|
KABETOGAMA TOWNSHIP REGULAR MEETING March 3, 2009
Chairman Nevalainen opened the meeting at 7:03 pm. Board members present were Supervisors McGregor, Town, Treasurer Kiner and Clerk Manninen, Deputy Clerk Tomczak along with 2 guests. All attending recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda - The Agenda was approved with the addition of Community Building to old business, on a motion by Supervisor McGregor, seconded by Supervisor Town. Motion carried.
Minutes – the minutes were reviewed by all present. The minutes were approved on a motion by Supervisor Town, seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report -
Payroll – Kiner, $159.77; Manninen, $397.24; Nevalainen, $347.07; Town, $46.77; McGregor, $46.78.
The treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by Supervisor McGregor, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried.
Old Business –
Namakan Basin update – Chairman Nevalainen read an e-mail from Gary Cerkvenik regarding Namakan Basin. In summary –A federal request for FY 2010 for additional planning money for the entire project was submitted to Senator Klobuchar and Representative Oberstar. This will go to the energy and water appropriators in the House and Senate. The deadline for submission was February 20 and that deadline was met. It is now up to the Senator and Congressman to submit this request under their name to the subcommittees. The Subcommittees make their recommendations to the full committees and the final decision will be made late this year although, often times the process spills over into the next year.
WRDA II – Gary met with both Senator Klobuchar and Representative Oberstar about our desire to submit a combined WRDA II request this year for the entire VNP project. This will need to be written and submitted in April. Congress intends to act on it this year, but the Senate is indicating it may go into next year.
Joint Powers Authority – The JPA was approved by the St. Louis County Board’s Committee of the Whole last week on a 6 to 1 vote. The appointments were made, including Katy Ebel (Ash River Trail), Rob Scott (Crane Lake), Robert Nevalainen (Kabetogama) and Commissioners Nelson and Forsman. The new budget request was re-submitted by the County to IRRRB.
The Commissioners from St. Louis County and Koochiching County are discussing a wider JPA to include the Rainy Lake side.
State – Gary stated that it is unclear how the state will allocate the federal stimulus funds, the PFA funds, or the new sales tax funds for clean water but he will continue to monitor these issues and look for opportunities.
The Energy and Water Appropriations form was submitted under the Voyageur National Park Regional Joint Powers Authority. During the meeting in St. Paul a Commissioner from Koochiching County was in attendance to ask that Koochiching County be included in the project. Our representatives indicated that it would improve our chances for funding if they were to be included. The new authority will be called the Voyageur National Park Regional Joint Powers Authority.
Town Hall Rental Policy – Chairman Nevalainen moved to accept the town hall rental policy, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. Supervisor McGregor moved to accept the rental application of the Community Hall by Polly Demuth for a wedding reception, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. The rent money will be deposited into the general account.
Roads – The dips were filled in around the lake roads. The community needs to send their concerns to the county regarding the maintenance of our roads especially during the winter and the concern that we may no longer have a local road person working in our area.
Community Entrance – Information from Dan Greenswig, Attorney from the Township states that in order for the township to spend any money at the corner by the fish is for the township residents to take a vote at an annual meeting as to weather they want any money spent down there and if so how much. This issue will be put on the agenda for the March 2009 annual meeting.
Planning Commission applicant – table to next meeting.
PPSSD – Chairman Nevalainen will speak with our attorney regarding how to deal with paying back the money spent on the PPSSD.
Community Hall Report – Here is a report put together by Sande Moyer.
The Kabetogama Community Committee has received a preliminary cost estimate from Jim Cowgill. This estimate can be found on the township web site. This is just an estimate not a bid. The plans were submitted to Kantor Elec., Shannon Heating & Plumbing, Falls Lumber, Wagner Construction, Bowman Construction and Jack Bartlett, Engineer to get these figures. The estimates are to be used to help get funding and to put together a financial plan. Sande Moyer, Marlene Tomczak and Betsey Warrington met with Gordy Winzenburg from Border State Bank to look over the estimates. He felt they were reasonable for the building. He discussed with them types of financing and also suggested they contact the ARDC to see if they would help put together a project plan. Using the total figure of $850,000 and a reasonable interest rate of 3.5% a 20 year mortgage loan would have a yearly payment of $53,000, a 30 year loan $41,000, a 40 year loan on a public building would not be unreasonable, and would further reduce the yearly payment but would increase the total cost of the building. There have been and may still be 10 year, 0% loans through USDA but the yearly payment would be $78,000. Using the figures for 20 and 30 year loans, the added amount to the Township levy could be 1/3 to ˝ of the current levy. That could increase the amount of tax for Kabetogama Township by 1/3 to ˝ to property owners. (Not total property taxes, only the amount for Kabetogama Township). Any monies raised by grants, donations, fund raisers etc., would reduce the mortgage amount. Sande has been in contact with Andy Hubley, ARDC and he is putting together information for them on funds available and they hope he will help put together a “Project Plan” which they need to go further. A private grant writer from Grand Rapids, Dick Grabco, who has been successful in getting, funding for projects like this one, has been contacted. Mr. Grabco is not available until later in March and at that time Mr. Hubley will set up a meeting with the Community Building committee, himself, Mr. Grabco and possibly Dennis Tabbert from USDA. The committee will also meet with Gary Bigler at Bremer Bank to discuss the project.
New Business –
Kabetogama Sign Hwy. 53 – Phil has suggested that the township speak to the state about installing signs stating Kabetogama and how many miles to that point from Orr and also from International Falls. Chairman Nevalainen sent an e-mail to Megan Forbes about this matter and on the matter of roads counts. As of this meeting he had not heard anything back from her.
2010 Levy – The board reviewed a proposed budget for 2010 which will be presented to the township residents at the annual meeting on March 10th, 2009.
Treasurer Kiner has requested to purchase a laptop computer for her use for township work. Supervisor Town moved to allow Treasurer Kiner to purchase a laptop computer, seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried.
Supervisor McGregor moved to accept the following claims, seconded by Chairman Nevalainen, motion carried.
Supervisor McGregor moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk Kabetogama Township |