March 11, 2014 | Annual Town Meeting

Meeting was called to order at 8:10 pm.

Attendance: 13 Residents present; 11 voting residents present.

Clerk Smitke called the meeting to order.  Volunteering to be citizen monitor is Rick Johnson.  2013 annual meeting minutes read.  Treasurer’s report was given by Mark Freeman in Keith Stoneburner’s absence.

Road report: The repair cost to re-surface the W. Branch Rd is about $350,000 and to mulch and re-surface the road is about $700,000.  Information was given by Rick Fry.  Future discussion will be had at a township meeting.  Anticipating road work to be done on Hwy 44 from the Rossini Rd to Barrs/Briar area in 2014.

The levy for taxes was motioned/seconded to be set at $13,500 for the year (assuming that the PVFD would request $13,500 for their annual budget).  Temporarily tabled.  PVFD requests $13,500 for their annual payment for the year 2015.  Motioned/seconded/carried.  Resumed discussion of the levy, carried the motion of $13,500 for the annual levy.

The annual elections were reported on that Rick Fry was re-elected for a 3 year term as supervisor and April Smitke was re-elected for a 2 year term as clerk.

The voting hours motioned/seconded/carried for Primary, General and Special Statewide election hours to be 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.  The Annual township election hours are to be 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The monthly meeting time and day shall be 7:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month and the annual meeting shall be the second Tuesday of March after the annual township election.

Local notice postings can be made at the Pequaywan town bulletin board, PVFD bulletin board, pequaywan.com website and pequaywantownship.org website.

Old business:

Committee for Internet service research: Named Cloquet Valley Internet Initiative (CVII).  www.connectcloquetvalley.com  A tower is up at the Normanna location and making progress toward the Pequaywan area in 2014.

New business:

Resident Judy Strom offered a volunteer effort to upgrade the www.pequaywantownship.org website.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

March 11, 2014 | Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 9:00 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Rick Fry, April Smitke

Absent: Keith Stoneburner

Next meeting set for April 8, 2014

Annual role assignment set as Mark Freeman as chariman; Rick Fry as road official.  Wages will continue at $25 per meeting; election judges and other work outside of meetings will continue at $15 per hour.

Old Business:

Assessment: Levy set at annual meeting at $13,500

New Business:

Proposal to change the lock on the township file cabinet, motioned/carried.  Anyone in need of information in the file cabinet should contact the township clerk and have a township supervisor present.

Meeting adjourned.

February 11, 2014 | Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Rick Fry, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

4 residents present

Next meeting set for March 11, 2014 following annual meeting

Business:

Assessment: Rick is unsure about changing the assessment to $13,500 (as previously discussed) with the condition of the W. Branch Rd and possibility of replacing it. It will be discussed in depth at annual meeting in March.

New Business:

Annual township election:  Rick Fry supervisor position and township clerk position on the election ballot.

Meeting adjourned.

January 14, 2014 | Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Rick Fry, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

2 residents present

Next meeting set for February 11, 2014 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Internet: Problems in testing – need ventilation work.  They are still looking for a tower location in Pequaywan area.

New Business:

None.

Keith Stoneburner gave the annual financial report along with his recommendation of future assessments.

Meeting adjourned.

December 10, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

Absent: Rick Fry

One resident present

Next meeting set for January 14, 2014 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Logging: Someone took over McCabe’s work and they are not interested.

Internet: Planning to do beta testing by January in this area.

New Business:

Meeting adjourned.

November 12, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

Absent: Rick Fry

5 residents present

Next meeting set for December 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Logging: Mark has a call into McCabe to for an update on timing.  Another call was placed, no response yet.

Internet: Normanna tower is up, not operational yet.  The plan is to have operational by year end.

New Business:

Meeting adjourned.

October 8, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Rick Fry, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

4 residents present

Next meeting set for November 12, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Logging: Mark has a call into McCabe to for an update on timing.

Internet: Normanna tower going up and movement should be coming toward Pequaywan.

New Business:

Meeting adjourned.

September 10, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, Rick Fry, Keith Stoneburner, April Smitke

Absent:

One resident present

Next meeting set for October 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM.

Old business:

DNR still not progressing on public access site yet according to Mead’s discussion with DNR.

40 acre logging being delayed due to time issues.

Painting road strips on the West Branch Rd – The township pays for that and it was not approved in this year.  It may be approved next year if deemed necessary.

New Business:

Discussion on the idea from the Pequaywan Assc of a ceiling fan getting installed in the fire hall meeting room.  Not approved.

Discussion of the St. Louis County tax assessment fee received.  Keith is to inquire with Mr. Sipila at the County.

Meeting adjourned.

August 12, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Scott Mead, April Smitke

Absent: Keith Stoneburner, Rick Fry

8 residents present

Next meeting set for September 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Internet topic: CLP is making progress in this area for the internet issue.  Recommended a letter come from the township supporting broadband towers in the area.  Motioned and approved letter.

New Business:

Smokey the Bear sign getting rebuilt by the DNR.

Meeting adjourned.

July 9, 2013 Township Board Meeting

Called to order at 7:30 PM

Present: Mark Freeman, Rick Fry, Scott Mead, April Smitke

Absent: Keith Stoneburner

31 residents present

Next meeting set for August 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Old business:

Road:  The condition of the temporary road patch work on the West Branch Rd has deteriorated.  It was approved to buy more road patch material to fix again.

Internet topic: CLP representative Kevin Olson discussed the plan for CLP to expand their internet towers throughout the area.  He requested a number of serious customers in the Pequaywan area to decide if it will be done here and best placement of the tower(s).  Serious customers should visit connectcloquetvalley.com to express your interest.  You may also contact Kevin Olson at kolson@clpower.com.

New Business:

none

Meeting adjourned.