December 8, 2014 PERCH LAKE TOWNSHIP MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING Motions are tagged in bold. Meetings are tape recorded to facilitate preparation of minutes. Abbreviations BLASD-Big Lake Area Sanitary District, CAFD-Cloquet Area Fire District, FDL-Fond du Lac Reservation, WLSSD-Western Lake Superior Sanitary District 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL & PLEDGE Chair Dave DeLovely opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with roll call and pledge. Members present: Supervisor Gary Harms, Chair Dave DeLovely, Supervisor Tom Luke, Treasurer Nancy Wisneski, Clerk Lora Eames Staff present: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Deputy Clerk Lucille Larson MOTION (Luke/Harms): To approve the December 8, 2014, regular agenda, with changes: Removing 9c2 (K. Pauna) and moving 9b (R. Norris) to 4a. Motion carried. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. MOTION (Luke/Harms): To approve the November 10, 2014, regular meeting minutes as recorded. Motion carried. b. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve the November 10, 2014, Board of Canvass meeting minutes as recorded. Motion carried. c. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve the November 26, 2014, Special Meeting minutes as recorded. Motion carried. d. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve the December 1, 2014, Public Improvement Hearing minutes as recorded. Motion carried. 4. TREASURER S REPORT MOTION (Luke/Harms): To approve the Treasurer's Report as presented with a cash balance of $256,201.46 for the period ending November 30, 2014, and no red flags. Motion carried. Nancy reported receiving $32,290.51 in property tax settlement funds from Carlton County. 4a. GUEST SPEAKER Rick Norrgard, Safety Officer, County Transportation Township Road 421 MN Bridge 96279 Township Road 535 MN Bridge 09515 Supervisor Tom Luke introduced Rick Norrgard who makes annual inspections of the Ditchbank Road bridges/culverts and gave a brief history. In March 2014, Norrgard sent a 2013 report to the Town
Board which described the condition of both bridges. Bridge 96279 (Township 421) has a wood frame structure in need of major upgrade and repair. The Town Board then discussed removing and rebuilding the bridge with concrete and Luke sent letters of intent to the Department of Natural Resources, FDL, and County Transportation. Norrgard called Luke and advised that the Township may have state funding options. So, Luke invited Norrgard to discuss these funding options with the Town Board. Norrgard provided information (filed with Clerk) and explained that Carlton County receives a state allotment which is used only for township bridges. The Town's bridges do not yet meet structural deficiency and sufficiency criteria to qualify for these funds. Norrgard agreed to keep the Town Board informed of changing bridge conditions. 5. CORRESPONDENCE Clerk Lora Eames highlighted specific correspondence received since November. 6. MONTHLY WORKING BUDGET ON EXCEL Clerk Lora Eames provided the following information. REVENUES & EXPENSES NOV 2014 YTD 2014 YTD 2013 Revenues $2,808 $132,778 $128,059 Expenses -7,806-238,288-109,830 Difference -$4,998 -$105,510 $18,229 Lora reported that cash outflows in 2014 were higher than cash inflows, so the Town will end the year without savings. The Town will record $32,290.51 property tax settlement funds in December. 7. BIG LAKE AREA SANITARY DISTRICT (BLASD) Project - $12.9 million, sewer line around Big Lake, along Big Lake Road, to WLSSD a. Highlights of regular report: (1) Chair John Fredrickson reported status on the following: (c) (d) (e) (f) December 1, 2014, public improvement hearing: The purpose was (i) to inform District residents of the result of the feasibility study and (ii) to obtain their feedback on the project. This step was required for the funding application. The majority of District residents raised their hands in support of the project. The BLASD Board approved a resolution to move ahead with project. The BLASD Board will continue to pursue: (i) JPAs with Perch Lake, Cloquet, FDL. (ii) Agreement for boundary expansion with WLSSD. BLASD Board letters: (i) Recently sent letter to Cloquet to engage in discussion of connection. (ii) Will soon send letter to FDL, asking them to give their folks the option. (This will mean a modification to the JPA). Fredrickson will resume quarterly performance critiques with MSA (Engineer) Chief Executive Officer in 2015, with first quarterly review in March. Significant items in January: (i) The BLASD Board will hold its Annual Meeting. (ii) The District will be review documents for funding package. 12/08/14 minutes Page 2 of 5
(2) Questions: Is the boundary WLSSD is working on just our area or beyond? Fredrickson responded that it includes just the Big Lake Road and the District. Will time be an issue if the Township works with Gilchrist in developing the JPA first before signing the resolution? Fredrickson responded that the JPA should not be complicated and if completed in January, should not be a problem. 8. NEW BUSINESS a. New housekeeping items (1) Board members discussed the County's request to standardize recycling shed hours. b. Check signers 9. OLD BUSINESS Current Schedule Future hours Monday 1-5 Wednesday 2-6 Tuesday 1-5 Thursday 2-6 Wednesday 9-1 Friday 2-6 Saturday 8-12 Saturday 9-1 MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve new hours for the recycling shed as requested by the County Recycling, effective April 2015. Motion carried. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve Resolution 14-009 for Members Cooperative Credit Union and Resolution 14-010 for Frandsen Bank & Trust, authorizing a new list of persons authorized to sign checks. Motion carried. a. /b. Previously approved housekeeping items. None. Rick Norrgard, County Transportation moved to 4a c. Discussion/action on BLASD items (1) Remove and replace David Nelson on the BLASD Board. Advertise for BLASD Board vacancy. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To terminate the appointment of/ and remove David Nelson from the BLASD Board, effective immediately. Motion carried. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To appoint Supervisor Phil Johnson to serve the remainder of David Nelson's term on the BLASD Board, through December 31, 2015. MOTION (Harms/Luke): To publish a second notice in the newspaper seeking persons to fill the vacancy on the BLASD Board. Motion carried. (2) Kenneth Pauna - removed. 12/08/14 minutes Page 3 of 5
(3) Reappoint John Fredrickson MOTION (Harms/Luke): To reappoint John Fredrickson to serve a new three-year term, beginning January 1, 2015, and expiring on December 31, 2017. Motion carried. (5) Resolutions Draft resolution from MSA/BLASD (Ordering Improvement); or Draft resolution from Town's legal counsel (JPA first) Supervisor Gary Harms discussed Gilchrist's opinion that the Town lacks legal authority to sign the resolution drafted by MSA (engineer), and should have a JPA (joint powers agreement) in place before dedicating itself to an improvement. Gilchrist offered to work with a Town Supervisor and Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. (the firm retained to prepare the JPA) to protect the Town's interests. Supervisor Tom Luke raised concerned about the timeline, but agreed to preparation of the JPA ahead of signing the resolution ordering the project. The JPA should include: The Town will not be responsible for billing sewer customers. 10. ROAD AND BRIDGE a. Regular report The Town will not own infrastructure. The Town Board will adopt MN Statute 429 or 444 to ensure repayment to USDA Rural Development. MOTION (Luke/Harms): To approve Resolution 14-011, authorizing development of a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the BLASD for consideration by the Town Board. The Town Board authorizes Troy Gilchrist of Kennedy & Graven, Inc., and Supervisor Gary Harms to represent the Town's interests as needed in preparation of said JPA. Motion carried. Supervisor Tom Luke asked that the minutes reflect Gilchrist's opinion that the draft resolution from MSA (the Engineer) was not appropriate at this time. Supervisor Tom Luke advised that Tom DeLovely had nothing new to report. The fall brushing has been completed. 11. CLOQUET AREA FIRE DISTRICT (CAFD) a. Regular report 12. VISITORS - 6 Supervisor Harms announced that the District will hold its Annual Public Hearing for the 2015 Levy at 7:00 p.m., December 11, 2014, Scanlon Station. Also, the McGrath Report is complete. Tim McGrath will discuss the report at a public hearing at 7:00 p.m., December 17, Cloquet City Hall Council Chambers. The CAFD Board will review his recommendations. Both Dave and Gary thanked Supervisor Tom Luke and Treasurer Nancy Wisneski for their years of service and wished them well. 12/08/14 minutes Page 4 of 5
13. APPROVE AND PAY CLAIMS MOTION (Harms/Luke): To approve the payment of Claims #3158 through #3175 for the period December 1 through December 31, 2014. Motion carried. 14. ADJOURNMENT Claims $16,721.63 Payroll + 2,580.34 Total $19,301.97 MOTION (Luke/Harms): To adjourn the meeting with no time recorded. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Approved by Town Board Lora Eames, Clerk Dave DeLovely, Chair 15. EXHIBITS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST a. Exhibit A - Treasurer's Report b. Exhibit B - Resolutions (1) 14-009 (2) 14-010 c. Exhibit C - Resolution 14-011 d. Exhibit D - Claims List 12/08/14 minutes Page 5 of 5