WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Unapproved Record

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisor Mike McCullen, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Grader Operator Alden Shute and Cindy Kleinschmidt from the Vink Road.

Meeting Record: Paul read the record of the October board meeting. Mike moved to approve; Glen seconded.

ROAD REPORT: The culvert on Pete Anderson is done and pit run was laid and leveled on the South Duncan Road. We had a complaint about a deep ditch on the Pete Anderson Road where a property owner couldn’t access his land. He put some pallets in the ditch for a bridge. Mike said the township does not do private culverts, but he needs to put a culvert in to make a driveway. Alden said it has to be laid at the bottom of the ditch and needs to be at least 20′ long and 12” wide if he plans to bring a trailer across. There isn’t good drainage there. Alden said to tell him the Hinckley Trailer Sales has culverts, but his best option is to hire Summerland to do it professionally. Paul will write to him.

OLD BUSINESS: Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting: Was Saturday, October 24 at at the Community Center in Hinckley. Decent turnout, considering COVID fears. 44 Township officers attended, plus speakers. Paul gave the supervisors a written report of the speakers.

^{NEW BUSINESS: WILMA TOWNSHIP SNOWPLOWING: 2020-21 snowplowing fees were due tonight, Nov. 4, 2020.}

^{General Election: Was yesterday, Tuesday, November 3, for President, Senator, and State representatives, judges, and County Commissioner. Wilma had 56 voters out of 61 registered voters. Paul, Patrice and Glen judged. Wilma totals for President: 35 Trump, 19 Biden; for Senator: Lewis 34, Smith 18; for District 8 Rep: Stauber 36, Nystrom 16; State Senator: Rarick 37, Lee 17; for state Representative: Nelson 38, Frechette 16; for County Commissioner: Lovgren 19, Chaffee 26. Terry Lovgren was elected Commissioner, and Stauber, Rarick and Nelson were all re-elected.}

^{Wilmatownship.com postings: Wilmatownship.com postings: The website moderator, Glen, was opposed to giving Paul access to Wilma Township website because he would post non related materials on the site, and without the approval of the town board.  Paul said he thought that Glen had agreed to add Deputy Clerk Stefanie Rahn as a site administrator to work directly with the Clerk and the Treasurer to post meeting records and notices and monthly financial reports expeditiously, but Glen said he did not say that. Paul said he would not, and that Glen would still have control and could delete anything he didn’t approve. Everything on the township website is already provided by Paul and no one else. Paul also sends out the unapproved minutes to those he thinks need it.. Paul does not charge an annual fee for providing all the material for the website. Mike said that’s part of the clerk’s job, but Paul said it is not. Paul gave a report on the website for this year showing that it sometimes took weeks from when he sent Glen the reports to when they finally appeared on the website. Glen said he has always posted the minutes in a timely manner and has been doing that since 2006.  Paul acknowledged that for years, he never checked the website and only recently started doing do. Paul said he has had complaints from citizens wondering where the records were and thinking it was the clerk’s fault that they did not get posted in a timely fashion. Glen said because Paul asked to be added that he will increase his rate to the town from $300, because he has not raised the web site rate for 14 years, because of his commitment to Wilma Township.  In fact, that was the original rate, when the website was set up in 2006.  Glen also pointed out that in 2006 the Supervisors rate has gone from $35 per meeting to $100 per meeting, but his website rate has stayed the same.  The reason he would have to charge more, is because the website would need to be modified to allow others to use the site, without destroying it. He said he should also get $10 a month for the internet like the clerk and treasurer do. Mike said that Gary has never approved the website and he also doesn’t see its value, but without Gary at the meeting, nothing can be done at this meeting and he moved to table the issue. Glen said Paul should contact Bob Brewster who does Arna’s website (ArnaTownship.org) and that he should compare his website work to his. Cindy Klienschmidt said her husband is an IT director and may have some advice.}  

^{Broad band Internet: Pat Story said the Border to Border Broadband Development Grant Program was created in 2014 with the legislative focus to provide state resources for new and existing providers to invest in building broadband infrastructure into unserved and underserved areas of the state. In the 2019 legislative session, $20 million was appropriated for each of the next two years. Pat said they supposedly contacted Wilma Township about this program, but no one on the board knew about it. Centurylink did put fiber-optic cable in part of our township, but they said they ran out of money to go further. Pat is served by a cable from River Cabin Road under a beaver pond and he has terrible speeds for internet. He asked if there is anything the township could do to get improved internet for him. Paul agreed to do some research and contact the Minnesota Economic Development to see if there is anything they can do for Pat. Paul also can contact Rep. Nathan Nelson and Sen. Jason Rarick.}

^{2020 MAT Educational Conference and Annual Meeting: All sessions will be virtual by Zoom for two days of meetings and trainings: Friday, November 20 Breakout Rooms, 4 pm to 7:30 pm, three rooms with three classes (CTAS, Township Succession; Winter equipment; Workers’ Comp; Noxious Weeds; Cartways; Mediating Conflicts). (Schedule in Fall Township Insider). Saturday, Gov. Walz, speaker; business meeting. No charge to participate with Zoom, but officers have to register online. MAT’s website, www.mndtownships.org will have links to register. Discussion of whether it should be paid as a half-day meeting or by the hour. Mike moved that anyone who joins the meeting be paid their hourly rate and are expected to take notes to give a report to the board.}

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Patrice gave the November treasurer’s report (attached). Total bills for $5,260.22 and she wants to transfer $5,200 from savings to checking. Mike moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds; Glen seconded. Glen moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned 8:45 p.m.

Report by Paul Raymond _________________________________

Attest: Glen Williamson, Chair______________________________

WILMA TOWNSHIP  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Also present: Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, and Grader Operator Alden Shute.

              Meeting Record:  Paul read the record of the September board meeting.  Mike moved to approve; Gary seconded.

            ROAD REPORT:  Alden said all brushing and gravel projects have been done.  The brushers did a poor job so Alden made them do part of it all over again.  Pit run got put down on Heller Drive and on Little Tamarack Lake Road.  The culvert on Mayfield Road is completed by Hopkins Gravel.  Sommerland will do the one on the Pete Anderson Road. Alden didn’t get an estimate for mowing as vs. brushing, but he will.  He said if we mow the rights of way every year we won’t have to brush them so often. Projects still to be completed are the culvert on Pete Anderson and pit run on South Duncan Road.

            NEW BUSINESS:   Pine County Township Officers’ Meeting:  Will be Saturday, October 24 at 9 am at the Community Center in Hinckley, across the tracks from the Legion.  We need to get the key on the Friday before from the Hinckley City hall, and set up chairs.  Wilma will provide the sanitizing station and masks.  Guidelines will be posted and announced. Glen is arranging speakers, including candidates for the fall election.  Gary will need a ride.         

            WILMA TOWNSHIP SNOWPLOWING:  2020-21 snowplowing fees due by Nov. 4, 2020. Must have turnaround space and no overhanging trees.  No closed gates. Alden said there are no problem driveways this year.

            General Election:   Will be Tuesday, November 3, for President, Senator, and State representatives, judges, and County Commissioner.  Polls open from 10 a.m. To 8 p.m.  Paul, Patrice and Gary will judge. 

             Treasurer’s Report and Claims:   Patrice gave the October treasurer’s report (attached).  Total bills for $9,958.50 and she wants to transfer $10,000 from savings to checking.   Gary moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds; Glen seconded.   Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned 8:15 p.m.

 Report by Paul Raymond _________________________________

Attest:  Glen Williamson, Chair______________________________

WILMA TOWNSHIP  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

Chairman Glen Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Also present: Supervisors Mike McCullen and Gary Vink, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Pat Story, Suzanne Story, and Grader Operator Alden Shute.

              Meeting Record:  Paul read the record of the August 5th board meeting.  Mike moved to approve; Gary seconded.

            ROAD REPORT:  Alden said all gravel projects have been done: Three loads of red-rock gravel on Heller Drive; 3 loads on Crooked Lake Road, and 2 loads on the cul-de-sac of Lost River Road. He ditched South Duncan Road and said that the Sauter Loggers plan to put in their landing/driveway for their logging project. They already paid into the escrow.

            Road Brushing and Mowing:  All roads will be brushed, maybe as soon as Friday, and then every 3 years after that.  Alden said he heard from citizens that we ought to keep our roads mowed annually like the county does, and not just the tri-annual brushing. Mike said we need to let the voters have an input on this at the annual meeting next March and that Alden should get the cost for a mowing contractor, either by the hour or by the mile. We have 15 miles of roads. 

            OLD BUSINESS:   Pressure Wash Hall:   Project completed.  We won’t need a complete paint job for awhile. Paul scraped and touched up peeling areas.  Some trim boards in back need repair. Mike said he had authorized Paul at the August meeting to do touch-up scraping and painting where the paint has peeled and he wanted it on the record that Paul had permission.   

            NEW BUSINESS:  Elections CARES Funding:   The state of Minnesota is requiring a specific format agreement between the County and the Cities/Townships regarding the Election CARES funding.  This is the funding that was used to purchase all the COVID-related supplies that were sent out at the primary election.  The State wants formal agreements from each City/Township before they will release the funds.  Glen moved that Paul be designated as the township representative and to sign the contract; Mike seconded; passed.

             CTAS Discrepancies:  Paul asked the board  to review the Clerk’s Cash Control Statements from December, 2019 through July, 2020.  At the end of the year, Patrice and Paul had total agreement on funds and balances, but starting in 2020, the clerk’s beginning balance did not match the 12/31/19 ending balance, and every month he has had different totals from Patrice.  They are very small differences, but it would take Paul a long time to go through all the statements and find the error, or the program’s error. The ending and beginning balances should always agree.  Paul requested that the board  let him download Patrice’s backup so that he has a fresh start where both books are in agreement. The Board can see that there is no cover-up or fraud or attempt to deceive, but a desire not to spend hours trying to find the problem.  Mike asked Patrice’s opinion on letting Paul copy her books to get a fresh start. She said she may have been able to help Paul back in January when his starting totals didn’t match the 2019 ending totals, but she didn’t mind since the purpose of two sets of books is to prevent theft and fraud and there is none of that.  The totals are small.  Mike moved to let Paul download Patrice’s backup; Glen seconded; Gary abstained.

            FallFest:    The Board needs to make a decision on whether to hold it or not Saturday, October 23.  Glen said with Covid restrictions that we should not attempt it and moved that it be cancelled for this year.  Gary seconded. Passed.

             Treasurer’s Report and Claims:  Patrice corrected her totals for July and issued a new treasurer’s report for August. Patrice gave the September treasurer’s report (attached).  Total bills for September $4,725.52 and she wants to transfer $4,700 from savings to checking.   Gary moved to approve her report and to transfer the funds; Glen seconded.   Gary moved to adjourn; Mike seconded. Meeting adjourned 9:00 p.m.

 Report by Paul Raymond _________________________________

Attest:  Glen Williamson, Chair______________________________