MP11-04
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
February 8, 2011
Chair Wicker opened the board meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Board members present: Supervisors John Wicker, Dennis Loewen, & Ron
Kuechle, and Clerk/Treasurer Terre Harff. Others present Chuck
Froehling, Ron Albers, Lonnie Hendricks, Anne & Charles Craft, Gene
Merten, Alice Robinson, Regina Fox , and James Unterberger.
Chair Wicker called for any additions or corrections, on page two,
required a road addition to the minutes as to where the dog was picked
up. Supervisors Wicker/Loewen made a motion to accept the corrected
minutes. Motion carried.
Chair Wicker called for the treasurer’s report. Clerk Harff explained
that the audit is complete and went well. It was suggested that
auditor Jen Pakarski come out to present the results to the board.
Harff will check with her. Supervisor Loewen/Kuechle made a motion
to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
Old Business: Town Hall Committee Report – after reviewing the
drafted plans the committee was looking for direction from the board.
The question as to what the project would cost, a figure of $350,000.00
- $400,000.00 was brought up. There was disagreement as to the
cost; it was felt the board should come up with a more definitive figure
before the annual meeting. The cost would depend on how soon
it would be built. Clerk Harff checked with the State Auditor’s
office concerning inter-funding of the project instead of bonding.
It is possible to do but needs to be paid back to the fund it would be
borrowed from and depending how long it would take to pay back, interest
can be required to be paid back to the fund at the same rate it is in at
the savings rate. The auditors were concerned about the township
having a fund raiser for itself. Harff also checked with the State
Auditor and the townships can’t raise funds for itself but can accept
some other entity donating funds towards to the township.
Unterberger said the VFW would be raising the funds and doing the
benefit. Harff explained the township could use the news letter to
get the word out but can’t put out funds for the benefit. Any
flyers or ads would need to be paid by the VFW or donated. It was
suggested to no longer use the words “benefit” but to change that to
“Fund Raiser”. Chuck Craft asked if the townships would disappear,
who the building would go to. No one really knew but the building
could be sold. Supervisor Loewen/Wicker made a motion to approve
the recommendations of the Town Hall Committee. The committee was
thanked for the work they did. It was asked if there was
consideration to the cost of operating and maintaining a hall.
Jim Unterberger explained that he felt he should have been allowed to
file for the election. Harff stated that he filed late and after
calling the County Auditor’s office, the legal notice stated a 5:00 p.m.
deadline he cannot be allowed to file. Harff explained that Jim
came into the January township meeting wanting to file, he stated he had
tried to call the clerk, so the clerk felt she should allow him to file.
When she checked the township phone messages, he called at 5:56 p.m. and
that was past filing time. The next day she voided his receipt
and returned it back to him with his money explaining why he could not
file and that he could campaign as a write in. She also gave him
the phone number of the Auditor’s office if he had any questions.
Unterberger said there was no time listed in the paper. Harff
stated that she has a certified copy of the legal put into the legal
section of Tri County News. She had turned a copy over to the
county. It was decided that the copy that Jim showed the board was
done as an announcement on the front page to remind township people of
the filing deadline date. Clerk Harff wanted to know what
information should be turned over to Jim. He was asking for Clerk
Harff’s payroll stubs. She checked with the State Auditors Legal
office and they said the township does not have to meet the data
practices act requirements, only cities, counties and urban townships
are required to. It is left up to the board and if a lot of copies are
involved, the person would need to pay for the copies. She had a
copy of her W2 info if the board wished to give it to him. The
board requested that he put it down in writing as to his request.
Election Judges – Harff asked for board approval of the judges for the
township election: Beverly Adolph, Alice Robinson, Karla Ehlinger
and Terre Harff. She explained it is required to have four judges
because of the HAVA machine. Supervisor Wicker/Kuechle approved of
the judges. Motion carried.
Tri Co Humane Society – Harff checked into the Kimball Vet Clinic and
they would not want to take stray dogs at this time because they don’t
have a quarantine room. They had discussed adding one on but until
they do, they don’t want to accept strays. Supervisor
Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to sign the contract with Tri Co Humane
Society to accept dogs only. Motion carried.
RSmS – Their report was reviewed and it showed the township has a total
of 437 signs, 327 signs needed replacing and 85 signs can be eliminated.
There were only 25 signs that met the requirements. This will be
tabled for the April meeting. Harff was asked to see if poles were
also looked at.
Fire Districting – Wicker and Harff met with Jerry Roering at the County
Auditor’s office. Roering stated only Lynden Township has fire
districting in place. Wicker explained that each fire district
arrives at their contracted amount in a different way. The concern
is to be fair to the North side of Goodner Lake in Rockville Fire
District. A meeting was held Feb. 1st with a representative from
each department. The boundary lines were reviewed. Wicker
and Harff will meet to compile the figures into a report.
Road Plan – It was decided to have a special meeting with SEH to discuss
roads. The board asked Harff to set the meeting up for either the
Feb 21st or Feb 23rd at 7:00 p.m. It was explained the only
way we can meet on Presidents day is if it was a necessity. Harff
was directed to set work with SEH to come up with a date that works for
them.
Short Course Training – The dates were presented, no registration is
necessary for the Spring Short Course.
Day at the Capitol – Feb 23rd, cost is $5 for each person. Ron
Kuechle and Terre Harff will attend.
Annual Meeting – The agenda will be revised at the March 1st meeting.
Copies of the new growth map and the draft for the town hall should be
displayed at the annual meeting.
MP11-06
Change of Meeting Date – Supervisor Loewen/Wicker made a motion to
change the regular meeting day to March 1st because of the annual
meeting. The motion was amended to include the Board of Audit.
Motion carried.
Liquor License – Holy Cross of Pearl Lake requested a Liquor License
permit for their Dinner/Auction. Supervisor Wicker/Kuechle made a
motion to allow the permit. Motion carried.
Upcoming meetings: Kimball Fire Board Feb 10th– Ron Kuechle, Watkins
Fire Board Feb 9th– Ron Kuechle and Township Asso Dinner Mtg, April
28th.
A question about brush on Tower Road by 125th Street, it was decided to
wait till spring to deal with it. It was stated that Rick Hanson
talked about a project to seal coat 1.75 miles of Tower Road in 2012.
Land Stewardship was presented with no further discussion.
Harff was asked to add Building Inspectors contract to the agenda for
the April meeting.
Supervisor Kuechle/Wicker made a motion to approve the permits.
Motion carried.
Supervisor Loewen/ Wicker made a motion to pay the bills including the
reservations for Day at the Capitol. Motion carried.
Balance Brought forth: $ 95,703.67
Money received
+ 10,373.07
Balance total
$ 106,076.74
Expenses:
- 19,494.28
Balance in Ck Bk $
86,592.46
Total Investments
+ 880,911.98
Total Value of Twsp $ 967,504.44
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00
p.m. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer