Normanna Town Board Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2003
The Normanna Town Board Meeting was called to order on October 20, 2003 by Dan Johnson at 7:00 P.M. at the Normanna Town Hall. Present were Supervisors, Dan Johnson, Will Rhodes, Marcia Stromgren; Clerk/Treasurer, Tammy Courrege; along with 4 others.
The board reviewed the agenda. A motion was made by Dan Johnson to approve the agenda with the additions. Marcia Stromgren seconded. All for. Motion carried.
The clerk had the September 15, 2003 Town Board Meeting minutes to the supervisors prior to the meeting for review. A motion was made by Dan Johnson to approve the September minutes with grammar corrections. Marcia Stromgren seconded. All for. Motion carried.
Tammy Courrege gave the following treasurer’s report: Beginning balance for Wells Fargo checking as of 8/31/03 was 5,541.96. Deposits made were 65.50 from the State of Minnesota for disparity reduction aid, 50.00 from MAT for refund of preregistration, 1,970.93 from St. Louis County for DNR payment in lieu of taxes, and 779.83 from the State of Minnesota for DNR payment for matching grant. Disbursements cleared totaled 1,162.04 with a 2.00 check return fee. Ending balance as of 9/30/03 was 7,244.18. Beginning balance for Wells Fargo money market as of 8/31/03 was 52,043.77. Interest earned for September was $14.87. Ending balance as of 9/30/03 was 52,058.64. Paine Webber savings as of 9/30/03 was $.00. The Certificates were; 25,000.00 for Building CD #1, 20,000.00 for Building CD#2, and 10,000.00 for Fire CD. Ending balance for all accounts as of 9/30/03 totaled $114,302.82. The following claims were presented for approval: Qwest for 27.72, Minnesota Power for 41.00, Viking Office Products for 26.81, US Treasury for 168.31, Duluth Area Township Association for 20.00, Marcia Stromgren for 39.35, Williams Industrial Supply for 15.66, Alan Marshall for 55.00, and payroll for Tammy Courrege for 263.20, Dan Johnson for 64.64, Marcia Stromgren for 64.64, and Will Rhodes for 64.64. Total claims for approval were $850.96. A motion was made by Dan Johnson to approve the treasurer’s report and pay the claims presented. Marcia Stromgren seconded. All for. Motion carried.
The fire department had three fire runs this month. The fire trucks were maintained from Emergency Apparatus and there were a couple of other repairs to be fixed also.
The Building Committee didn’t receive the finalized plans from Jerry Harju. The Committee is working on getting cost estimates for the two options. The next building committee meeting will be November 3, 2003.
Will Rhodes received the Land Use materials from Inez Wildwood. Dan Johnson talked to Jennifer Carey and she hasn’t had a response back from Richard Marnich regarding the letter about the easement for the Koski Rd. turnaround. Jennifer Carey gave Dan Johnson some suggestions on how to get the easement. A road alteration petition is one option. Scott Grubb is willing to plow the Koski Road until the turnaround is complete. Dan Johnson will make a snowplowing contract with Scott Grubb for snowplowing the Koski Road.
There is no new information on the motor cross track. It will be off the agenda until something comes up.
There was discussion on the Land Use Committee Resolutions 2003-04, 2003-05, 2003-06. Will Rhodes brought up some suggestions. The board decided to change the terms to be a staggered two year term so only three members are being appointed at a time instead of the whole committee changing at once. They also decided to change the wording from may or may not use these guidelines to encourages to use these guidelines. Dan Johnson will have the revised resolutions to vote on at the next meeting.
The gravel will not be hauled on the Wikstad, Lookout and Hagen roads again this year. Rodda graded the Wikstad Rd. and will also grade the King’s Court and Lookout Rd. once more this year. Rodda has time to fix the frost boil on the Wikstad Rd. this year. It will cost approximately $2000.00. A motion was made by Marcia Stromgren to fix the area of the Wikstad Rd. and spend the money necessary. Will Rhodes seconded. All for. Motion carried. Dan Johnson had a request to put a dead end sign on Lady Nicole Lane. They will revisit this issue when they start road projects. A motion was made by Dan Johnson to suspend the gravel to be hauled on the Hagen, Lookout, and Wikstad Roads per contract with Scott Grubb. Marcia Stromgren seconded. All for. Motion carried.
Dan Johnson is still working on getting information on the fees and the resolutions necessary for a culvert ordinance.
There was discussion on the new way the newsletter was done. It will brought up at the annual meeting to see what kind of response there is. Newsletter ideas should be to the clerk prior to the December board meeting and new ideas can still be added at the meeting.
There was discussion on the upcoming MAT annual conference. Marcia Stromgren is going to go and will pre register herself. If the other officers decide to go they can pay at the door and get reimbursed.
The clerk will look for the new 2004 township calender from MAT and get copies for the supervisors.
Dan Johnson received some information on the Work Completion Certificate for town road projects. This form needs to be completed after each road project that costs over $200. The road supervisor inspects the work and approve it and then payment can be made upon approval.
The clerk mentioned that a resolution needs to be made to adopt the retention schedule so the records can be purged correctly. Dan Johnson will make a resolution for this for the next board meeting.
Marcia Stromgren mentioned that dumping at the French River Road gravel pit is getting bad. Marcia Stromgren is going to draft up a letter to the DNR regarding this issue.
The sensor light on the front of the building needed to be replaced again. Marcia Stromgren mentioned that she would like an electrical inspector come and look at the electrical in the town hall to see if there’s anything wrong. Marcia Stromgren will call Minnesota Power to see if she can find out any information. Marcia Stromgren also discussed taking precautions with the septic tank to prevent freezing again. She talked to Dennis Gunsolus and he suggested grading off six inches of soil and then putting down styrofoam and covering it back up. A motion was made by Marcia Stromgren to spend the funds necessary to prevent the septic tank from freezing again in the future. Dan Johnson seconded. All for. Motion carried.
Marcia Stromgren reported from the last DAT meeting. She mentioned that there is a firewise program with the DNR, some townships are putting in a dog ordinances, and the hazardous mitigation plan with the county is important to belong to.
There was discussion on a borrow pit permit application for a gravel pit request off the Vermillion Road. It’s mostly affecting Gnesen residents and the board doesn’t think that the Land Use Committee needs to hold a meeting. Will Rhodes will contact the members to make sure. Marcia Stromgren mentioned that with the new gravel pits in Normanna it might be a good time to start having a gravel tax. Dan Johnson will draft up a letter to the county approving or disapproving of the gravel pit which ever the board decides at the next meeting.
There was discussion on the Market Value Credit cuts. The board could call a special town meeting to increase the levy for the amount of the cuts. The board felt that the cuts weren’t big enough to have to do that
A motion was made by Marcia Stromgren to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 P.M. Will Rhodes seconded. All for. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Tammy Courrege
Last updated: 11/22/2003