202,285.74; receipts in 2024: $67,006.58 total revenues; disbursements: $69,285.47.
Paul moved to approve her report; Mike seconded, passed.
Road Report: Alden gave the Road Report. Little Tamarack Lake Road: The big job for 2024 was putting redrock gravel on the beginning part of Little Tamarack Lake Road where the first 8th mile was all rock, up to the landing, which is now very nice. For 2025, one big project will be improving the rest of Little Tamarack Lake Road, 8-10 loads, and adding more to McCullen Drive. Alden wants all roads brushed this summer. Tamarack Pine Drive: There is a bad spot at Maureen’s driveway that will get 2 loads of red-rock gravel. The town board road inspection will be in May and projects will be prioritized and decided on then. There were still some beaver problems on Eagle Head Road and Alden said he is working on a permanent solution. He replaced the culvert and installed grates made by New Dosey Township. The problems have been somewhat alleviated, but beavers aren’t out yet.
Heller Drive Cement Culvert: The board will inspect it for cracks and Mike and Alden will trim the trees by the culvert.
LEVIES AND BUDGET FOR 2026: Township Funds: Paul said the Board is not recommending any increases in any of our funds or levies for 2026, and that the board has not increased taxes for at least a decade.
Park Fund: There was a discussion on the Wilma Town Park, the 40 acre section where the old school house is next to Eagle Head Station, minus the school and EagleHead property. Last year there was a discussion on clearing the park site and graveling it for a parking lot to hold 8-10 cars. Duane Glienke said he is not interested in removing the trees and stumps. Clay said it would cost us $10,000 to remove the trees and stumps for a parking/picnic area. Several spoke against spending town funds on the park. Mike said we’d need insurance and some facilities. Mike said if we develop the park we could have issues with partiers and drinking. Any township resident can take deadfall for firewood.
Glen moved to keep the funds and levies for 2026 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. Alden 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 are proposed by the board for meetings or labor. Mileage: We’ve always used the federal rate, which is $.70 for 2025. Alden moved that the board accept the suggested wages and rates for 2025; Lori seconded. Passed.
Snowplowing: No change for 2025-6 season, standard driveways, $100.; over 700’: $125/season; 1,000 ft. to ½ mile: $200; Over ½ mile, $375. “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. 2025-26 snowplowing fees due by October 1, 2025.
Township Website, Wilmatownship.com: Wilma Township has a website open to the public, wilmatownship.org, which is one of our three official posting sites along with the Evergreen and Pine County News. Township meeting and financial records and notices for the past half-dozen years are on the site. Glen gave his wilmatownship.com site to the township, and Ervin Kleinschmidt is the web-master now. He says it will cost the town about $200 per year. It will eventually change to wilmatownship.org.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Chief Nick Mattson was not at the meeting. Paul said we just purchased a used tanker from Hinckley Fire, which is too large for the Duxbury Fire Hall and is now parked in Markville. It pumps water, the the department will drill with it soon. We still badly need volunteers.
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. Glen moved that the fund be set at $300 for 2025. Clay seconded. Passed. The date is October 18, 3rd Saturday.
Donations to 210 Art Galery, 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. No vote was needed.
Board of Reorganization: The Board will hold the Board of Reorganization to swear in Patrice and to make decisions for the township on wages and notice and posting sites before the regular April 2 board meeting. The Clerk will swear in Maureen after the one-week contest period, March 18. The board will designate a bank of deposit and where notices will be published or posted: Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7:30.
Board of Appeal and Review: For taxpayers to appeal their property assessments for 2026 taxes, Monday April 14, 1 p.m., at the Town Hall. The county assessor and our assessor and our town assessor will be there in person.
Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting: Will be Saturday, March 29, 9 am at the Community Center, Hinckley. Scheduled or invited speakers: Jason Rarick, Nathan Nelson, Commissioners Hallan, Mohr, Walden, Nelson, and Ludwig; Auditor Schroeder; Attorney Frederickson; Sheriff Nelson; Co. Engineer LeBrun; Assessor Houtsma; Hospital Dist. Fischer; DNR Officer Karon; Veterans Mindy Sandell; MAT Director Carlson; MilleLacs Band Ojibwe Curt Kalk. Election of Board Members.
Spring Short Course for Officers: Live in-person MAT Short Course will be in Duluth at the DECC on Friday, April 4. We will try to car pool. Sessions for new officers, for clerks, treasurers and supervisors.
Set Meeting Place and Time for 2026 Annual Town Meeting: This is a formality, but is required. Alden moved hold the next annual meeting the second Tuesday of March 2025 (March 10) and to adjourn this meeting; Paul seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m
Paul Raymond, Clerk