MP11-73
Maine Prairie Board Meeting
December 13, 2011
Supervisor Loewen opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
The meeting was recessed to Planning and Zoning at 7:05 and reconvened
at 7:40.
Board members present: Supervisors Dennis Loewen, Ron Kuechle, John
Wicker and Terre Harff, Clerk. Others present: Chuck Froehling,
Ron Wasmund new interim building inspector with two inspectors (Gary
Utsch and Lee Gladitfch), Eugene Merten, Jim Unterberger and Lonnie
Hendricks.
Minutes were called for, a correction was made on page MP11-71 where it
stated granite was added to his road and it was gravel. Same page,
it was changed to state the Tadych letter did not have to be sent
because the temporary fence was removed. With the corrections,
Supervisor Kuechle/Wicker made a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report: Clerk Harff stated that the revenue money from
the county was deposited and she checked with the bank to make sure
enough securities are in place to cover the investments and checkbook
balances. She questioned whether the board wants to move money
into investments. Supervisor Wicker asked why there was a negative
balance listed under Rd & Bridge Fund. It was explained that there
is no money in the checkbook for Rd and Bridge but there is money in the
savings. Clerk Harff suggested that we leave some from the revenue
check into the checking Rd & Bridge fund. Supervisor Wicker/Loewen
made a motion to move S120,000.00 into Money Market; which would be
$31,000.00 to Fire Fund, $21,000.00 to Snow Fund, $23.000.00 to Blading
Fund, $32,000.00 to General Fund, $6,000.00 to Town Hall Fund and
$7,000.00 to Rd and Bridge Fund. The balance of the revenue check
of $150,802.18 will be placed into the Road and Bridge Checking account.
Supervisor Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to approve the treasurer’s
report. Motion carried.
Old Business was called for: Gene Merten was present and felt he was
being required to pay more for his driveway culvert than what was
discussed. Gene felt he was doing the township a favor to have his
ditch cleaned out so the road no longer washes away. He had
purchased the culvert and said he would pay for one load of gravel.
But he was being charged for ditching and feels that should be the
townships responsibility. After reviewing the bill, Supervisor
Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to lower the bill to $250.00. Motion
carried.
Mel Frank contacted Supervisor Wicker concerning gravel for his
driveway. Frank felt the township should pay for gravel placed in
his driveway by the culvert because it was washed away with heavy rains.
It was stated that the township does not do maintenance on driveways so
no action needs to be taken.
Norgren tree service has completed trimming trees off of 140th St and
Balkan Rd. A complaint came in concerning the piles of wood by the
driveways. Supervisor Kuechle explained that the homeowners wanted
the wood so it will be removed by them. The board was pleased with
the work done.
Kingston Street was discussed. The billing shows Kingston
Township’s share of culvert work is $515.56 and $6709.50 for the 2556
yards of gravel at $5.25 a yard, the gravel came from Maine Prairie’s
gravel pile. Kingston Township maintenance man hauled the gravel at
$4.00 a yard. Maine Prairie’s share was $5112.00
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MOU/Road meetings have been changed for two months to handle other
urgent business. The board felt they should get back on schedule
with the 4th week in January to discuss the MOU changes that Heidi sent
along with the Ordinance changes. The board also feels it
important to work on the Building Code issue. Clerk Harff was
asked to contact the lawyer to see if the township can rescind the
building code and adopt their own. Jim Unterberger explained when
they adopted the building code they were free to choose what was
inspected. Now the township is obligated to follow the building
code and nothing is excluded.
Township Hall – Discussion was the township cannot get estimates for
adding onto the fire hall because there are no drafts drawn up as to
what the city would allow and the building would need to be an
engineered project. It was decided to try to work only on the
donated land and build in the township. The decision was to come
up with expenditures for interior furniture and operating expenses.
Discussion was that it would not be wise to invest into a city owned
building without a joint agreement. Clerk Harff was asked to see
what the lawyers have to say about the steps and process for putting a
joint powers agreement in place. Discussion was it needs to be
known that this could all take place without increasing taxes and to
fund within so no money would need to be borrowed.
With no other old business New Business was called for:
Fire Board meetings – Kimball Fire Board meeting was attended by
Supervisor Kuechle. The fire contract will increase by a small
amount. The Kimball Fire has received some grants for needed items
but the cost of running the fire department has increased.
Rockville Fire meeting was attended by Supervisor Wicker. The fire
contract will also be increasing. Wicker explained the training
costs have increased. The township should owe roughly $17,000.00
for the year 2012.
KDV Contract – Clerk Harff explained if the board wants a KDV
representative to come out to go through the audit, it would cost extra.
The cost has gone up $50.00 to $4950.00 this year. The audit will
be set for January 13th . Supervisors Kuechle/Loewen made a motion
to continue to use KDV and sign the contract. Motion carried.
Election – Filing notice is on the website and will be published in the
paper for two weeks. Clerk Harff has asked Alice Robinson to be
with her on the Absentee Ballot Board and Beverly Adolph to help with
the election. She will need approval from the board.
Supervisors Kuechle/Loewen made a motion to approve the Absentee Ballot
Board and election judges. Motion carried
Holy Cross of Pearl Lake is requesting a gambling permit for their
Calendar Sale. Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to accept
the request. Motion carried.
Jim Unterberger asked if the clerk could be more specific as to the
expenses paid out for the year end reports. Clerk Harff explained
she has always given a list of the amounts paid to individuals when she
posts the Statement of Orders at the annual meeting. The only way
to be more specific would be the ledger of all the accounts and that
would generate about 30 pages. It was suggested to bring this back
up at the February meeting.
Bills were presented: Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to
accept the bills presented along with approving payment to the City of
Kimball for $1000.00 for rent, $44,790.21 for 2012 Fire Contract (of
which both
MP11-75
are due January 1st), and to pay to have two extra copies of the Stearns
County Ordinance pages done. Motion carried.
Balance Brought Forward
$159,063.23
Receipts
+292,755.59
Disbursements
- 142,298.94
Balance in Checking
$309,519.88
Investment Total
$905,195.79
Total Value of Township
$1,214,715.67
Supervisors Kuechle/Loewen made a motion to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.
Motion carried.
Terre Harff
Clerk
Maine Prairie
Township
12670 Co Rd 149 Watkins, MN 55389
Phone: 320.398.2905 Fax:
320.398.2906
clerk.mpt@meltel.net
Copyright (c) 2008