Chairman Mike McCullen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisors Glen Williamson and Alden Shute, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Road Manager Alden Shute, Cindy Klienschmidt and Jim Bredesen.

Clerk’s Report of August 2nd Board Meeting.

Road Report: Alden said that the Tamarack Pine Drive regraveling project with RedRock gravel is complete. He trimmed trees on the Vink Road, River Cabin Road, Lost River Road, Little Tamarack Lake Road and Tamarack Pine Drive, and will get the tree at the Heller’s bridge cut down soon. He tried to grade roads but they are very hard with no rain.

State, County and Township December Storm Road Emergency: Alden spoke with Jeff Shute from Danforth Township and they did not apply for Public Assistance from the State Disaster fund for tree removal on Crooked Lake Road and Eagle Head Roads. Alden will have Hopkins do the tree clearing and we will apply for the funding, and any part not funded will be shared. Mike said most of the worst damage is on the Danforth side of the roads.

Deadline: Wayne Lamoreaux, ( wayne.lamoreaux@state.mn.us) “The State Disaster (2023-SD-070) was declared on January 31, 2023 and we will have one year from the date of the declaration to complete and bill for all of the work.

OLD BUSINESS: Wlma Town Park Sign: A 5′ X 1′ blue sign with white lettering made by M&R Sign Company is posted at the park. Mike said there are a couple of better places and he and Paul can move it.

Plow Display: Plows have been moved to the lawn before the display platform is built. Alden will place them on blocks, turn the angle plow to face the driveway, and then put down gravel inside a framework. The trees on road were trimmed. Patrice will paint ‘Town of Wilma’ on the angle plow. Mike moved that Paul get paint to put the base coat on the plow. It may need sanding for rust. Alden seconded, passed. Paul said tractor yellow with blue lettering would look good.

NEW BUSINESS: Snowplowing for Private Drives in 2023: An across-the-board increase of $25 was voted by the voters at the March annual town meeting. Standard driveways, $100; Over 700’: $125/season; 1,000 ft. to ½ mile: $200; Over ½ mile, $375. Must have turnaround space. No closed gates. No overhanging trees that can hit the grader. Wilma Township not liable for inadvertent damages while plowing private drives. 2023-24 snowplowing fees due by Nov. 1, 2023.” Cindy asked about Barb Smith’s drive, with new owners. Alden said as long as they haven’t obstructed it, he will plow it. Paul will post notice of the change and due date.

Propane Pre-buy: Federated is offering a pre-buy at $1.69/lb. We got 1400 gallons last year; Mike moved to order 1400 for this year. Alden seconded; passed.

PERA Enrollment: Patrice had a report of the law change for 2023 but we aren’t clear about how this affects us. So far our whole board has always opted to be excluded from PERA, since we are all have so much Social Security and FICA taken out.  The Insider says, “Public employees those salary exceeds $425 in any month and who are not otherwise excluded, must partipate in PERA.” We file our PERA Exclusion Report every year. Paul will contact the MAT Attorneys to ask if we all will still be exempt. If only one employee is paid more than $425 in one month, will he be the only one who has to join PERA, even if he opts out? Do we base this on the previous fiscal year?

Clerk/Treasurer CTAS Training: The Minnesota Association of Townships is offering the annual “4-Corners” training for Clerks and Treasurers, concentrating on CTAS (Small City and Town Accounting System) and going through the different modules and reporters. Patrice and Paul are enrolled September 25, 2023 in St. Cloud (Holiday Inn, 75 S 37th Ave, St. Cloud); they will carpool. Cindy will go to St. Michael on September 26.

MAT 2023 Annual Conference: Will be December 7 – 9 at the Rivers’ Edge Conference Center in St. Cloud. The Pine Co. Township Officers Association may offer scholarships as they did before COVID.

Couri&Ruppe Legal Seminar: Will be Saturday, September 16 in Rutledge, 9-4. They will answer all legal questions for free. Mike will ask about PERA.

Assessment Training: Online training for boards of appeal and equalization is available from MAT. “Follow the instructions on the Board of Appeal and Equalization Training website and follow the instructions. If you close out of the course before certifying your completion, you will need to retake the course. This new format does not save your progress so you must complete it, or you’ll need to start over.” Glen is certified to July, 2026. Mike and Alden not certified. We have a computer in the hall with internet access for Mike to use.

Town Hall Deck, Plow, and Pressure-wash Hall: Paul asked if we shouldn’t put stain and preservative on the town hall ramp; it’s been several years. Mike moved that Paul buy the supplies and stain it. He also moved that Paul pressure-wash the town hall for the spider webs and dirt. Alden seconded both; passed.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills for September, $9,629.79, mostly from Sommerland ($6,380) and Hopkins Gravel $3,305); Patrice requested a transfer of $10,000. Glen moved to approve the report and approve the transfer. Alden seconded; Passed.

Glen moved to adjourn; Alden seconded; passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:30

Paul Raymond, Clerk

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2023 WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

Chairman Mike McCullen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Supervisors Glen Williamson and Alden Shute, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Clerk Paul Raymond, Road Manager Alden Shute, and Jim Bredesen.

Clerk’s Report of July 5 Board Meeting. Patrice asked if the motion regarding board member contact with our township attorneys, Couri&Ruppe, was for only Supervisors or for all board members. Paul said the board had said Supervisors, but Glen said that should be amended to cover all officers, with the same parameters and requirements of the original motion, i.e., That “they must tell them to cap the consultation at $1,000 and they must give a written opinion for the whole board.” Alden moved to approve the report; Glen seconded; passed.

Road Report: Alden said he is ready to do the Tamarack Pine Drive regraveling project with RedRock gravel. He bladed out the holes on Little Tamarack Pine drive.

Bridge Replacement on Markville Road Near Boys Camp: The rotting old bridge was removed and they are putting a big cement culvert in like they did on the Duxbury Road at the Flemming Road a couple of years go. Alden said the pavement won’t be done until next week. Paul asked if we can drive across it when it is still dirt? They cut the phone cable going east and our fiber optic cable was out for two days. Photos of the old bridge torn out: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HRSHg9dVRFrVDZGU9

State, County and Township December Storm Road Emergency: Alden spoke with Jeff Shute from Danforth Township and they are having Rootke cut the trees on Crooked Lake Road and Eagle Head Roads. Danforth Township did submit a Request for Public Assistance for the State Disaster (2022-SD-070) and they will be repaid for almost all of the work. Mike said most of the worst damage is on the Danforth side of the roads.

Deadline: Wayne Lamoreaux, ( wayne.lamoreaux@state.mn.us) “The State Disaster (2023-SD-070) was declared on January 31, 2023.  Wilma Township (Pine County) will have (1) year from the date of the declaration to complete all of the work.

OLD BUSINESS: Wlma Town Park Sign: A 5′ X 1′ blue sign with white lettering is being made by M&R Sign Company, who did our weight limit signs. Around $80.

Plans for Park/Liability: in response to citizens asking if the town board has any plans for development or use for the park, e.g., an area cleared and access created so people can have picnics there, Mike had said we could have a liability problem. Heather Tidmore, Director of MATIT, said, “There is a Parks and Recreation Immunity that applies to public entities (State/County Parks) – so by extension that would also apply to township-owned parks.” MAT Attorney Graham Berg-Moberg has a much longer opinion (printed out and given to the officers)

NEW BUSINESS: District 7 Meeting MAT: Thursday, August 10, Director Tammy Carlson, Anoka Ramsey Community College, 300 Spirit River Dr S, Cambridge, MN  (District 7 Pine, Kanabec, Isanti, Chisago, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington Counties). No one is interested in going.

MAT 2023 Annual Conference: December 7 – 9 Rivers’ Edge Conference Center in Duluth. The Pine Co. Township Officers Association may offer scholarships as they did before COVID.

PROPERTY APPRAISAL TO REFLECT COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES WHEN A COVERED LOSS OCCURS: “The Minnesota Association of Townships Insurance and Bond Trust (MATIT) contracted with Overland Solutions/ExL to conduct an independent, on-site appraisal of township property to ensure that the township has coverage sufficient to complete repairs or the replacement of the damaged property. This is particularly important given the increase in the cost of materials and labor.” MATIT met with the clerk on Tuesday July 25 at the hall.

Pine Co. Wanderers and FallFest: Paul asked the board for permission for the Wanderers to hold their October 25 meeting at the Wilma Town Hall. It will be after FallFest (October 21) so Paul will ask them to leave all the tables up from FallFest for the Wanderers to use. Glen moved to allow them; Alden seconded; passed.

Couri&Ruppe Legal Seminar: Will be Saturday, September 16 in Rutledge, 9-4. They will answer all legal questions for free.

Assessment Training: Training for boards of appeal and equalization are available.  “Follow the instructions for any board members taking the on-line training.  It is strongly encouraged to have more than one member take the training. Registration, usernames, and passwords are no longer required. Visit our Board of Appeal and Equalization Training website and follow the instructions. If you close out of the course before certifying your completion, you will need to retake the course. This new format does not save your progress so you must complete it, or you’ll need to start over.” Glen is certified to July, 2026. Mike and Alden not certified. We have a computer in the hall with internet access for Mike to use.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills for August, 5,894.42; request a transfer of $5,900. Glen moved to approve the report and approve the transfer. Alden seconded; Passed.

Glen moved to adjourn; Alden seconded; passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:30

Paul Raymond, Clerk