February 14, 2017
Board Meeting Minutes
Maine Prairie Township
February 14, 2017
Attendees: Chair Wicker, Supervisor Kuechle, Supervisor Loewen, Zoning Administrator Froehling, Clerk/Treasurer Hunt, Deputy Clerk Robinson, Joe Hendricks, Tom & Lorraine Weber, Bob Deem, Eugene Deering, Brian Dietman, Dennis & Jan Schmitz; Erin Hausauer
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Wicker with the pledge to the flag.
Planning and Zoning meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.
Board meeting reconvened at 7:35 p.m.
Motion by Supervisors Kuechle/Loewen to approve the January 10, 2017 Board Meeting Minutes and the Special Meeting Minutes of January 17, 2017 with corrections. All in favor, motion carried.
The Treasurer’s report was reviewed.
Seven (7) claims were presented for approval and payment for the month of January in the amount of $17,131.36 (see claims list attached). Receipts for January totaled $12,277.59. Motion by Supervisors Loewen/Kuechle to approve the Treasurer’s report subject to Audit and pay claims as presented. All in favor, motion carried.
Reviewed briefly the preliminary audit which was held on January 23rd. There were no changes suggested arising from the audit by the Auditing firm as to Township operating procedures.
A brief discussion was held regarding the upcoming 2018 budget and levy reporting for 2018. Motion by Chair Wicker/Supervisor Loewen to adopt the 2018 budget and set the 2018 levy at $627,300. All in favor, motion carried.
New Business:
Kimball Golf Club Liquor License Renewal – Motion by Supervisor Kuechle/Chair Wicker to approve the liquor license renewal for 2017 for Kimball Golf Club. All in favor, motion carried.
Pearl Lake Recreation Club - Motion by Supervisor Kuechle/Chair Wicker to approve the liquor license renewal for 2017 for Pearl Lake Recreation Club. All in favor, motion carried
Erin Hausauer, Stearns County Emergency Partners - Erin gave a presentation on the County Emergency All-Hazard Mitigation Plan which is in the process of being up-dated. An explanation of funds available in the event of a disaster was explained by Erin. Clerk Hunt to notify Erin to update Maine Prairie Township’s goal status on the Mitigation Action Worksheet as “ongoing” with targeting “wind” and “tornado” as hazards being addressed.
Annual Meeting – The Annual Meeting agenda was approved by the Board.
Fire Protection Contracts – An increase in the fire protection contracts for 2017-2018 is as follows: Watkins Fire Dept. - $389.00; Rockville Fire Dept. - $929.00; and
Kimball Fire Dept. – approximately an $8,000 increase. These increases are over and above the contracts agreed to at the 2016 annual meeting. The budgeted amount in the General Fund will be decreased by $8,500 and an increase of $8,500 will be added to the Fire Protection budget for 2018.
Road Maintenance Quotes – Request for quotes for summer road maintenance will be published in the Tri-County News on February 23rd and March 2nd. Quotes received will be opened and accepted at the March 7th Town Board meeting.
2017 Score Grant – County has implemented a new procedure this year. If interested in applying for a score grant, an online form will need to be submitted to the County prior to March 31st in order to be considered for the grant.
Old Business:
Town Hall Rental – A discussion was held regarding rental of the town hall to civic organizations. Consensus is that if an organization is being paid by participants in the program for which the hall is used, the organization will be charged a fee, to be determined at the time the user’s request is made.
Roads Standards Ordinance/Policy - An addition clarifying Board responsibility in enforcing the ordinance will be made and the subject will be discussed at the March 7th Board meeting.
Discussion Items:
- Board of Appeals and Equalization to be held at Maine Prairie Township hall on April 25 at 4:30 p.m.
- Motion by Chair Wicker/Supervisor Loewen to change March Board meeting to March 7th and publish notice of meeting change in Tri-County News on February 23 & March 2. All in favor, motion carried.
- Deputy Clerk Robinson received a call from Dan in the County Auditor’s office regarding an inquiry Dan had from Richard and Roberta Beck. The inquiry concerns Prairie Avenue and 133rd Street which are located in the southwest corner of the Township. After discussion, the Board decided to change the name of 133rd Street to Prairie Avenue. Deputy Clerk Robinson will call Dan and let him know the outcome so he can pursue processing this street name change.
There being no further business, motion by Supervisors Loewen/Chair Wicker to adjourn the Board meeting at 9:45 p.m. All in favor, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Hunt
Clerk/Treasurer