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KABETOGAMA TOWNSHIP REGULAR MEETING October 7, 2008
Chairman Nevalainen opened the meeting at 7:05 pm. Board members present were Supervisors Town and McGregor, Treasurer Kiner, Clerk Manninen, Deputy Clerk Tomczak along with 6 guests. All attending recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda - The Agenda was approved with two additions of the following items, Planning Committee Report after Community Center Report and Canister Site to new 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 with one correction, change the amount on claim 3066 to $254.54, on a motion by Supervisor Town, seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried.
Treasurers Report –
Payroll – Jill Kiner, $194.87; Manninen, $241.01; Nevalainen, $278.78; Town, $93.55; McGregor, $46.78; Tomczak, $92.35.
The treasurer’s report was approved with one correction. The $42.00 expense for snowplowing the community hall parking lot should have come out of the general fund. It will be transferred out of the road fund to the general fund, on a motion by Chairman Nevalainen, seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried.
Old Business –
SEH – Mike Larson gave an update on the Namakan Basin Project. · $100,000 was secured from St. Louis County to advance the project · Received additional support from the County to be our fiscal agent and to advise on the appropriate structure to manage the project. · Applied to the IRRB for a $100,000 grant to match the County grant. Discussed this with Rep. Dill and Senator Bakk and received their support. They asked the Commissioner of the IRRB to commit $50,000 this year and next year for this project. She indicated that would be something she could support and will get back to Rep. Dill with a response once she looks at the application. Kabetogama Township will need to authorize their Chair to sign a new application for $100,000 from the IRRB Commissioner’s Fund. · Applied to the Army Corps of Engineers for the Section 569 program for $500,000 for the project and we are working with Rolland Hamborg, meeting with him and exchanging several phone calls in discussion of the project. · Followed up with the USDA Rural Development Agency on the old application submitted. To date, a preliminary engineering report has been submitted. In order to advance this, we need to move forward with an Environmental Report along with a number of additional documents. It is SEH’s intent to move forward on these items once we receive the IRRRB grant and a governing structure is established and we receive your approval. · Discussed with the MPCA on Public Facilities Authority money through the Dept. of Trade and Economic Development for the project. They require the contact change from NAWE to SEH to move ahead with an application, as they need to know whom they are working with as the firm of record. Kabetogama no longer has NAWE as the firm of record. This change needs to be done by Kabetogama to allow SEH to submit applications. · Senator Klobuchar supported and submitted our $21 million request to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Mr. Oberstar submitted the request in the House.
Chairman Nevalainen moved to have the new application to IRRRB signed and sent out. Seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried.
Chairman Nevalainen recommended that Kabetogama Township follow the recommendations of our attorney Bob Ruppe on matters regarding the Namakan Basin sewer project. The board agreed unanimously.
Marlene Tomczak reported from the Planning Commission meeting held on October 6. The board reviewed the final copy of the Comprehensive Plan that was delivered by ARDC. These are the recommendations they will bring to the township board of supervisors. · A roads review should be made addressing repairs needed. · Draft a letter to Mike Forsman of St. Louis Co. detailing the findings of the roads review. In addition to this information, the letter should also address the following: 1. Stating the need for a local operator, especially if local position becomes vacant. 2. Explain the need for a local operator, especially in the winter months; address the safety concerns for the school buses as well as the residents and emergency services. · Draft a letter to the DNR regarding the importance of maintaining Woodenfrog State Forest Campground. · Request that the Lake Association include the Township Board at their annual spring meeting to hear the speakers from the National Park. Members of the Kabetogama Fire Department have expressed concerns as to the need of a dry hydrant at the Visitor’s Center. Kathleen Przybylski suggested that the fire department draft a letter to the National Park Service along with support from the Kabetogama Township regarding this matter.
Community Center Report – The contract with Jim Cowgill has not been signed by him and sent back. Marlene Tomczak has sent out an e-mail asking about this matter. Chairman Nevalainen has been contacted by three individuals asking why the township wouldn’t consider purchasing the Lure Me In restaurant building to use as the new town hall. The Board of Supervisors agreed that the building is not large enough, the parking is not large enough and there is no room for expansion. Marlene Tomczak and Betsy Warrington will be attending a grant writing course at the RRCC on Thursday the 9th of October.
A proposal has been submitted by the Kabetogama Tourism Bureau to host the 2010 Governor’s Fishing Opener. The planning commission will ask the Kabetogama Township to write a letter of support.
Chairman Nevalainen moved to send a letter to the DNR asking that maintenance be kept up at Woodenfrog State Campground. Supervisor Town seconded, motion carried.
Supervisor McGregor moved to have the letter sent to Mike Forsman addressing all the issues of our comprehensive plan regarding the roads at Kabetogama after the roads review has been done. Seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried.
Supervisor Town moved to have an advertisement put up at Gateway asking for bids on snowplowing Pucks Point road for the 2008-09 winter season. Any individual interested must have the proper insurance required by the township. Bids must be in by the following township meeting which will be held on Monday, November 10th, 2008. Any bids can be sent to the township at Box 305, Kabetogama, MN 56669.
Marlene Tomczak reported that the fire extinguishers has been tested and charged at the Community Hall. Supervisor Town volunteered to winterize the community hall.
New Business –
Governors Fishing Opener – The Kabetogama Tourism Bureau has submitted a proposal to host the 2010 Governor’s fishing opener. Heidi Schauer attended the meeting to give a review of work done to date. The Tourism Bureau has asked that the Kabetogama Township write a letter of support for this event.
Canister Site – the debris at the canister site will be piled up by Greg House and the Kabetogama Fire department will burn it in October.
Clerk Manninen brought up the subject of possible installing internet access at the Kabetogama Fire Hall. This would help the fire department out and the township. The internet could be used during meetings if necessary. The Kabetogama Fire department will discuss this at their next fire meeting and it will be reviewed again by the township supervisors at their next meeting.
Tourism Bureau Board Members – Supervisor Town moved to accept Christy Jacobs and Jerilyn Carlson to serve on the Tourism Bureau Board of Directors. Seconded by Supervisor McGregor, motion carried. Claims – There was a motion by Supervisor McGregor to approve the following claims, seconded by Supervisor Town. Motion carried.
Supervisor McGregor moved to adjourn the meeting, Chairman Nevalainen seconded, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk Kabetogama Township |