MP09-49
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
December 8, 2009
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Dennis Loewen, & Jim
Unterberger, Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff, and Deputy Clerk Bev Adolph.
Others present Chuck Froehling, Lonnie Hendricks, Gene Mertens, and
Daniel Greenwald. Ron Albers was absent.
Chair Wicker called for any additions or corrections of the minutes.
Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to accept the minutes presented.
Motion carried.
Chair Wicker called for the treasurer’s report. Clerk Harff explained
$221,684.00 of revenue money was deposited. She wanted to know if the
board wanted to move some into investments. After reviewing the
financial report, Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to approve the
treasurer’s report and have $125,000.00 moved to Road and Bridge Fund and
$25,000.00 moved to Fire Fund in Money Market investments. Motion
carried.
Old Business: The water issue on Carnelian Lake road by Etshokin’s
property was taken care of by Hendricks Sand & Gravel.
163rd Ave – A bill for $17,000.00 is due for the 163rd St. work. With
the road raveling issue being reviewed in the spring, the board felt the
whole bill should not be paid. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion
to pay 80% if the bill. The balance once it is reviewed in the spring.
Motion carried.
Eclipse Road – With nothing heard from the residents on Eclipse road, this
will be removed from the agenda.
Complaint 126th & 185th St – The board has decided to leave the sign where
it is now, Supervisor Wicker will explain this to the complainant.
Clerk Harff attended the Election class. The township is now required
to have ballots made up by an outside company at a cost of $.35 per ballot
and order in lots of 25, 50 or 100. It is required that the township
have ballots that can be used in the HAVA machine. Harff called to
find out that no extra requirements are necessary for the township meeting
but during a general election, extra judges will be required because of the
two different precincts. Harff has all the necessary postings ready
for the Township election.
City of Rockville road issue – Supervisor Wicker spoke with Rick Hanson
concerning the amount the township authorized to pay on Grand Lake Road.
With the township only paying for half on the South side of Grand Lake Rd.
The City was asking for the township to pay the full cost because it was on
the townships half. Supervisor Wicker told Hanson that it is a shared
road, whether it is on the township side or the city side. Hanson was
going to bring this to the City of Rockville board. Hanson stated the
City is considering crack sealing/seal coating 210th street in 2010.
Wicker felt maybe we could have some township roads done at the same time to
save some money.
Clerk Harff questioned whether she should send out the Hurrle letter.
Supervisor Loewen changed some of the wording and she forwarded it to the
other supervisors but had not heard from anyone. Clerk Harff was
directed to send it off with a follow up letter in two months.
With no further old business, new business was called for.
Gravel Crushing – Supervisor Unterberger was concerned that the township
will need to purchase gravel or have gravel crushed by next spring.
The options presented were: to crush at the Rod & Gun club pit, buy
from Mid
MP09-50
Mn Pit or Sommer’s Pit. Quotes were: Knife River (Sommer’s Pit) $3.75
a yd with $ .25 sales tax. Mid Mn Pit $2.75 a yard and crushing from
Stommes would be $2.20 a yd plus $ .45 a yd to Rod & Gun Club for gravel.
There was also discussion as to the added fuel cost. Other discussion
was that the Sommers pit would be cost saver because of its location.
Tabled for next meeting.
Two gambling permits presented for Holy Cross/Pearl Lake – 1 for Breakfast
in Feb. 2010 and 1 for Benefit. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a
motion to accept both gambling permits.
The board asked the clerk to check to see what the added cost would be to
have Mary Mueller continue to help the township with the website.
Clerk Harff spoke with DiversiCom about high speed but did not have the
papers they were sending out. Table for next meeting.
Clerk Harff asked if the board wanted to set the change of meeting date for
March. March 2nd would cause a problem because she would not be able
to complete the financial reports by that time. The board set
Thursday, March 4th as the regular board meeting for March.
Tri County Humane Society contract needs to be approved. Supervisors
Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept the humane society contract.
Motion carried.
Supervisor Loewen asked the clerk to make sure the county knows of the
change in chairmanship.
Sauk River Watershed discussion tabled for review in January.
Supervisor Loewen discussed the reflective sign regulations that will be
going into effect.
Mike Nelson from MN Engineering will be coming into the January meeting.
Supervisor Loewen explained the Watershed District will be working with the
City of Kimball, DNR and possibly others to improve Willow Creek. It
is designated a trout stream. They are looking at grant money to help with
the expense.
Kimball Fire Board – Supervisor Unterberger, Kimball Fire Bd representative,
stated the budget for this year will remain the same, $42,795.00, with
$17,000.00 due Jan. 1st. They are applying $15,000.00 from the
gambling money earned to keep the cost down. They are also applying
for grant money to replace the clothing.
Rockville Fire Board meeting will be held December 14, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
Supervisor Wicker will attend.
Hommerding Cars – Concerns that there is a lot of car parts and old cars
accumulating again. It was decided to give him till spring before it
is addressed again.
Supervisors Unterberger/Loewen made a motion to accept the building permits.
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to approve the bills presented
including whatever bills it takes to takes to complete the Township Plat
process before the end of the year.
MP09-51
Balance Brought forth: $ 70,719.32
Money received
237,058.79
Balance total
307,778.11
Expenses:
- 193,259.18
Balance in Ck Bk $ 114,518.93
Total Investments + 675,756.70
Total Value of Twsp $ 790,275.63
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer