The Annual Town Meeting was convened at 8:12 p.m.
12 residents and 2 non-residents were present.
Clerk Lita Wallace called the meeting to order. Phyllis Mead volunteered to be moderator.
Copies of 2015 annual meeting minutes were provided to attendees.
Treasurer’s Report – operating expenses in 2015 were similar to what it has been the last few years. Additional revenue were derived from interest income from savings and the $50,000 in CD.
Fire Chief Dale Brooks reported that in 2015, there were four medical calls, three fire calls, one aid in Brimson and one aid in North Star, down from previous years. Two members were added, one for First Responder and one for fire. Joel Bamford is retiring. Pancake Breakfast is scheduled on July 3, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Pequaywan Firehall, 8764 Pequaywan Lake Road.
Road report – West Branch Road Cty 256: St. Louis County did some construction work in West Branch Road in 2016 and 2017 and is willing to work with us on the construction of the area owned by the township. We will follow up with them in the spring to get a cost estimate and payment schedule. It’s likely that this cost will be significantly lower than what could result from bidding the job out commercially. In addition, it will save the cost of a preliminary civil engineering study.
The levy for taxes was motioned by Lee Kaplan and seconded by Marilyn Bamford to be set at $30,000 for 2017. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Part of $30,000 goes to Fire and the balance would go toward other operating expenses and would begin to offset cuts made in 2015 to enable us to build a reserve for the road repair project.
Voting hours (motioned by Scott Mead, seconded by Joel Bamford)
7:00 am – 8:00 pm, Primary, General Election
10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Special Primary, Special General Election
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Township Election
Monthly town board meeting date/time – Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm at Pequaywan Fire Hall. Motioned/seconded/carried.
If monthly town board meeting falls on a November election date, supervisors can decide on a schedule change. Motioned/seconded/carried.
Annual meeting date/time – Second Tuesday of March following the Township Election, most likely at 8:15 p.m. Motioned/seconded/carried.
March monthly town board meeting follows the March Annual Meeting at Pequaywan Fire Hall. Motioned/seconded/carried.
Postings
– Sign board
– Pequaywan Fire & EMS bulletin board
– Pequaywan Inn
– pequaywantownship.org website
– pequaywan.com website
Election judge Bob McDonough commented that there is no place to put an election notification sign by the road due to snow banks. Dale Brooks mentioned that the Fire Department is working with Pequaywan Lake Association for a plan to put a 3’x4′ lighted board sign by the road.
Annual Board of Appeals and Equalization date is scheduled on May 5, 2016, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Pequaywan Fire Hall
Result of Township Election – Scott Mead was elected for a 3-year term, Donald Swanstrom for a 1-year term and Town Question Adoption of Option B (Shall option B, providing for the appointment of the town clerk by the town board, be adopted for the government of the town?) passed.
Internet service update – 25-30 households were connected; three repeaters will be installed end of little lake and big lake covering five homes.
Firewise – Property owners in the township will be receiving more information in a mailing this spring about the Firewise project, a partnership between Pequaywan Township and the DNR to try to make our community safer in the event of a wildfire.
Updates are available at the township website,
http://www.pequaywantownship.o
Citizen comments/concerns – a citizen questioned about the sale of tax forfeited land in Moose Lake and how it will affect the revenue for the township.
Meeting was motioned to adjourn at 8:42 p.m. by Doug Dressen and seconded by Kathy Sluka. Motion carried.
Submitted by Lita Wallace, Town Clerk