The meeting was called to order by clerk Lita Wallace at 8:29 p.m. The meeting was held at the Pequaywan Fire Hall.
Attendance: Douglas Nelson, Jim Wilson, Lita Wallace, Carol Nelson, Ray Barnes, Shane Stolp, Dale Brooks, Katie Dellenbach, Corbin Ringsred, Sandra Wilson, John Wilson, Douglas Nelson, Carol Nelson, Jim Wilson, Allen Treviranus, Douglas Dressen, Bonnie Dressen, Stephanie Jones, Stephen Jones, Diana Potter, Ted Wallace.
Stolp read the result of Township Election for two open supervisor positions. (1) 3-year term: Douglas Nelson, 14 votes and write-in Douglas Dressen, 2 votes; (2) 2-year term: Allen Treviranus, 14 votes and write-in Tom Jackson, 1 vote. Douglas Nelson and Allen Treviranus won the election.
Douglas Nelson was the sole nomination for the meeting moderator by Jim Wilson, seconded by John Wilson. Motion carried. Douglas Nelson accepted with 12 votes.
Moderator announced Agenda for rest of meeting, subject to modification by vote of electorate, in which there was no change.
The clerk provided copies of the 2025 Annual meeting minutes. Motion was made to waive reading of the minutes and approve as is. Motion was seconded, motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Nelson provided an update West Branch Road Report & Subordinate Service District (SSD) including the history of the road and how the residents along the road have agreed to an SSD. The St Louis County Resident Engineer noted when meeting with Supervisors Wilson and Nelson that the road rebuild will cost one million and advised against hiring an engineering firm and instead recommended having a consultant for $10,000 to help the project. The supervisors also checked out the culverts with the engineer and they all appeared to be in good condition. Supervisor Nelson recommends we continue to build our Road & Bridge fund until the goals are reached with a hope of a benefactor or state aid program.
Fire Chief Katie Dellenbach with the Pequaywan Fire & EMS presented an annual report highlighting 14 members, 12 that respond to EMS calls. Had 35 calls: 15 fire, 20 EMS. Large number of calls were related to Brimson Fire. Department was out for three days with the shifts that were required while trying to be supportive and help the neighborhood. There was a system in place to ensure that Pequaywan neighborhood was still covered while the members were in Brimson. We have had an unusual amount of structure fires requiring the use of mutual aid of neighboring departments. There has been ongoing training with these mutual aid departments to ensure response time is quicker for increased effectiveness.
Fire Department is proposing a $32,000 budget, an increase of $2,000 from prior year. With last year funds the department was able to purchase a LOCUS which is a life saving device for chest compressions. Katie expressed thanks to the community for support. She mentioned an old fire engine (35 years old) that is in need of standards updates to meet NFPA requirements with the hotter, faster fires that happen in today’s structure fires. About 1/3 of the budget goes to maintaining the fire hall including insurance, utilities, maintenance, snow plowing, and repairs. The department continues to look for grants such as the 10 new Motorola radios that were able to be obtained through a grant in 2025 with the help from Pequaywan Township. The grant was for $50,000. Any grants that are available and known are sought after including a bi-annual $10,000 grant from the DNR that requires a 50% match. Katie also expressed thanks to the department members who attend the business meetings, trainings, and respond to calls. Additionally, they do maintenance on the building, rigs and significant other items. One truck has a potential DEF system issue that will require an outside vendor to assist.
Treasurer Carol Nelson read the Board of Audit Report based on the information from the Board of Audit meeting last month. Treasurer Carol Nelson presented the cash control statement from 2025.
Name of Fund |
1/1/2025 Beginning Balance | 2025
Receipts |
2025 Disbursements | 12/31/2025 Ending Balance |
| General Fund | $48,783.91 | $ 6,561.16 | $19,657.41 | $35,687.66 |
| Road and Bridges (On-going Maintenance | 13,651.73 | 6,353.06 | 9,412.10 | 10,592.69 |
| Fire and EMS | 16,758.22 | 66,320.07 | 75,959.23 | 7,119.06 |
| Building/Property Maintenance Fund | 7,698.96 | 19.28 | 400.71 | 7,317.53 |
| Roads and Bridges (Capital Reserve) | 195,673.93 | 56,127.85 | 1,745.12 | 250,056.66 |
| Total | $282,566.75 | 135,381.42 | 107,174.57 | $310,773.60 |
Treasurer Carol Nelson presented the 2027 general levy that was approved during the February Budget Meeting in the amount of $75,000.00 which is an increase of $5,000.00 from 2026’s $70,000.00.
| Comparison 2026 and 2027 LEVY | ||
| Name of Fund | 2026 Levy | 2027 Levy |
| General Fund | $ 5,000.00 | $ 5,000.00 |
| Road and Bridges (On-going Maintenance | $ 5,000.00 | $ 5,000.00 |
| Fire and EMS | $27,000.00 | $32,000.00 |
| Building/Property Maintenance Fund | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Roads and Bridges (Capital Reserve) | $33,000.00 | $33,000.00 |
| Total | $70,000.00 | $75,000.00 |
It was motioned by John Wilson and seconded by Jim Wilson to set a levy of $75,000.00 as presented, motion carried. Discussion followed. 12 in favor and 2 opposed. The board of supervisors will render the final decision during the March Board Meeting.
General Discussion of Items of Concern
Doug Dressen brought up concerns about 18% of township residents using the Township Road (West Branch Road) but charging 100% of the owners for the road. Bonnie Dressen reiterated the concern.
Doug Nelson presented a report of the history on the West Branch Road, the Public Purpose Doctrine, how many roads and cost of them in Minnesota Townships.
Bonnie Dressen brought up the participation of snowbird residents at the Annual Meeting in discussing the levy and proposed that the Town Board should consider changing the date of the Annual Meeting. Wallace reiterated that the Annual Meeting is set-up by the state on the second Tuesday of March and cannot be changed. However, voters may continue the Annual Meeting rather than adjourn, if they want to return later in the year to finish their meeting. To continue the meeting, voters must approve a motion that includes the date, time, and location the meeting will resume.
Doug Dressen asked where the fire department sees their budget being in 10 years.
Motion items:
Annual Town Meeting: the state of Minnesota set the Annual Town Meeting on the second Tuesday of March following the Town Election. The Annual Town Meeting will be held at Pequaywan Fire Hall.
Motioned and seconded to set monthly Town Board Meeting date/time and location as the Second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. with the exception of March Town Board Meeting to be scheduled after the Annual Town Meeting. Location is Pequaywan Fire Hal. Motion carried, all were in favor.
Motioned by John Wilson and seconded by Jim Wilson, all agree, for the following:
- Location for the next annual meeting (Pequaywan Firehall)
- Time to convene and call to order next annual meeting: 8:30 p.m.
- Set voting place: Primary voting place is Pequaywan Fire Hall; garage in case Pequaywan Fire Hall is not available due to unforeseen circumstances, secondary voting place is Pequaywan Trail Blazer Snowmobile Club (contact person is Ray Barnes)
- Set later starting time for State election (Note: Applies only to State election, not town elections, and only for townships with population under 500 located outside the 11-county metropolitan area.)
7:00 am – 8:00 pm, Presidential Nomination Primary Election, Primary Election and General Election
7:00 am – 8:00 pm, State Election
10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Special Primary Election and Special General Election
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Township Election - Set posting areas of Public Notice:
– pequaywantownship.org website
– West Branch Road marquee (event dates)
– Pequaywan Fire & EMS bulletin board
– Pequaywan Inn bulletin board
– Town of Pequaywan Facebook page (facebook.com/Pequaywanclerk/)
– Pequaywan Lake Community Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/PequaywanLakeCommunity)
Motioned items carried with 12 yes votes and two no.
The meeting was motioned and seconded to adjourn at 9:32 p.m., motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by:
Shane Stolp, Deputy Clerk
Lita Wallace, Clerk