MP10-07                                                        
Maine Prairie Township Comp Growth/Board Meeting
February 25, 2010
 
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag.  The meeting was turned over to Chuck Marohn from Community Growth Instittute.
 
The three things he wanted to accomplish were: 1) Comp Plan Comments Discussion, 2) Future Land Use Map Review and 3) Annexation Agreement Discussion.
 
With the review of the Preliminary Comp Plan, there were no changes requested from anyone present. 
 
The Future Land Use Map was review with much discussion.  The group requested changes to be made and emailed to the supervisors. 
 
Orderly Annexation shows a mutual agreement between City and Towns.  Annexation Agreements can be:
1) Time Based (where it is done on a schedule with agreements on tax re-imbursements,)
2) Trigger Based (Petition by residents, extension of utilities by the entity, etc,)
3) Entire township/City has joint powers where both sides need to agree on issues but the decision supersedes the county.
 
What to put into the agreements:
1)      Compensation (Tax base phasing)
2)      Time for Service (rate of annexation by acres or sections) (provided service within a time limit)         (Tax Rate, 2 taxing districts, rural & urban and this changes when serviced are extended)
3)      Concerns from the City and Concerns from the Township
 
The Public Hearing is set for March 25th, it will be a formal process, question and comment time, feedback, close the public hearing.  Whatever changes need to be made can be made and approved at a different board meeting.
 
Chuck Marohn will email copies with the changes to the clerk so she can forward it on to the board.  He will then have copies to hand out at the annual meeting on March 9th.
 
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the Comp Growth meeting.  Motion carried.
 
Chair Wicker reconvened the Board Meeting to take care of some necessary business. 
 
Clerk Harff explained that she had two liquor licenses that need approving right away because they needed to get them to the county and state.  One was for Pearl Lake Rec for a 1 year liquor license.  One was for Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pearl Lake requesting a onetime liquor license for a benefit/auction.  Supervisors Loewen/Unterberger made a motion to accept these liquor licenses.  Motion carried.   
 
Clerk Harff needs approval to send the audit to the State.  She has reviewed the preliminary audit and to her it looked acceptable but questioned the auditors on the management letter for requirements coming up for 2011.  The Governmental audit regulations are requiring a Fund Policy to explain how much you are to keep in your funds at all times.  They are also requiring a description of each fund and its purpose.  They also want to know which fund is restrictive or non-restrictive.  Clerk Harff explained the only thing the township was written up for as a warning is when the residents voted to donate to a 4-H club at the annual meeting.  According to the state statute explains that is not acceptable.  Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the preliminary audit and have KDV send it off to the state.  Motion carried. 
 
Charles Craft was concerned that he is being double charged by the Rockville Fire contract.  Chair Wicker stated that he spoke with Rena and there are some corrections that will need to be made, but the township will not allow any double dipping.  Wicker explained that he would like to see the fire hall debt changed to be set up like the MP North district.  Wicker will keep in touch with Rena Weber and review any changes.  The City will also be asked to be more transparent and notify the township as to where service calls are made and when.  The City arrives at the amount due on the contract by using a percentage of calls and a percentage of tax capacity.  The problem was they did this also for the fire hall debt.  The township will work with the City to make it easier for both entities to understand how the figures are arrived at. 
 
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn.  Motion carried.
 
 
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer