Meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Chair Kuettel.
Attendance: Town officers: Supervisor Charles Kuettel, Supervisor Donald Swanstrom, Supervisor Douglas Dressen, Clerk Lita Wallace, Treasurer Raymond G. Barnes, Recording Secretary Marialice Arndt
Guests: Richard Arndt, Lisa Klassen, Paul Klassen, Shane Stolp, John Wilson
Clerk’s Report: Since the meeting was conducted via teleconference, the supervisors read the September 8, 2020 minutes from the town webpage. Dressen motioned to approve the minutes with spelling correction of his last name, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0.
Treasurer’s Report
SEPTEMBER 2020
Total Funds on hand as of 09/01/2020 (Includes Investments) – $174,718.78
Plus: Deposits – $135.21
Interest on Accounts ($135.21)
Less: Disbursements (September) – $2,096.45
Total Funds on hand as of 09/30/2020 – $172,757.54
September Check # 1580 – 1592
OCTOBER 2020
Claims (October) – $1621.23
October Check # 1593 – 1598
No transfers to the Checking Account will be needed
Dressen motioned to approve the September 2020 Treasurer’s Report and Claims for October 2020, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0.
Old Business
- Update on the West Branch Road repairs: Kuettel stated that part of the work was done and will be completed the week of October 19.
- Tree branch drop off site update: Kuettel mentioned that tree drop off is done for the year and dates for 2021 will be scheduled in the spring. Motion by Dressen to close the tree drop off site for 2020 and to request Pequaywan Volunteer Fire Department to burn the pile after a snow fall, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried 3-0-0.
- LBAE training: Supervisor Dressen had scheduled a mid November date to complete the training. Supervisor Swanstrom has not completed the training.
- Position opening for deputy clerk: At this time there has been no application received for the deputy clerk position. Ray Barnes will discuss the position with an interested party when North Star Township meet this Thursday. Supervisor Dressen suggests that meetings go through Zoom for more interest in the meetings in general but also for the deputy clerk position.
New Business
- Monthly town board meetings and upcoming meetings and elections including budget meeting, board of audit meeting, annual town meeting, board of canvass meeting, reorganization meeting, LBAE meeting, and annual town election: Discussions need to be had about safety protocol for meetings and election or locate a larger capacity location. Pequaywan Firehall can accommodate up to 13 people. The snowmobile club is 40×60 and may be a solution as the grooming equipment will not be housed until after April 1st. If Zoom is considered a practice, run would be prudent.
- Wallace reported that the township received CARES election grant funding from the state through St. Louis County to assist the township with 2020 election cycle preparation and related costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the amount of $449.00. The amount submitted was for $515.98. The default allocation included the following factors: a flat base allocation for all counties, 2018 voter turnout, 2018 absentee voter turnout, number of registered voters, number of polling places, and population.
- Barnes will create a new fund titled Building Property and Maintenance Fund in the amount of $1,500.00 which will come from the General Fund.
- Town residents Marialice Arndt, Richard Arndt and John Wilson proposed to install a flagpole, a landscape rock and a granite plaque in the corner of West Branch Road with the landowner’s approval. Motion by Dressen for Richard Arndt to apply for a Cooperative Light & Power (CLP) Roundup Grant to install a flagpole at the corner of West Branch Road using the township as Representative Organization, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0.
Correspondence
Received:
- Email from Brian Fritsinger, St. Louis County Administrator re-CARES grant to Small Cities and Town to reimburse election and non-election expenses incurred related to COVID-19
- Email from Phil Chapman, St. Louis County Elections re-CARES grant for reimbursement of expenses related to election in the amount of $449.00
- Email from Lora Skarman of St. Louis County Assessor’s Office re-LBAE Minnesota training for 2021 LBAE meeting
Sent:
- Submitted the CARES grant reimbursement form for election expenses related to COVID-19 in the amount of $449.00 to St. Louis County
Public Comment:
- Short term rental/license: St. Louis County Ordinance 62 will go into effect in January 2021. Chair Kuettel said that Pequaywan Township has no jurisdiction for enforcement of short term rental/license as that is the role of the county.
Next Meeting, November 10, 2020, 7:30 p.m., via teleconference
Dreseen motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m., seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0.
Minutes was taken by Marialice Arndt, Recording Secretary
Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Town Clerk