April 11, 2023, Township Board Meeting Minutes

 Attendance:

Town Officers Present: Chair Charles Kuettel, Vice-Chair Douglas Dressen, Supervisor Douglas Nelson, Clerk Lita Wallace, Treasurer Carol Nelson, Deputy Clerk Ed Potter

Guests: John Lucia, Bonnie Dressen, Ted Wallace

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Kuettel.

Clerk’s Report: The March Board Meeting Minutes was presented for approval. Dressen motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0.

Treasurer’s Report

MARCH 2023

Total Funds on Hand 3/1/2023 $222,915.49
Plus: Deposits $1,740.22
Interest on Accounts 445.92
SLC Forfeit Land Apportionment 1,294.20
Corrections 0.10

Less: Disbursements $3,842.41
Payroll 1,717.69
Other Expenses 624.72
Fire Department 1,500.00

Total Funds on Hand 3/31/2023 $220,813.30
Checks Written #1868 – #1879

APRIL 2023

Expected Receipts: None

Motioned by Dressen to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0.

Old Business

  • Update from Pequaywan Fire Department: John Lucia of the Fire Department submitted financial reports of receipts and disbursements from 2016-2022. It will be an Open Meeting when Treasurer Nelson meets with the Pequaywan Fire Department treasurer at the end of the year to discuss financial matters.
  • Oath of Office conducted in March by Amber Cruz for elected supervisor Douglas Nelson
  • Last reminder: LBAE (Local Board of Appeal and Equalization) meeting scheduled on April 20, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Pequaywan Firehall. The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the Assessor.
  • Amber Cruz resigned her position as clerk effective March 31, 2023. Minnesota Association of Townships Document No. TO2000 states that “the deputy serves only if the clerk or treasurer who appointed him or her is still in office. When the clerk or treasurer resigns or completes the term of office, the deputy’s power is automatically removed.” Therefore, the term of Diana Potter as deputy clerk is completed as of March 31, 2023.
  • Update on adding Lita Wallace and Douglas Nelson to the credit union checking account – Dressen motioned to add Lita Wallace and Douglas Nelson to the credit union checking account and to remove Don Swanstrom and Amber Cruz, seconded by D. Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0. Carol Nelson will take care of contacting the credit union and acquiring signatures.

New Business

  • Appoint Chair Person on the Town Board – Dressen motioned to appoint Kuettel as Chair, seconded by Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0.
  • Lita Wallace had completed an Oath of Office when she was hired as clerk in 2014, therefore, per Minnesota Association of Townships, she would not need to take another oath.
  • A township is required to have an LBAE certified supervisor to be able to conduct LBAE meeting in the township. Since outgoing supervisor Donald Swanstrom was the only supervisor with LBAE certification when he left office, Charles Kuettel was able to complete an online catch-up training in March through the Department of Revenue good from 2023 to 2027.
  • Deputy Clerk position: Supervisors tabled the decision to hire a deputy clerk at this time. Wallace suggested that if a deputy clerk is not hired, it will be beneficial if a Recording Secretary is appointed to take minutes in the absence of the clerk and recommended Bonnie Dressen who agreed.
  • D. Dressen motioned to have any town officer be able to contact a contractor in case of an emergency road condition; i.e. culvert going out; seconded by Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0.
  • Carol Nelson reported that at the April 2023 MAT training session, the trainer mentioned that payroll should be paid not more than 31 days apart. The trainer also mentioned that to make it easy for processing, have the  timesheets submitted from the 1st to the end of each month, and submitted by the 5th of the following month.
  • Automark – Wallace will check with Elections on the status of Automark usage for next election.

Correspondence

Received:

  •  Invoice from Pequaywan Township Web Administrator Daisy Wallace in the amount of $223.38 (Dreamhost Annual Renewal $155.88; Website Administration $62.50, and Lower Rate Administration $5.00)
  • Dues Statement from SLCAT (St Louis County Association of Townships) in the amount of $477.12 ($313.52 for MAT dues and $163.60 for county dues) due by May 1, 2023
  • March Newsletter from Minnesota Association of Townships
  • Email from Katherine Brey of St. Louis County Assessor’s Office re- 2023 Assessment Book for Pequaywan Township

Sent:

  • Emailed Contact List of officers effective April 1, 2023 to Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) and St. Louis County Elections

Public CommentThis is a courtesy extended to persons wishing to address the Board who are not on the agenda. No more than one (1) public comment form per citizen will be accepted per meeting. Your presentation will be limited to two (2) minutes. A complete Public Comment information must be emailed to the clerk, peqclerk@gmail.com, prior to the meeting.

Bonnie Dressen mentioned that she would appreciate for the Pequaywan Fire Department to provide financial statements at the end of the year.

Next Meeting, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Dressen motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m., seconded by Nelson, motion carried, 3-0-0.

Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Town Clerk