MP11-09
Maine Prairie Township Board Meeting
March 1, 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, Joe Hendricks, Judd Bonham, and Gene Merten.
Chair Wicker called for any additions or corrections, two sentences were removed. Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made a motion to accept the corrected minutes. Motion carried.
Chair Wicker called for the treasurer’s report. No treasurer’s report could be given. The clerk does not receive the bank statement until after the 1st of March so could not balance the books until that was received.
The Board of Audit was reviewed. The audit report from KDV was reviewed along with yearend papers from the clerk. The books all balanced out and no negative comments from the auditors. Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to accept the audit presented. Motion carried. Supervisor Lowen asked that the board be able to meet with KDV next year as part of the contract.
Old Business: Review annual meeting agenda – Concerns about donations asked for by different organizations. Supervisor Loewen made a motion that the township seeks legal help with this. After discussion, he rescinded his motion. There still remained the question as to if we should give to schools and the playhouse. Clerk Harff was directed to get what information she could.
Budget: The budget figures were reviewed. A correction was made, budget adjusted and the final figure came to a total of $682,000. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to accept the budget for 2011. Motion carried. Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle made the motion to accept the same levy for 2012, to be presented at the annual meeting. Motion carried.
Road Work to be presented at the annual meeting. Supervisor Loewen would really like to try to reclaim some of the shoulders on the gravel roads. Joe Hendricks will check into getting a machine to do that type of work. The other roads discussed was: 83rd Ave overlay/patching, 135th St West of Hwy 15 needs ditch cleaning because of water running over the road, Eclipse Rd needs to either be re-tarred or put back as a gravel road, Evergreen road going back to gravel because tar is so bad, crack sealing/seal coating on 121st & 170th St and rebuild/reconstruct 145th street. We need to be ready to call up for bids in April/May. Supervisors called for a Road meeting on March 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Joe Hendricks, from our maintenance company, was asked to come up with a list of trouble spots. Clerk Harff will take care of the legal notice.
LTAP training classes: Clerk Harff received a brochure on Gravel Road Maintenance and Design training in Alexandria on March 24th. Joe Hendricks asked if he would be willing to attend with a Supervisor at the cost of the township. Hendricks will speak with his dad and get back to the township. Supervisor Loewen stated that he would be willing to attend.
MP11-10
Clerk Harff asked if Dan Kron could come in with the final plat for Ida Schaeffer. He would have had the papers ready for the regular meeting but with the board changing the meeting day, he didn’t have them completed by March 1st. The board felt it was only to sign the final papers, it could be possible. Clerk will contact him and put it in the legal notice.
Fire districting worksheet was discussed. It was suggested to remove the parcel numbers from the sheet.
SEH contract: With utilizing Randy Sabart as our contact, Supervisors Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to sign the contract. Motion carried.
Town Hall: Supervisor Loewen/Wicker made a motion to contact Mr Teide, township lawyer, to find out what the legal process is so this can be reported at the annual meeting.
Fire meetings attended by Ron Kuechle: Kimball Fire budget for 2012 was adjusted and lowered. The clerk costs dropped considerably. They are also going to build training buildings at no cost to the townships. South Haven and Watkins fire departments will be helping in covering the costs and they will be able to use the training facility. Watkins Fire Meeting, usage was lower and no extra money was placed into the equipment fund like last year. The contract did not change a lot from last year.
Gravel Pits – Clerk Harff received a request for information from the county concerning number of gravel pits in the township. It was discussed how many gravel pits are listed in the township, permitted and unpermitted. Harff was directed to give this information to the county.
Gambling permits: Pearl Lake Recreation and Ducks Unlimited asked for a gambling permit. Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to approve these permits.
Policing the township was discussed. The concern was that the Kimball police were called off on an emergency situation. Supervisor Wicker spoke with Jon Lentz, township representative at the County Sheriff’s department, Lentz stated that the protocol is in non-emergency cases only the county responds but in emergency situations, everyone is allowed to respond. Lentz requested a date as to when this reported emergency occurred so he could check into it. He also stated that the county can do reports to the township as to when they are called out. Supervisor Wicker would check with the city to see when the call was made and get back to Lentz.
With the clerk not able to do the financial, she asked permission to pay the bills presented, such as Hendricks, RSmS, KDV, and Ron Albers. She also asked to be able to pay for the Telephone and the LAP training. Supervisor Wicker/Kuechle made a motion to authorize payment of the accounts due. Motion carried.
Spring Short Course is March 21st & 22nd. Supervisors will let the clerk know when they plan to attend so she can pay for the sessions.
Township Association Dinner Meeting will be April 28th. Tabled for the April meeting.
Balance
Brought forth:
$ 86,582.46
Money received
+
31,628.49
Balance total $ 118,210.95
Expenses: - 32,775.46
Balance in
Ck Bk
$ 85,435.49
Total Investments + 881,451.95
Total Value
of Twsp
$
966,887.44
Supervisors Loewen/Wicker made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m. Motion carried.
Terre Harff, Clerk/Treasurer