NORTHERN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – Monday, March 14, 2022. Northern Town Hall, 445 Town Hall Road NW, Bemidji, MN.
PRESENT: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Curt Blumhagen, Chris Lahn, Mike Kelly and Gary Barnard. Treasurer Doug Kranich, Road Supervisor Tim Vigen, and Clerk Mary Israelson. See sign-in sheet for guests.
MINUTES: A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Blumhagen, to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2022, meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
VISTORS:
ROAD REPORT:
Vigen asked that up to 40 hours of work be authorized for tree trimming with Randy Lofgren, and for brushing with Kelm Brushing. The tree trimming would be at a rate of $40/hr, that includes 4 men and a new large chipper. The brushing is $130-135/hr and includes a large brusher. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Blumhagen, to authorize up to 40 hours for tree trimming, and for up to 40 hours of brushing. The motion carried unanimously.
Gravel – Vigen reported that one of the roads that needs gravel this summer is Raspberry Court (about 750 ft). The price is approximately $15.10 cy from Lakes Concrete Plus.
North Country Circle – Joel Johnson has been recommending that this development road have some improvements done to it. It will again be looked at during the road tour.
So. Movil Lake/Tavistock Roads – This project came about very quickly and survey work will be beginning very soon, so it was agreed that the property owners will be invited to an informational meeting during the next meeting on March 28th at 6:00 p.m. Kelly has had a conversation with a property owner who seemed very receptive to the possibility of storing reclaim materials on their property, to help save on the gravel material portion of the contract.
TOWNSHIP/CITY EXTENSION OF SERVICES:
A Letter of Support was received from the City of Bemidji, but there has been no committee meeting or hearing set with the State Legislature. Frenzel continues to be in touch with them. It was suggested that a meeting be scheduled with the City’s selected committee to continue discussion regarding this matter, and specifically the service agreement details. It was felt that the Township should have the same number of representatives (3) on the committee as the City. They will be Frenzel, Lahn, and Kelly, and posting the meeting will be required due to having a quorum of the Board present.
Some discussion was held regarding the need to update the Northern Township residents of this matter, and it was suggested that a letter might be the best method, with Frenzel agreeing to work on it.
JOINT PLANNING BOARD (JPB) REPORT:
There were several planning case reviewed, with a couple of them in Northern Township, one for a Variance on a property along Birchmont Beach Road, and another for a re-zone in the Plat of Deerpath. They will begin the process to review the Ordinance for amendments.
RURAL FIRE ASSOCIATION (RFA) REPORT:
Blumhagen reported that the recent scheduled meeting was canceled unexpectedly, and has not be re-scheduled as far as he knew.
TREASURER REPORT:
Bills – Kranich presented the bills payable with check numbers 11115 to 11135 totaling $43,612.49, with the largest payments to; Johnson Construction for winter road mnt – $21,047.50. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Blumhagen, to pay the bills as presented, and it carried unanimously.
Treasurer Report – Cash by Fund balances are; Revenue – $255,843.611, Road & Bridge – $709,291.39, Rural Fire – $208,959.83, and Sewer District Waville – $14,302.44, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Federal COVID Relief funds – $208,959.83, for a total of $1,203,087.33. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, seconded by Barnard, and carried, to approve the report as presented.
Certificates of Deposit – Kranich reported that there are three (3) CDs maturing totaling $350,000,00, and recommended investing as follows; $195,000 to be invested for 30 days at .70%. and $100,000 for 1 year at .85% at Security Bank USA, and $100,000.00 for 1 year at .85% at 1st National Bank. Consent was given for the investments.
Bank Co-signer – Kranich indicated that Security Bank USA requires authorization to allow Vice-chair Chris Lahn to be added to as a signer on the Northern Township accounts held there. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Kelly, to authorize Vice-chairman Chris Lahn as a co-signer. The motion carried unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Revised estimate from RB Enterprises, Inc., for the bathroom re-models, 2) receipt of the payment of $6,212.96 for the damage to the cemetery fence, 3) copy of Letter of Support from the City of Bemidji for our sewer/water project funding request addressed to State Representative Matt Bliss, 4) also Letters of Support from; the Chamber of Commerce, 5) Ruttger’s, 6) Friends of Lake Bemidji, and 7) the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners, 8) tentative schedule for the S. Movil Lake/Tavistock project from Engineer Mark Fuller.
OTHER:
Bathrooms – Blumhagen presented the updated estimate for the bathrooms, with a new plan of removing the stall partitions and adding locks to the doors. The new estimate equals $11,300.00. ARPA funds will be used for the upgrade to all touchless fixtures. A motion was offered by Blumhagen to approve this work as bid, and it was seconded by Kelly. The motion carried unanimously.
Garage – Kelly will work on preparing requests for bids, and will include two (2) separate quotes; One for a structure that will match the Town Hall, and another that would be a simpler metal building. He will bring this back to the Board for review at the next meeting.
Web Meetings – Work is being done to get set up for access to our meetings via a web connection using Microsoft Teams.
Road Tour – Kelly recommended that we rent a vehicle for the road tour, so that everyone can ride in one vehicle.
Keys to Town Hall – Kelly asked that everyone on the Board be given keys to the building. When asked, everyone indicated that they had keys.
Deputy Clerk – Kelly reported that he had talked with Dianne Dockendorf about the possibility of being the Deputy Clerk. She indicated that she will consider it once she had talked with the Clerk.
With no further business forthcoming, the meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.