NORTHERN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – Monday, May 8, 2023. Northern Town Hall, 445 Town Hall Road NW, Bemidji, MN.
PRESENT: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Curt Blumhagen, and Chris Lahn. Treasurer Doug Kranich, Road Supervisor Tim Vigen and Clerk Mary Israelson. Absent; Mike Kelly and Gary Barnard. See sign-in sheet for guests.
MINUTES: A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Lahn, to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2023, meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
LAWN CARE QUOTES:
Quotes from three (3) contractors have now been received, and the owners of BRO Property Services were present to answer any questions. After some questions were asked of them, a motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Lahn, to accept the quotes from BRO Property Services for this year’s lawn care needs. The motion carried unanimously.
VISTORS:
Mark Borseth, who has been recently hired as the Township’s Planning Administrator, was present via Microsoft Teams.
ROAD REPORT:
Vigen reported that he would like to hire someone to clean the catch basins along S. Movil Lake Road, and it was agreed to contact Veit Co for a quote.
Crack Filling – Vigen will be getting a quote for work needed on Town Hall Road, from Irvine Ave east to Hwy 71, Aspen Ave and Whiting Road.
Patching – Approval was given for Vigen to go ahead and have the needed work done by S&T Services.
Elliot Road – A chip seal application is planned, to be administered by the City of Bemidji, and we will be billed for half of the cost. It is assumed that new striping will be a part of that job.
Grading – Johnson has been blading the roads as needed, and will continue to do so.
Road Tour – This will be discussed at the next meeting, and possibly scheduled for sometime in the near future.
JOINT PLANNING BOARD (JPB) REPORT:
It has been reported that the City is likely going to be remodeling their current building versus building new, so the JPB office will be moving back to that building once the work is complete later in the year. Planning cases before the JPB included the former West Wood Acres property, a cell phone tower near the airport, and a multi-use proposal for the former Kummer landfill property along Anne Street. Frenzel will be coordinating a meeting with Planning Administrator Carlson and Mark Borseth, to discuss a process for transferring records from the JPB office to the township.
RURAL FIRE ASSOCIATION (RFA) REPORT:
Blumhagen reported that he did not attend the recent meetings, with Kelly filling in. Kelly will likely report at the next meeting when he is present.
BELTRAMI ASSOCIATION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (BATO):
Barnard was not present to report on the recent meeting, so Israelson reported; presenters at the meeting were the Beltrami County Highway Engineer Bruce Hasbargen, and newly elected Sheriff Jason Riggs. Also, MAT District 12 Director presented information regarding an issue that happened at MAT that four (4) township were released from membership. As a result of the matter, he is recommending that BATO consider recommending amendments to the MAT By-laws that might address this situation if it were to happen again in the future.
BEMIDJI RURAL ANIMAL CONTROL ORGANIZATION (BRACO):
Blumhagen reported and there are a couple items that are being considered. One is the possible requirement that dogs or cats that are brought to the impound facility must have a registration chip implanted (if they don’t already have one) prior to release. Also, there is discussion regarding billing a property/pet owner a surcharge if the Animal Control Officer is required to travel to the property more than once or twice for an issue. Some research needs to be done to determine if these can actually be required, or done.
UTILITY EXTENSION:
The City Council is having a work session tonight to give direction to those who will be attending the committee meeting next Monday, regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that has been presented to them from Northern Township for the extension of sewer/water utilities into the township.
Frenzel, Lahn, and Mark Fuller, will be meeting virtually with a rep from the MPCA, regarding this topic.
TREASURER REPORT:
Bills – Kranich reported that this month’s bills are payable with check numbers 11486 to 11509, totaling $30,280.70. (check #11510 was approved on 2/22/23 payable to Concordia College for $2,500.00) The approved contributions are included totaling $2,000.00, as well as payment to Johnson Construction for road plowing and maintenance – $9,819.50, and Murray Surveying for work on Birchmont Court – $2,997.00. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Lahn, to pay the bills as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer Report: Cash by Fund balances are; Revenue – $188,522.17, Road & Bridge – $832,694.00, Rural Fire – $4,510.08, Sewer District Waville – $10,268.18, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds – $230,764.37, for a total of $1,266,758.80. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, seconded by Lahn, and carried, to approve the report as presented.
Certificates of Deposit: Kranich recommended that $190,000 of the maturing CD be reinvested for 30 days at Security Bank at 4.45%. Consensus was given.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Notice of rate increase for MERC (natural gas), 2) notice of a public hearing before the JPC for a Special Use Permit for the property to the south of the town hall, 3) copy of letter mailed to the Birchmont Crt property owners regarding marking of potential ROW, 4) application information for the State’s eligibility list for 2023 Drinking Water Revolving Fund Project Priority List.
SUP – The property owner is applying to construct a coffee/ice cream shop on the former Northern Store site.
OTHER:
Township Road Maintenance Agreement – The Beltrami County Highway Department had sent this agreement out to all townships a few months ago, asking that it be approved and signed. No action was taken since the County does no maintenance work for us. Hasbargen reported at the BATO meeting that this agreement is required for any purchase made from his department, and it is a blanket agreement that would cover anything. Therefore, since we do purchase salt/sand and occasionally other items, it is required that it be signed and returned for the County Board to approve. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Lahn, to approve the Township Road Maintenance Agreement between Northern Township and Beltrami County. The motion carried unanimously.
With no further business forthcoming, the meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m.