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KABETOGAMA TOWNSHIP REGULAR MEETING May 6, 2008 Chairman Nevalainen opened the meeting at 7:05 pm. Board members present were Supervisors McGregor and Town, Treasurer Kiner, Clerk Manninen, Deputy Clerk Tomczak along with 7 guests. All attending recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda - The Agenda was approved on a motion by Supervisor McGregor, seconded by Supervisor Town, with the following additions. Add Lady Slipper Festival, Officer Training and water & electrical issues at the community building. 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. Treasurers Report –
Payroll – Jill Kiner, 194.86; Manninen, 374.20; Nevalainen, 283.46; Town, 93.55; McGregor, 93.55; N. Wilkins; 46.18. The treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by Supervisor McGregor, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. Old business – There was some confusion regarding air conditioning at the new community center building. There will be air conditioning installed. The system that has been suggested is called Ductless (Mini-split) Heat Pumps. The wall units run around 500 to 900 dollars per ton. They are more energy efficient. They can be zoned to cool certain areas of the building rather than cooling the whole building down at once. The system works by piping refrigerant to individual coils within air handlers mounted throughout the building rather than a single refrigerant coil/air handler and central ductwork. Mini-split heat pumps so not require ductwork for central air conditioning.
Chairman Nevalainen made a motion to continue forward with the planning process and building of the new Community Center for the Kabetogama Township area. Seconded by Supervisor McGregor. Motion carried. Planning Commission Report – Marlene gave a brief account of the planning commission meeting. Mark Nelson presented his plan to the planning commission. What he would like the township to do is apply for an easement to go across the state land then once the township gets the easement then it would be given over to him. The commission recommends that Mr. Nelson first look into the cost of putting the road in to see if he could even afford the project. He must also get all his permits together first. The township is not responsible in this matter. The board did not feel that they should restrict him. The town would have no liability in this matter and he would incur the cost of the attorney. He must get all his permits and everything in order before the township will look at it again. The board approved adding a vision statement to the comprehensive plan. The board approved changes in their by-laws that lets them have quarterly meetings rather than monthly and have special meetings when necessary. Organization meeting will be held in January. A motion was made and seconded to show support for the township to join the joint powers committee. The commission will also suggest to the township board that the arrowhead trail be mowed again this year twice like last year. Roads - Supervisor Town moved to enter into another contract with G. House to mow the arrowhead trail twice. The cost is still $120.00 per mowing. Seconded by Supervisor McGregor. Motion carried. Road Supervisor Town will get the contract to G. House for signatures and also make sure we have the insurance verification we need. We will also have him enter into a contract for clearing roads. Road Supervisor Town will speak with G. House regarding this matter and report back. Supervisor Town spoke with Mr. Jack Schelde from St. Louis County regarding snow plowing the township roads. He was told that the township needs to draft a letter stating how many times the roads need grading and plowed. The letter can state that we will call when the work is necessary. A letter will be drafted and reviewed on this matter and then sent out. There will have to be a letter drafted for Chloriding on the roads also. The chloride company asked Mr. Nevalainen if any other roads need this done. Northern Lights resort has asked if they could have it done on their road also. Mr. Nevalainen will draft this request into the letter also. Chairman Nevalainen moved to have these two letters sent to Jack Schelde and signed by Road Supervisor Town. Seconded by Supervisor McGregor. Motion carried. PPSSD – Supervisor McGregor moved to have the clerk send out the agenda and informational letter to the ppssd members for the June 26th working meeting. Seconded by Supervisor Town motion carried. Chairman Nevalainen attended the Lake Association meeting to discuss the possibility of leasing some land for part of the sewer district. The Lake Assn. seem to have no problems with that. The details will be worked out at a later date if the land is necessary. VNP said they would work with the township also regarding land. Flags should be set around the perimeter of the property to be used. Chairman Nevalainen explained that no members of the PPSSD could be removed from the district even with compliant systems. There is no mechanism for getting out of the district except to dissolve the whole district which would take 75% of landowners. The district cannot be dissolved until all the money owed has been paid. Mr. Puttika and Mr. Burchell have compliant systems but must remain in the district and the board must decide how they will handle this situation and what other options are available. Mr Robert Ruppe stated to Chairman Nevalainen that an option using an In Lieu Of clause that the compliant systems would not need to hook up at this time but later when their systems fail it would be mandatory that they hook into the system and at that time they would incur costs. The town board would have to decide how the costs would be paid to and after this point. Most likely costs up to the current will be paid by these parties also. Specifics on this matter will be explained in further detail at the June 26th working meeting. Richard Lehtinen gave Chairman Nevalainen more sources for funding. Supervisor McGregor moved to have the agenda and informational letter for the June 26th working meeting to all PPSSD members. Seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. New Business – Joint powers meeting explanation – an introductory meeting was held in Orr, MN on Wednesday, April 9th to discuss the formalization of a joint powers committee including Kabetogama, Ash River and Crane Lake. The purpose of this meeting was to outline an approach for State and Federal funding to improve wastewater collection and treatment within the communities adjoining the water of Voyageurs National Park. The Kabetogama Community Action Plan 11/02 sewer systems received the top priority ranking of projects that needed to be addressed in our Community. The process is as follows: 1) Develop a request for Federal funding through the Water Resources subcommittee of the Transportation committee through a requesting process to Congressman Jim Oberstar. 2) Develop a request for State funding through a bonding bill for capital investments and submit to our State Legislators. 3) Contact St. Louis County as the financial authority regarding our involvement with the Joint Powers Authority. 4) Approve the hiring of the Costin group to be the overall facilitator for the funding requests and governmental interface. 5) Establish estimated costs from each Community to complete wastewater infrastructure projects. 6) Identify local representatives from each area to be on a county Joint Powers. Pucks Point Subordinate Service District wont’ be jeopardized by this, that direct appropriation is already inline and already spoken for. There is a meeting in Washington this month that will give us a good idea weather this will go or not. The costs right now will be $1,000.00 per month. If after this meeting happens there is a consensus that the appropriations will not come through then our contract with the Mr. Cerkvenik group will be cancelled. Each of these communities will pay the same right now. The township will be funding this contract right now not PPSSD funds. The Engineering group SEH will be assessing the areas to come up with dollar figures for wastewater systems. A motion was made by Supervisor Town to pay share costs with other two communities for the trip to Washington to meet with Oberstar and Gary Cerkvenik to pay Gary C up to a year at $1,000.00 per month. Supervisor McGregor seconded, motion carried. Supervisor McGregor moved to authorize expenditures up to $5,000.00 with SEH in assessing township properties for wastewater systems. Supervisor Town seconded, motion carried. Supervisor McGregor moved to have Tim Watson and Robert Nevalainen be representatives for Kabetogama Township in the Joint Powers Committee. Seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. Chairman Nevalainen has made a request for a laptop computer to use for township work. Supervisor McGregor moved to purchase a laptop computer for Chairman Nevalainen’s use. Seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. Lady Slipper Festival parking – the committee would like to have the parking area next to the community hall to be cleared of the brush so it can be used during the Lady Slipper Festival. The township will be entering into a contract with G. House to clear the debris from roads after storms and such. Clearing this lot can be added to this contract. Road Supervisor Town will speak to G. House regarding this contract. Electrical repairs need to be done in the community hall. The electrical wire under the community hall that powers the pump for water is bad and needs repairs. Many of the outlets in the hall need repairs also. Chairman Nevalainen will draw up a contract between the township and Lee Herseth Electric. He will run a new electric power line from the junction box to the well and inspect the wiring in the building. The contract will be reviewed by both parties before signing. Officer Training - M. Tomczak gave a brief overview of the training. A township attorney said that the township and the Kabetogama Fire Department should enter into a contract for fire protection. Chairman Nevalainen will look into this matter. A recommendation by the Planning Commission was made to the township board to look into getting better signs for the Arrowhead trail (contact the state). Claims Approval – Supervisor McGregor moved to accept claims 3029 thru 3037 totaling $8,948.89, seconded by Chairman Nevalainen, motion carried. Supervisor McGregor moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 pm, seconded by Supervisor Town, motion carried. Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk, Kabetogama Township |