Meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by Vice-Chair Scott Mead.
Attendance: Town Officers – Supervisor Scott Mead, Supervisor Charles Kuettel, Treasurer Raymond G. Barnes, Clerk Lita Wallace
Number of resident/s present: 3, number of non-resident present: 1.
Clerk’s Report: The minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on January 8, 2019, was presented and reviewed. Motion by Kuettel to approve the minutes, second by Mead, motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report
JANUARY 2019
Total Funds on hand as of 01/01/2019 (Includes Investments) – $174,640.31
Plus: Deposits – $765.88
Less: Disbursements (January) – $15,431.31
Total Funds on hand as of 01/31/2019 – $159,974.88
January Check # 1415 – 1422
FEBRUARY 2019
Claims (February) – $2,417.50
February Check # 1423 – 1427
Mead motion to approve the January Treasurer’s Report and February Claims, second by Kuettel, motion carried unanimously.
Old Business
- Update on land acquisition- Mead reiterated that we may be able to get the 3.5 acres of land managed by the state for a small fee. The supervisors had met with folks from the county and they were very helpful.
- Town Election and Absentee Voting: Wallace reported that Town Election is scheduled on March 12, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Pequaywan Firehall. Absentee Voting runs from February 8-March 11. Contact the clerk if you have any questions (peqclerk@gmail.com). Wallace added that no one filed an Affidavit of Candidacy therefore, residents can write-in their candidate.
- Tree planting: Mead ordered 500 red pine trees about 6-12 inches high for a total cost of $163.00 plus $33.00 shipping. DNR has a few planting bars that we can borrow
New Business
- Annual Meeting: March 12, 2019, at Pequaywan Firehall, after the Town Election
- Special Meetings: (1) Board of Audit and Budget Meeting – February 8, 2019, after the Town Meeting; (2) Board of Canvass Meeting – March 12; and (3) Reorganizational Meeting – April 9 after the town meeting.
- Board of Audit/Budget Meetings: In the future, Barnes suggested that the board schedule a Budget Meeting before the Board of Audit meeting so that the budget for each account codes can be determined for CTAS purposes and Audit reports. Otherwise, the beginning balances will all show zero.
- Purchasing Microsoft Office software vs. renewing license when license expires in September 2019: Barnes explained that it is cheaper for the town to purchase the software when the current license expires since the license has an annual renewal of $108.00 while the software only costs under $200.00 per laptop. Motion to approve by Kuettel to purchase software for the two laptops, second by Mead, motion carried unanimously.
- Future road repairs for West Branch Road: Some residents reported that there are areas having wash-out problems of the newly repaired road. Mead said the supervisors checked on it and decided that the road may need re-enforcement especially in swampy areas where it might be a possible more wash-out. Mead added that KTM needs to be notified.
Correspondence
Received:
- Bill from Minnesota Benefit Association for officer’s annual life insurance ($165.00)
- Bill for SLCAT (St. Louis County Association of Townships dues ($161.80) and MAT (Minnesota Association of Townships) dues ($307.76)
- Emails from SLCAT: December 2018 and January 2019 Meeting Minutes, and St. Louis County Lobby Day Info
- Letter from St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department re-easement granted to the Town of Pequaywan across State tax-forfeited land in the NW1/4-SW1/4, Section 23, Township 54 N, Range 12 W for the purpose of right-of-way. This easement was granted on June 30, 1995.
- Email from St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department requesting certified, pending or future assessments information on a tax forfeited property that the county will be offering for sale at a future public auction
- Email from St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office requesting townships to link its Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Media Release to town’s website,
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNSTLOUIS/bulletins/228285b - Email of Master List of voters for Absentee Voting usage from St. Louis County Election Department
- Email from Office of the State Auditor-Government Information Division (GID) reminding townships to report their annual financial activities to the Office of the State Auditor under Minn. Stat. 6.74
- Training schedule from Minnesota Association of Townships
- Letter from St. Louis County with enclosure of list of 2nd half 2018 permits issued
Sent:
- Responded to St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department’s inquiry re-assessment on properties in the township
- Emailed sample ballot for March election to St. Louis County Election Department as required
- Sent by postage mail an official March town election ballot to St. Louis County Election Department for UOCAVA usage
Public Comment: A resident is interested for information on where Pequaywan Fire Department is planning to spend the $1500.00 increase that they are requesting from the township.
Next Meeting: March 12, 2019, 9:20 p.m. or after Annual Meeting, Pequaywan Fire Department, 8764 Pequaywan Lake Road
Mead motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m., second by Kuettel, motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Town Clerk