Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Donald Swanstrom.
Attendance: Town Officers – Chair Donald Swanstrom, Vice-Chair Scott Mead, Supervisor Charles Kuettel, Treasurer Raymond G. Barnes, Clerk Lita Wallace
Number of resident/s present: 1, number of non-resident present: 2.
Clerk’s Report: The minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 12, 2018, was presented and reviewed. Motioned by Kuettel to approve the minutes and seconded by Mead. Motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report
DECEMBER 2018
Total Funds on hand as of 12/01/2018 – $64,130.01
Plus: Deposits -$11,887.48
Less: Disbursements: (December) – $1,716.76
Plus: Present value of CDs – $100,339.58
Total Funds on hand as of 12/31/2018 – $174,640.31
December Check # 1405 – 1414
Swanstrom motion to approve the December Treasurer’s Report, second by Kuettel, motion carried unanimously.
JANUARY 2019
Claims (January) – $15,431.31
January Check # 1415 – 1422
Barnes reported that an employee requested a state tax deduction which had been deducted from the salary but not yet paid to the State as the township had not set-up a Tax ID # with the State. A check in the amount of $150.00 will be issued to the State of Minnesota this month as soon as a correspondence with the Tax ID # is received by the clerk.
Kuettel motion to approve the January Claims, second by Mead, motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer Barnes explained that with the CDs being considered as investment as had been adjusted in CTAS due to the requirement by the State Auditor’s office, it is now not showing in the beginning and ending balance column of the Cash Control Statement report but is showing in the Total Per Bank Statement of the report.
Old Business
- Update on land acquisition: Swanstrom reported that he had acquired the application form to have the 3.5 acres adjacent to township property managed by the state be gifted to the township as a tax forfeited land. There were some areas on the form that Swanstrom had a question so he contacted Karen Zeisler of the St. Louis County, Land & Mineral Department, for assistance in completing the form. As soon as it is completed, he will mail out the form.
- Tree planting: The supervisors along with an expert met at the township land to determine what trees to purchase and where to plant them. They are looking at purchasing White Cedar, Red Pine and Maple. Further testing of the soil can be done to make sure we are planting the right type of tree. Swanstrom motioned for Mead to contact DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and purchase Red Pine and other seeds, seconded by Kuettel, motion carried unanimously.
- Comprehensive Plan: The county just updated their Comprehensive Plan and if we don’t have our own, what they have will apply to us. If we have our own that is exclusive to the township, we can submit it to the county and if they approve, it will be what we will use.
- Important Dates for March Town Election – (contact Clerk Lita Wallace at 218-525-4068 or peqclerk@gmail.com if you have any questions or for location of Clerk’s office)
*1/1-1/15 – Filing for Candidacy ($2.00 filing fee) – access form at
*1/15, 1:00-5:00 p.m. – Town Clerk’s Office open for last day of Filing for Candidacy
*1/17 – Last day for a candidate to withdraw from a town election (until 5:00 p.m. at Town Clerk’s office)
*2/8-2/26 – Absentee ballots shall be mailed to registered voters who requested them
*3/9 – Town Clerk’s office open for Absentee Voting from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
*3/12 – Town Election, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Pequaywan Firehall - Wallace reported that as of this date, no one from the community has submitted an Affidavit of Candidacy for the open supervisor position. The board reiterated the importance of someone coming forward to serve. If no one submits an Affidavit of Candidacy on or before the deadline date of January 15, their name can be put on as Write-in.
New Business
- Fire Department Update: The Board expressed appreciation for all the work that Pequaywan Fire and Rescue is doing for the community. Fire Chief Dale Brooks reported that there are more calls this year than in the past. The Fire Department is requesting a donation of $15,000.00 from the town levy, a $1,500.00 increase from last year of $13,500.00 which will be further discussed for approval at the March Annual Meeting.
- Membership to Duluth Association of Townships (DAT): Last year, the town paid the membership fee to DAT but Barnes reported that membership for DAT is not required. He is inquiring if we should stay as a member. The Board agrees that they should attend the meeting and decide at a later time if it is advisable to join this year or next year. If we will join this year, Barnes will issue a check.
- Approval of Election Judges for March Town Election: Wallace presented a list of certified election judges for Board approval to serve at the March election. Motion by Kuettel to approve the election judges (Lita Wallace, Katherine Sluka and Robert McDonough) as presented, second by Mead. motion carried unanimously.
Correspondence
Received:
- $68.66 Invoice from St. Louis County for services completed for Proposed Tax Notice preparation and delivery
- $40.00 Invoice from MAT for Clerk training registration
- $923 Invoice from MATIT Premium Notice for 2019 Consolidated Coverage
- March Elections Calendar from the Minnesota Secretary of State Elections Division
- Email from St. Louis County Election Department re-March town election
- Email from Duluth Association of Townships with October meeting minutes and bill for 2019 membership in the amount of $100
- Emails from the State Auditor’s Office: (1) CTAS info on submitting 2018 financial reports to the State Auditor’s Office; (2) installation of 2019 updated CTAS software; and (3) Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness for 2018
- MAT Insider Magazine
Sent: Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness for 2018 mailed by Treasurer
Public Comment: None
Next Meeting: February 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m., 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