MP11-12
ANNUAL MEETING          
Maine Prairie Township          
March 8, 2011
 
The Annual Town Meeting and Election was held on March 8, 2011 at the Kimball Area Fire and Rescue Hall.  The Polls opened at 12:00 noon and closed at 8:00 p.m. with the business meeting following the counting of the ballots at 8:40 p.m.
 
Clerk Terre Harff opened the Maine Prairie Township Annual Meeting with the Pledge to the American Flag.  Clerk Harff, called for nominations to elect a moderator to run the meeting.  A motion was made and seconded to nominate Larry Schneider as moderator.  Motion carried
 
Moderator Schneider presented the results of the election for a three (3) year term Supervisor:
            Total Ballot count was 185 votes
                        John Wicker received 99 votes          
                        James Unterberger campaigned as a write in and received 86 votes
            John Wicker won the election for next supervisor
 
Moderator Schneider called for the residents to review the minutes of the March 9, 2010 annual meeting.  Ron Kuechle/Mike Schneider made a motion to accept the minutes as presented.  Motion carried
 
Moderator Schneider called for the residents to review the Treasurers report.  A motion was made by John Wicker/Bob Pike to approve the Treasurer’s report.  Motion carried.
 
Moderator Schneider called for Old Business:
 
John Wicker explained that patches were put on 155th Street, repaired a frost heave; replace a culvert and patches put on Caisson Road.  Wicker explained that the 83rd Ave job did not get done; the contractors with the lowest bid could not fit it in.  The roads discussed for future projects are: 83rd Ave, ditch work on 135th Street West of Hwy 15, reconstruct 145th street, crack seal or resurface 121st Street and 170th Street.  The board discussed the intent to dust control on more roads, reclaiming the gravel off the shoulders and some tar roads going back to gravel.
 
Building a Town Hall:  With much discussion, the concern was the cost of the building.  Suggestions were to get quotes from contractors, search out other used buildings, and rent office space.  Eric Donnay asked if other areas were looked at, Brad Donnay asked if anyone checked into what it would cost to maintain a building, Bob Pike wanted to see more than one estimate, Tom Ehlinger felt that not enough of the residents knew about wanting to build a town hall, Keith Donnay stated he was not in favor of having a town hall at all, Brad Donnay suggested they look at adding onto the fire hall again, Jim Unterberger stated the biggest hang up was the cost, explaining that he felt it could be built cheaper.  John Wicker explained the township did not seek out estimates, the township building inspector had the company he worked for just run it through the computer.  Bob Pike thought that the township should lease to buy if necessary.   Charles Craft stated this has been discussed in the newsletter for two years, people should not be surprised that something needs to move forward.  His concern was that two years have been wasted, land was donated which was another sign that something was going to be done.  Now people are surprised and state that not enough people know about it.  Roland Donnay/Bob Pike made a motion to end this discussion and move on.  Motion carried.
 
Fire Districting – John Wicker reviewed the worksheet presented concerning fire districting.  After discussion, the residents questioned if it was worth the time and cost to pursue the fire districting.  The difference from the servicing in the township for each fire department is very close, the cost increases a lot for the Rockville South residents for the cost of their debt allocation for the Rockville Fire Hall.  Since the township has always paid that before Rockville North came into the picture, it seems unfair to make them pay the bill now.  John Wicker also pointed out that when Watkins and Kimball built their fire hall, the Rockville South residents helped pay for that cost as tax payers and didn’t receive the benefit.  Now the tables are turned and Wicker didn’t feel it was fair to them that they now get hit with higher taxes.  Tom Ehlinger said that he was in favor of getting the figures to review the cost and how each resident would be affected.  Now that he has the figures, he doesn’t feel that it should be changed.  Tom Ehlinger/Jim Unterberger made a motion to leave it with the township paying the fire contracts.
 
Clerk Harff explained she did not have the final figures for the Rockville Fire Department so she just estimated with figures from last year.   John Gohman/Roland Donnay made a motion to pay the fire contracts.  Motion carried.
 
Donations – Clerk Harff explained that the township had trouble  in giving to the 4-H club previously and the statutes are all over the place for what you can or cannot donate to.  Jeff Hilsgen explained that the Watkins ambulance had 308 calls this year of which Maine Prairie had 21calls.  Eric Donnay/John Gohman made a motion to donate $3,000 to Watkins Ambulance.  Motion carried.
 
Kris Obrien explained the work with Kimball Community Education classes.  The community education department sponsored 178 classes.  There were 481 residents from Maine Prairie attending the classes.  The money given will be used to sponsor residents that can’t afford the classes.  Most of the sponsorship is done in preschool classes.  John Gohman/Brad Donnay made a motion to donate $1,500 to the Kimball Community Education classes.  Motion carried.
 
No one was present for Community Playhouse.  Kris Obrien thought that the playhouse was in the process of reorganizing. 
 
Charlie Mueller came before the board requesting $500 for the youth program in the National Turkey Federation.  They work with the youth on gun safety, archery and teach the kids how to preserve the hunting heritage.  The group also donates to the handicap camp at Camp Ripley.   They do have resident youth from the township involved and the money received would go towards sponsorship for the students that can’t afford the classes.  It was asked if the township can accept this club as an organization to donate to.  Harff did not know, she said that she would check with the accountants to see.  Randy Johannes/Chuck Froehling made a motion to donate $500 if it is allowable.  Motion carried.  Charles Craft suggested if people want a donation, they should attend a township meeting before the annual meeting so the clerk can check it out before the annual meeting. 
 
The town board feels it not necessary to increase the levy this year.  Roland Donnay/John Gohman made a motion to keep the levy at $627,300.  Motion carried. 
 
Jeff Hilsgen/Ron Kuechle made a motion to set the next annual meeting for March 13, 2012.  Motion carried. 

Chuck Froehling/Gene Merten made a motion to have a show of hands whether the board should move forward or give up the idea on building a town hall.  The question was to raise your hands if you think the township needs to do something and move forward; 24 people voted yes and 4 voted no.  With that being the consensus, the committee will form again; invitation went out for anyone wanting to be a part of the committee should contact the clerk.  Dennis Loewen stated that it will remain on the agenda at each monthly meeting so anyone wanting information can attend the meetings. 
 
John Gohman/Jeff Hilsgen made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m.  Motion carried
  
Board of Canvass - Dennis Loewen/Ron Kuechle made a motion to accept the votes presented by the judges for the 2011 election with 99 votes for John Wicker and 86 for Jim Unterberger as a write in.  Motion carried.   Clerk Harff will check to see if the township needs to do a recount with the closeness of the count.    Because of the late hour, reorganization will be done at the April board meeting. 

Terre Harff

Maine Prairie Clerk