Year: 2018

Meeting called to order: Clerk  Lita Wallace called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m.  Phyllis Mead was nominated to be moderator, none opposed. The annual meeting was held at Pequaywan Firehall  with 15 residents and one non-resident present.

Reading of minutes of previous year’s annual meeting minutes: Minutes of the 2017 Annual Meeting was presented and reviewed. Correction on 2017 Annual Minutes is the name of the recycling company which is Wastewood Recyclers. Motioned by Judy Strom to approve the minutes as amended, seconded by Doug Nelson, none opposed, motion carried.

Board of Audit Report: posted at Pequaywan Fire Department bulletin board.

Result of Town Election – one supervisor position: Position open was for a supervisor position. There were 20 votes for Charles Kuettel and one write-in for Bonnie Dressen.

Road Report – West Branch Road repair update: (1) The county required the widening of the turnaround and refuse to plow if not done. The estimate was $23,000 but ended up with an actual bill of $15,900. (2) West Branch Road has 6 problematic spots that needed repair. KTM estimated the cost to be under $100,000.00 for raising, filling, and to black top the road. The price also includes culvert work.

Report from Pequaywan Fire & EMS: Steve Pelto reported that there were three fire calls and 8-9 medical calls. They received a grant of $247,000 from the federal government to purchase a new fire and rescue truck. They will get rid of the old fire truck by donating to another fire department that has no funds to purchase one.

Annual Board of Appeals and Equalization date: scheduled on May 9, 2018, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at  Pequaywan Fire Hall

Set the levy:  Lee Kaplan motioned to set the levy for taxes at $30,000 for 2019, seconded by Charles Kuettel, none opposed, motion carried. $13,500 of the levy will go towards Pequaywan Fire Department, , all yay, none opposed, motion carried.

Suggestions/discussions on possible projects for the land owned by the township in Rossini Road:  Some suggestions were (1) build a walking path with volunteer work and using wood chips; (2) spray and kill off poplar trees and plant better trees; (3) develop a community garden with accessible water (check if there is a grant we can access for fencing, electricity, top soil, contact Coop Light)

Citizen Comments: Kathy Sluka, one of the election judges, question about creating am election sign for posting outside. It was determined that the Town Board is responsible for purchasing it.

Set voting hours and place:
7:00 a.m.8:00 p.m., Primary and General Election, Pequaywan Firehall
10:00 a.m.8:00 p.m., Special Primary and Special General Election, Pequaywan Fire Hall
5:00 p.m.8:00 p.m., Township Election, Pequaywan Fire Hall

Monthly meeting date/time – Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at Pequaywan Firehall

Annual Meeting date/time – Second Tuesday in March following the Town Election

March monthly Town meeting following the Annual Meeting

Postings Places

• West Branch Road sign board
• Pequaywan Fire & EMS bulletin board
• Pequaywan Inn bulletin board
• pequaywantownship.org

Meeting was motioned to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. by Judy Strom and seconded by Steve Pelto, all yay, none opposed, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace
Town Clerk

Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Scott Mead.

Present: Chair-Supervisor Scott Mead, Supervisor Lee Kaplan, Supervisor Don Swanstrom, Treasurer Ray Barnes and Clerk Lita Wallace. Others in attendance: two residents and one non-resident.

Clerk’s Report: Minutes of January meeting was presented and reviewed. Motion by Mead to approve the minutes, Swanstrom second. Mead yay, Kaplan yay, Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Mead motion to approve the January Meeting for December 2017 Treasurer’s report, Lee second. Mead yay, Kaplan yay, Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

January 2018 Treasurer’s Report
Total Cash on hand as of 12/31/2017 – $267,976.28
Plus: Deposits – $240.50
Less Disbursements (January) – $15,740.29
Total Cash on hand as of 01/31/2018 – $252,476.49
January Check # 1305 – 1313

February 2018 Treasurer’s Report
Claims (February) – $1271.29
February Check # 1314 – 1317

Old Business

• March Town Election is scheduled on Tuesday, March 13, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Pequaywan Fire Department. If unable to vote on March 13, you can vote by Absentee voting on Saturday, March 10, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at the Town Clerk’s Office, 3081 Little Cloquet River Road, Duluth.
• Annual Meeting and Town Meeting will follow after Town Election at approximately 8:15 p.m.
• Mead motion and seconded by Swanstrom to approve a bid submitted by KTM Paving for repair of West Branch Road costing $98,700 for the repair plus $3,500 mobilization fee for moving their equipments and to cap expenses up to $115,000.00. Mead yay, Kaplan yay, Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

New Business

• Approval of February 2018 Claims
• Budget discussion – for CTAS purposes, same amount will be used for 2018
• Financial audit of 2017 books – supervisors reviewed and approved the CTAS financial reports provided both by the treasurer and clerk which were pre-reconciled
• LBAE (Local Board of Appeals & Equalization) meeting scheduled May 9, 5-6 p.m. Pequaywan Fire Department

Correspondence Received

• Louis County 2018 Fee Schedule for Plowing – $975.00/per mile per year commencing October 1, 2018
• SLCAT (St Louis County Association of Townships) re-Resolution on St. Louis County Comprehensive Land Use Plan
• Email from SLCAT: (1) December 2017 and January 2018 Meeting Minutes; (2) Letter and Resolution to reinstate MAT General Counsel Kent Sulem; and (3) SLCAT Lobby Day participation form, March 21, 2018
• Master List for upcoming Township Elections in March
• St Louis County Election Department – 2018 Caucus Locations (contact the Auditor’s Office at 218-726-2385or elections@stlouiscountymn.gov if there are questions) http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ –
• Office of State Auditor required annual financial reporting of town activities to the State
• St Louis County Ag Inspector – form to fill out by the Town Designated Weed Inspector
• St. Louis Co. Planning and Community Development Department – Land Use Permit Summary issued in 2017
• Minnesota Benefit Association – Township Officer benefit program
• Social Security Administration – online access by treasurer
• Minnesota Benefit Association – life insurance statement
• Minnesota Association of Township ($161.60) and St. Louis County Association of Township ($307.12) Dues (note: this bill was paid in January but since the clerk in-charge of depositing the check was ill, it was not cashed right away)
• LBAE (Local Board of Appeals & Equalization) meeting scheduled May 9, 5-6 p.m. Pequaywan Fire Department

Correspondence Sent

• Completed and signed form sent to St. Louis County for grant permission to access township land in their process of setting up timber sale in Sections 18 and 20 of the county land
• Mailed two Absentee Ballots

Public Comment

 Next Meeting: March 13, 2018, after the Annual Meeting, approximately 9:15 p.m., Pequaywan Fire Department, 8764 Pequaywan Lake Road

Motion to Adjourn: Kaplan motion to adjourn at 8:20 p.m., second by Swanstrom. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Town Clerk

Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Scott Mead.

Present: Chair/Supervisor Scott Mead, Supervisor Lee Kaplan, Supervisor Don Swanstrom, Treasurer Ray Barnes and Clerk Lita Wallace. Others in attendance: two residents and one non-resident.

Clerk’s Report: Minutes of December 12 meeting was presented and reviewed. Motion by Mead to approve the minutes, Swanstrom second. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

December Treasurer’s Report:

Total Cash on hand as of 11/30/2017 – $255,329.38
Plus: Deposits – $13,734.37
Less Disbursements (December) – $1,087.47
Total Cash on hand as of 12/31/2017 – $267,976.28
December Check # 1297 – 1304

Kaplan motioned to approve the December Treasurer’s report, Swanstrom seconded. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

January 2018

Claims (January) – $15,740.29
January Check # 1305 – 1313

Old Business

• Mead stated that if we create a Comprehensive Plan, it would be what we would like but could not be less restrictive than the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
• Wallace reported that one Supervisor position is open for the Town Election in March. Deadline to submit Affidavit of Candidacy is January 16. Clerk’s office will be open for filing from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on January 16. Election will be held on March 13 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Pequaywan Firehall. Election Judges are Lita Wallace, Katherine Sluka and Robert McDonough.
• Mead met with KTM on December 4 to discuss an updated patch work for West Branch Road and was told that a new estimate will be submitted.

New Business

• Kaplan motion to approve the January 2018 claims including $13,500 levied for Pequaywan Fire & Rescue, second by Swanstrom. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.
• Mead motion to approve a request from St. Louis County to cross the corner of the township land in their process of setting up timber sale in Sections 18 and 20 of the county land, second by Kaplan. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried. Form to be signed by Mead and mailed to St. Louis County with stipulation to leave slashing where access could be had from Rossini Road in order to prevent motor vehicles from entering township property.
• Mead requested if the township could help pay for the seminar he is interested in attending. Topic is Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) held on February 28 to March 1 in the Twin Cities. Seminar registration is $170.00. Swanstrom motion to approve up to $300 expense reimbursement to include seminar and part of hotel expenses, Kaplan second, motion carried. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.
• The Fire Chief of Pequaywan Fire & Rescue reported on the activities of the fire department last year. Fire Department is requesting that $13,500 be levied for 2019 again. The supervisors unanimously agreed to table this until the Annual Town Meeting.

Correspondence Received

• Invoice from St. Louis County for 2018 Proposed Tax Stmt Prep in the amount of $69.24
• Invoice for insurance premium 3/1/2018-3/1/2019 from MATIT (Minnesota Association of Townships Insurance & Bond Trust) in the amount of $973.00
• Duluth Association of Townships (DAT) dues for $40, January meeting Agenda and October 2017 meeting minutes
• Letter from St. Louis County Planning Commission on its hearing decision about a request for a conditional use permit from one of the residents
• Request from St. Louis County to access township land in the process of setting up timber sale at Rossini, Sections 18 and 20, of the county land
• Letter from St. Louis County re-Subdivision Ordinance 60 proposed Safe Routes to School program language amendments
• Letter from the Office of Minnesota Secretary of State, Election Calendar, sample ballots and instruction materials for Town Election in March 2018
• Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness Form from St. Louis County

Correspondence Sent

• Barnes mailed the completed Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness Form to St. Louis County

Public Comment – None

Motion to Adjourn: Kaplan motion to adjourn at 8:20 p.m., second by Swanstrom. Mead yay, Kaplan yay , Swanstrom yay, motion carried.

 Next Meeting: February 13, 2018, 7:30 p.m., Pequaywan Fire Department, 8764 Pequaywan Lake Road

Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Town Clerk