The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Douglas Nelson.
Attendance:
Officers Present: Chair Douglas Nelson, Vice-Chair James Wilson, Supervisor Donald Swanstrom, Clerk Lita Wallace, Treasurer Carol Nelson, Deputy Treasurer Raymond Barnes
Officer Absent: Deputy Clerk Shane Stolp
Guests: Bonnie Dressen, Douglas Dressen, Dorothy Galinski, Stephanie Jones, Stephen Jones, Joseph Miller, Deb Pomroy, Art Peterson, Ted Wallace
Clerk’s Report: Wallace presented the May 2025 minutes. Swanstrom motioned to approve the minutes, Wilson seconded, motion carried. Nelson yay, Wilson yay, Swanstrom yay.
Treasurer’s Report
MAY 2025
Total Funds on Hand 5/1/2025 $279,163.91
Plus: Deposits $852.60
Interest on Accounts 852.60
Less: Disbursements $2,497.13
Payroll 344.83
St Louis Cty – snow plowing 1,236.50
Legal 495.00
Other expenses 420.80
Total Funds on Hand 5/31/2025 $277,519.38
Checks Written 2149-2155
JUNE 2025
Expected Receipts-None
Checks Written 2156-2166 $52,548.19
Transfer from CD & Savings made
Wilson motioned to approve the Treasurer’s Report, second by Swanstrom, motion carried. Nelson yay, Wilson yay, Swanstrom yay.
Old Business
- Invasive weed: Deb Pomroy reported that she surveyed the very northeastern part of the area owned by the township on the corner of Rossini Road and Pequaywan Lake Road, now dubbed as Pequaywan Township Park. The next targeted area will be the east northeast of King Lake. Deb stated that Pequaywan Township landowners could request to have their area surveyed for invasive weeds without charge to them or the township. It was discussed that the township can request landowners to eradicate the weeds on their property and if they don’t, the township can go in and eradicate and bill the landowner.
- Update on West Branch Road meeting with Sinnott Blacktop (reported by Chair Nelson): On May 21, Wilson and I repaired before signing met with Jon Mercier of Sinnott Blacktop Company. We inspected the road for bad areas the county indicated they wanted repaired before signing our next season’s plowing contract. We found two large areas that are in poor condition. We discussed removing the existing blacktop and digging down the gravel bed underneath. Then install a stabilization fabric and new class 6 gravel bed before installing the new blacktop. They would bring enough extra material to patch the new potholes that have developed this past spring. The larger area they repair, the lower the square foot pricing and these areas will not need to be redone when we blacktop the entire West Branch township road.
We inspected the four culverts and we found no sign of rust or deterioration. Jon said he saw no reason to replace them at the present time. This is great news as the cost of replacement will be significant. To date, I have not received his bid for the work.
- Chair Nelson reported that progress on petition to create Subordinate Service District is going well. To date, there are 20 landowners that have signed the petition. We have a “yes” commitment from five others but have not yet tracked them down. We need 36 total to pass the 51% requirement. So, we need 11 more people to sign. There are many we just have not been able to reach as of now.I have found very little resistance to the idea with the people I have talked with.
- Results of Brush disposal from Saturday, May 31: The township would like to thank Stephen Jones for his help and Stephanie Jones for bringing Chocolate Chip Cookies. It was suggested that go ahead and burn in your property if you can burn safely. If not, cut them and lay them on the ground.
- Jim Wilson’s idea for donations and community plaque with posting on our website: table for July
New Business
- Pequaywan Lake Association: Joseph Miller, the new president of the association was at the meeting and shared what were discussed at their first meeting on June 7. The items discussed were: (1) water quality; (2) Firewise; (3) public prevention use of the lake; (4) discourage use of Wake Boats (Art Peterson will send the clerk MAT information on ordinance for Wake Boats); (5) Social National Night Out which is scheduled on August 5 at 5:00 p.m. at Pequaywan Inn, $10 membership, food, music; (6) directory; (7) seeking Firewise volunteer liaison between the association and township.
- Response letter from St Louis County Planning and Zoning re-resident inquiry on topic regarding camper trailer/RV regulation for property owners: a representative is not able to attend the town meeting but sent the new Zoning Ordinance 62 and Amendments regulations which can be found on the town website under “About Pequaywan/St. Louis County Planning Regulations”.
- Date for fall Brush Disposal is October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Fire Wise program and future efforts on preventions: Firewise program is managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In the past, the township had participated in Firewise within which the township’s share is man hours. Swanstrom is very interested in pursuing this program and will make contacts with DNR to get information and get it set up. He also volunteered to be the liaison between the township and Pequaywan Lake Association for this project.
- FEMA letter about flood plain mapping of our area
- Election judges: Wallace reported that at the last Minnesota Association of Townships Spring Short Course training, the trainer reiterated that the board chooses the election judges to serve during elections. In the past, the township always had three judges so Wallace prepared the Resolution to Appoint Election Judges with those three and have the board approve it. Now that more folks volunteered to be election judges (total of five excluding Stolp as Head Election Judge), the board has to choose two from those five which will be completed in January or February. She also reported that Deb Pomroy resigned as an election judge.
Correspondence
Received:
- Response letter from St. Louis County Planning and Zoning re-camper trailer/RV regulation
- Email and postage letter from St. Louis County Planning Commission re- Hybrid Virtual and in-person Public Hearing they are conducting on June 17 about the Zoning Ordinance 62 amendments.
- Email from U.S. Census Bureau re-local update of Census Addresses
- Inquiry from a resident re- St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Land Use Ordinance of Camper/RV per land parcel
- Postage letter from FEMA Risk Mapping Assessment, and Planning informing townships of their program that helps communities to identify, assess and reduce their flood risk
- Invoice from Daisy Wallace in the amount of $25.00 for May website maintenance
- Invoice from SLCAT (St. Louis County Association of Townships) in the amount of $50.00 for attendance at the annual meeting on May 28, 2025 by Jim Wilson and Lita Wallace
Sent:
- Officers list with contact information mailed to Minnesota Association of Townships
- Two LBAE appeal response letters sent to two residents for results of their appeals
Public Comment Protocol: The Public Comment section is a courtesy extended to persons wishing to address the Board. If you wish to comment during the Township Meeting, follow the protocol below. One public comment per citizen which is limited to two minutes. Submit request by the first Saturday of the month to peqclerk@gmail.com with your full name and comment information. The board can either address the issue, assign someone to address the issue, or do nothing.
Public Comment Request: None
Next Meeting, July 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Pequaywan Firehall
Wilson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m., second by Swanstrom, motion carried. Nelson yay, Wilson yay, Swanstrom yay.
Respectfully submitted by:
Lita Wallace, Clerk