APRIL BOARD MEETING MINUTES

APRIL 13, 2010

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Jeff Bachke. The “Pledge of Allegiance” was recited. Present for the meeting were Chairman Bachke, supervisors Greg Andrews and John Goman; clerk Cammy Hansen, Treasurer Holly Herstad, and Fire Chief Matt Frantz. Absent was animal control officer Gloria Dallum.

1. Reorganization of Board: Normally at the April meeting a new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is sworn in. It is John Werner’s turn but he remains deployed in Afghanistan. The current Chairman, Jeff Bachke will continue to serve as Chair until John Werner returns.

2. Upcoming meetings: Jeff went over the list of upcoming meetings:

A. April 15, 2010 6:00 p.m. Local Board of Appeal and Equalization

B. April 19, 2010 7:00 p.m. Rice Lake Fire Department Relief Assn.

C. April 20, 2010 6:00 p.m. Planning & Zoning Commission

D. April 21, 2010 6:00 p.m. Utility Committee

E. May 4, 2010 6:00 p.m. Agenda Meeting

F. May 11, 2010 6:00 p.m. Board Meeting

3. Minutes for Approval: A motion was made by Greg and seconded by John to approve the following meeting minutes:

A. February 9, 2010 Board meeting minutes

B. February 16, 2010 Board of Audit meeting minutes

C. March 9, 2010 DRAFT of Annual meeting minutes

D. March 10, 2010 Board of Canvass meeting minutes

E. March 15, 2010 Northland Constructors meeting minutes

4. Financial Reports: Holly read the following financial report into the record:

March Receipts $4,841.89

March Expenditures

General Fund $33,980.28

Administration $11,446.82

Public Works $ 5,977.17

Road & Bridge $14,047.78

Fire $ 6,862.67

Building Inspection $ 5,119.47

Water Tower $ 890.00

Go Improvement Bond $ 215.63

West Calvary Road Project $ 918.00

Total Expenditures $79,457.82

April Expenditures to date:

General Fund $77,289.49

Utilities $ 9,456.28

Payroll $15,000.00(est.)

Fair Housing $11,304.85

5. Correspondence Received:

· Office of the State Auditor E-Update (February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26)

· League of MN Cities Friday Fax (February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, )

· Minnesota Power notice of Public Hearing re: rate increase request

· Minnesota Cities, January-February, March-April 2010 issue

· Session Weekly, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 2010 issues

· Letter from Quinlivan & Hughes re: Grew court date of 5/13/2010

· Letter from NE Service Co-op re: proposed by-law changes

· Letter from NE Service Co-op re: Grant for broadband funding

· Cities Bulletin, February 17, 24, March 17 issue

· WLSSD February 22, March 22 meeting Agenda

· Letter from Dept. of Forestry re: Fire Warden meeting 3/23/10

· Letter from Veit re: Service Capabilities

· Letter from WLSSD re: User meeting 3/11/10

· Grand Lake Township newsletter

· 2009 Summary of Flow Data from WLSSD

· Business North, February, March 2010 issues

· Municipal Sewer & Water, March 2010 issue

· Letter from SLC re: Public Hearing on Water Management Plan

· Letter from WLSSD re: MPCA Grant application meeting

· Letter from SLC re: minimum Road & Bridge levy for 2011

· Lakewood Township newsletter

· Minnesota Power 2010 Community Investment report

· Pipeline, Winter 2010 issue

· Rural Water, First Quarter 2010 issue

· Letter from ARDC re: Energy Action Plan

· Canosia Township newsletter

· Email regarding zoning question (forwarded to Marty)

· 2009 I & I report and 2010 workplan from MSA

· HK Pipelines, Winter 2010 issue

· Group Leader Bulletin, BCBS, February 2010

· MRWA member reception invitation 3/1/10

· Technology Exchange, Winter 2010

· Letter from culvert supplier re: price increases

· Letter from Qwest re: 2010 construction season

· Letter from SLC re: Water Plan update

· MN Secretary of State Office update, February 2010

Cammy pointed out the letter received from Quinlivan & Hughes regarding the Grew variance court date.

6. Department Reports:

A. Building Department: Marty submitted the following report for February and March:

February and March, 2010

Total Valuation of Projects: $22,300.00

Total Permit Fees: $ 600.41

B. Planning and Zoning: Marty submitted the following report for February and March:

1) There was an Airport Joint Zoning Board Meeting held February 18, 2010 at the Duluth Airport. The Zoning Board is in the process of updating or revising the ordinance due to the last revision having been done in 1996.

2) The last regular Planning and Zoning meetings were held on February 16 and March 23, 2010 at the Town Hall.

3) The next Planning and Zoning meeting will be held on April 20, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.

C. Public Works/Road & Bridge: Cammy read the following report as submitted by Gary Olson into the record for March, 2010:

· All Town roads were inspected daily

· Culvert undermining repairs were made on S. Rutter, two on Luzerne, Heritage Dr. and Gothenburg roads

· One cross culvert was replaced on the Townline Road (15” x 38’.) The top of the culvert was gone and had to be replaced.

· All Town roads that needed grading were graded between March 22 and April 1, 2010

· Road debris was removed from Fauvelle, Summers, W. Kingston and Rutter Roads

· Plow and sander were removed for summer

· Cold patching was done on First Ave. S., Fayre Rd. and Second Ave. N.

· Commercial meters were read

· Radio meters were read

· Records from the Town Hall were transferred to the Public Works building

· Three legal postings were put out

· Three loads of aluminum cans were hauled to the recycler

· Thirteen Gopher One locates were completed

· Water usage was 2,748,670 gallons; daily 88,666 gallons

D. Fire Department:

1) Fire Chief Matt Frantz reported that the fire department responded to the following calls in February:

a. four medical calls

b. three auto accidents

c. one automatic fire alarm

d. one lift assist

2) And the following calls in March:

a. four medical calls

b. one carbon monoxide alarm

c. one mutual aid call for a grass fire

E. Animal Control: Cammy read the following report for the month of March as submitted by Animal Control Officer Gloria Dallum:

1) Hours 48.5

2) Miles Driven 177

3) Fines Collected $-0-

4) Citations Issued one

5) Dogs to Pound one

6) Licenses $63.00

F. Park: Cammy reported that no activity occurred in March, but there are a few things in the works for April:

1) Fencing agreed upon last year will be installed

2) We are researching possible advertising signs for the fields

3) A new sign was ordered

4) Greg reported that the outhouse by the road needs to be replaced as it freezes every year. We will look at grant possibilities.

5) A bid for the lawn service was received from Carlson Lawn & Landscape. The bid was approximately $500.00 less than last year’s provider. We will go ahead with the service from Carlson.

G. Utilities:

1) The new rates went into effect on April 5^th. The office has received a few calls regarding the increase.

H. Sheriff’s Report: The following activity for February 2010 was reported by the sheriff’s office:

1) Three shifts were worked for a total of 12 patrol hours

2) Six traffic stops were made resulting in six warnings and one arrest (a male arrested for three felony warrants)

3) Other activity/911 calls responded to:

a. Investigate report of suicidal female

b. Investigate report of suspicious person on Rice Lake Road

c. Investigate/take report of residential burglary

d. Execute search warrant for stolen vehicles and narcotics on Stockholm Road

e. Check welfare of male

f. Extra patrol of North Shore snowmobile parking lot

g. Extra patrol of previous threats call on Riley Road

4) The total amount billed to the Town was $660.00. Greg also informed the Board that he is working on next year’s schedule for patrols.

I. Rice Lake Fair Housing Authority: No activity in March, one pending loan for April.

7. Old Business:

A. Rice Lake Dam Road project: Cammy has taken this file back out and will try to revive this project now that construction season is upon us again.

B. New North Fire Hall: Cammy reported that she has left a message with the State to let them know the status of the Hall with regard to the three year term for tax forfeited land.

C. Remote Read Meters: Jerome will hopefully have some information regarding this at the next Utility meeting.

D. E. Calvary Watermain Design: The contract is here awaiting Jeff’s signature.

8. New Business:

A. South Fire Hall Garage Doors: Chief Frantz also submitted a copy of a summary of bids received for new garage doors on the South Fire Hall. The department would like the bid awarded to AJK Door Service as the doors will come pre-finished in the desired color. Other suppliers do not offer the color or would require custom painting which voids any warranty on the doors. Also, AJK is located in the Township. Matt had a small sample of the door material. A motion was made by Greg and seconded by John to approve the purchase of new garage doors from AJK Door Service in the amount of $9,124.00. All vote in favor; motion carried. The use of funds will be classified as a capital expenditure. Greg mentioned that it may be worth attempting to sell the existing doors; someone may be able to make two complete doors from the four.

B. Annual Audit: Cammy told the board that the annual audit was conducted last week. During the course of the week Cammy, Mary and Holly discussed the need to simplify our bookkeeping. We will set up a day in June to have Banyon come to the office to assist in setting up the accounts. Mary said we are not using the Banyon software to its capacity. Hopefully the simplification of the books will also simplify the audit and will result in reduced cost. The exit briefing will be at 5:00 on May 11^th, just prior to the board meeting.

C. Resolution 10-04-10: Cammy noted that the three members of the Fair Housing committee recommend the application for approval. The following resolution was reviewed:

RESOLUTION 10-04-10

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DISSEMINATION OF THE RICE LAKE FAIR HOUSING LOAN AUTHORITY MONIES TO QUALIFIED RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF RICE LAKE

WHEREAS, within the entity of Rice Lake Township there is incorporated a loan program known as the Rice Lake Fair Housing Loan Authority, and

WHEREAS, the purpose of this Authority is to loan its acquired funds to qualified person within the boundaries of Rice Lake to improve the property of the qualified persons as established by the Authority’s guidelines, and

WHEREAS, the Authority has a qualified homeowner, applicant 10-01, who meets the criteria as established by its standards for repairs. Maximum loan amount is not to exceed $9,500.00 plus administrative costs, and

WHEREAS, the monies paid back to the Town will be accomplished by a predetermined monthly schedule with an interest rate of 6.00%, and

WHEREAS, funds received from this loan shall be re-deposited in the Rice Lake Fair Housing Loan Authority account at North Shore Bank of Commerce and used for other such loans.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that upon approval of the Town Board that the administration of this loan shall be carried out by the Rice Lake Fair Housing Loan Authority and the Town Board.

Adopted this 13^th day of April, 2010

_____________________________ _____________________________
Attest: Camille S. Hansen, clerk Greg Andrews, chairman

A motion for the adoption of this resolution was made by supervisor John Goman with a second by supervisor Greg Andrews. Motion carried with all three supervisors present voting in favor of motion.

Ayes: Chairman Bachke, Supervisors Andrews and Goman

Nays: None

Absent: None

D. Advertising Signs in Town Park: Cammy spoke with Marty about the sign ordinance and was told that the maximum size allowed is 4 ft. x 8 ft. or 32 square feet. Greg thinks that this may require a public hearing prior to approval. Even if it is not required, the board agrees that we should hold a hearing to get input from residents.

E. Wage for deputy clerk: Cammy has done some research and proposes a $15.00 hourly wage for the deputy clerk. Greg made a motion to approve the hourly wage of $15.00 for deputy clerk Toni Blomdahl. John seconded the motion. Jeff clarified that the hourly wage will be paid when Toni is here during regular business hours. Meetings after hours will be paid at the board rate of $55.00 per meeting.

9. Business from the Floor: None

10. Jeff asked if anything is new with the Rice Lake Road/Northland Constructors project. Cammy sent an email to Scott yesterday and he responded with some proposed changes to the draft contract. She will forward that information to the supervisors.

11. A motion to approve and execute claims as follows was made by Greg and seconded by John. All vote in favor; motion carried:

General Fund checks #50473 through #50514

Utility fund checks #4206 through #4212

Payroll Checks # through # (none)

Rice Lake Fair Housing #1043 through #1047

12. Having no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.