Meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Charles Kuettel
Attendance:
Town officers: Supervisor Charles Kuettel, supervisor Donald Swanstrom, supervisor Douglas Dressen, clerk Lita Wallace, treasurer Raymond Barnes, deputy treasurer Lynne Scalzo, and deputy clerk Amber Cruz.
Guests: Pequaywan Fire & EMS Fire Chief Dale Brooks, Paul Klassen and Lisa Klassen
Clerk’s Report: Since the meeting was conducted via teleconference, the supervisors read the December 8, 2020 minutes from the town webpage. Dressen motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0.
Treasurer’s Report:
DECEMBER 2020
Total Funds on hand as of 12/01/2020 (Includes Investments) – $170,204.59
Plus: Deposits – $13,795.77
Tax Apportionment – $12,799.39
Township Aid – $864.00
Interest on Accounts – $132.38
Less: Disbursements (December) – $885.88
Payroll – $614.88
Office Expense – $16.00
Worker’s Compensation Policy – $255.00
Total Funds on hand as of 12/31/2020 – $183,114.48
December Check # 1606 – 1613
January 2021
Claims (January) – $19,684.06 (includes $16,500.00 for Pequaywan Fire & EMS)
January Check # 1614 – 1626
No transfers to the Checking Account will be needed.
Dressen motioned to approve the December 2020 Treasurer’s Report and Claims for January 2021, seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried, 3-0-0. As per Minn. Stat. 367.18, the township board has audited and approved the claim; (2) the clerk has indicated his or her approval that the board took the action indicated; (3) the treasurer indicates there is money available in the township’s account to pay the claims; and (4) the board has delegated the authority to issue the check.
Old Business
- Township Board Meetings: February meeting will be held via teleconference.
- March meetings (Annual Town Hall, Town Board, Board of Canvass) may be held via Zoom or in-person.
- Board of Canvass meeting must be conducted within two days after the March Town Election (to certify the elected officer) by teleconference or in-person which will be discussed during February meeting.
- If the Annual Town Hall and Town Board meetings are conducted in-person and if attendance reaches capacity (to maintain proper social distancing), the meetings will be tabled until warmer weather will permit an outdoors meeting. Levy is not due to St. Louis County until August so voting can be done in the spring. The two meetings will be discussed further during the February meeting. Brooks mentioned that the front area of the Pequaywan Firehall may be used if the weather is nice. Fire trucks may be taken out if there is no snow that day. Brooks also mentioned that he will test the Pequaywan Firehall for internet speeds for possible Zoom meeting usage.
- New township officers: Amber Cruz and Lynne Scalzo where hired as the deputy clerk and deputy treasurer, respectively. Wallace sworn them in for the Oath of Office on January 9, 2021. Swanstrom motioned a $15.00/hour salary during their training phase up to March 9, 2021. On March 10, 2021, they will take over the clerk and treasurer positions and they will be paid the same salary as the present clerk and treasurer are receiving. Seconded by Dressen, motion carried, 3-0-0.
- Swanstrom motioned to add Cruz and Scalzo as signatories for all the accounts with Superior Choice Credit Union, seconded by Dressen, motion carried, 3-0-0.
- One hundred forty two (142) letters were sent by Wallace via postage mail advising resident voters of mail-in balloting for March 2021 Town Election. Ballots will be mailed no later than February 9, 2021 with return address sent to Wallace. Pequaywan Ballot Board will review the ballots and will be opened and counted March 9, 2021.
- Reminder for 2 meetings: Board of Audit Meeting and Budget Meeting scheduled on January 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Pequaywan Firehall – this is an Open Meeting (we will follow COVID-19 guidelines – must wear a mask, hand sanitizer provided, social distancing to limit number of people)
New Business
- Brooks reported that in the near future, the roof of the firehall will need replacement. The cost is being looked at, as well as, avenues for payment. The fire department is setting aside money for the repairs. He submitted a budget spreadsheet for the fire department from the last few years and requested the amount of $16,500.00 for 2022, same as in 2021, for contribution from the township.
- Approval of Resolution #2020-001, appointing 2021 Election Judges. Swanstrom motioned to approve, Dressen seconded, motion carried 3-0-0.
- Approval of Resolution #2020-002, Appointing the Absentee and Mail-in Balloting Ballot Board for 2021 March Town Election. Swanstrom motioned to approve, Dressen seconded, motion carried 3-0-0.
- Conditional use permit application for short-term rental for a property located in the township that St. Louis County is considering a meeting on February 11, 2021: Wallace is to send information to the supervisors about the approved St. Louis County Provisions for Short Term Rental for review before responding.
- Opening for an individual to manage trouble shooting the town’s webpages using WordPress: Swanstrom mentioned that he knows someone and that he will talk with the individual.
- Requests have been made to reduce the speeds on Pequaywan Lake Road from the north end of the big lake to Pequaywan Inn. A survey of the residents may be conducted, as well as checking with St. Louis County and state level. The state controls the speed limit.
Correspondence
Received:
- Letter from St. Louis County Planning Commission re-conditional use permit application located in 9335 Pequaywan Lake Road for short-term rental and consideration for a meeting on February 11, 2021
- Emails from Phil Chapman of St. Louis County Elections re: (1) approval for mail-in balloting and various email responses to inquiries; (2) Town Clerk Election Guide; (3) Absentee Voting Administration Guide; (4) address label file and list of resident voters for sending letters and ballots to resident voters for town election; and (5) envelopes use for mail-in balloting
- Email from Minnesota Association of Townships with information on how to use mail-in voting for the March township election
- Weekly email newsletters re-COVID-19 from St. Louis County
- December 2020 newsletter from Minnesota Association of Townships
- Email from St. Louis County Land Minerals Department re-2020 Annual Noxious Weed Report to be filled out and submitted by January 31, 2020
- Email from Office of the State Auditor stating that CTAS 2021 is now available including 2021 Tax Tables
- Invoice of $65.18 from St. Louis County Auditors Office for services completed in the preparation and delivery of the Proposed Tax Notice
- Resume from applicants for clerk and treasurer positions
- Affidavit of Candidacy from Charles Kuettel for supervisor position
- Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness as of December 31, 2020, received rom St. Louis County Auditor’s Office to be completed by February 1, 2021.
Sent:
- Resolution #2020-015, Authorizing Mail Balloting for 2021 March Town Election and Resolution #2020-008, Designating Annual Polling Place emailed to St. Louis County Elections
- Workers’ Comp Survey mailed to MATIT
- Emailed to St. Louis County a copy of Public Notice for the supervisor opening for March town election
- Letters sent by postage mail to 142 resident voters re-mail-in balloting for March township election
- Submitted the following documents via electronic filing to the State of Minnesota: (1) Minnesota Unemployment Insurance; (2) Minnesota Sales and Use Tax; and (3) Minnesota Withholding
- W-2s sent by postage mail to town officers
- Deb Pomroy, Pequaywan Township Weed Inspector, completed and signed the 2020 Annual Township and City Report, co-signed by Kuettel, was submitted to the St. Louis County Agriculture Inspector
- Annual Report of Outstanding Indebtedness as of December 31, 2020, sent to St. Louis County Auditor’s Office
Public Comment: None
Next Meeting: February 9, 2021, 7:30 p.m. via teleconference
Adjourn meeting: Dressen motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m., seconded by Swanstrom, motion carried 3-0-0.
Respectfully submitted by,
Lita Wallace, Clerk
Amber Cruz, Deputy Clerk