NORTHERN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – Monday, April 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Northern Town Hall, 445 Town Hall Road NW, Bemidji, MN.
WORK SESSION:
PRESENT: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Curt Blumhagen, Gary Barnard, Mike Kelly, and Chris Lahn. Administrator Mark Borseth, Engineer Mark Fuller of Freeberg & Grund, and Clerk Mary Israelson.
Wild Plum/Beach Lane – We received notice that this project was approved for State Park Road Account (SPRA) funds in the amount of $209,402, representing approximately 75% of the project. Mark Fuller reported that it will take approximately three (3) weeks of preparation to advertise for this project. Dave Schotzko will be contacted regarding the possibility of re-locating the entrance to the DNR parking lot used to access their trail. Also, Kelly wanted to look at the difference in the cost of a 30’ blacktopped roadbed, compared to the proposed 24’, since he believes the extra width would be a nice connection from the public access to the DNR parking lot and trail.
Fairground Road – We also received notice that this project was approved for Local Road Improvement Project (LRIP) funds in the amount of up to $1,167,724.00, representing all of the project costs, other than engineering. There are still a couple of items that need to be decided; 1) possible turn lane at the county fairgrounds, 2) possibility of some overhead lighting, and 3) a location to stockpile the reclaim from the existing blacktop. Frenzel will talk with the County Highway Engineer about these topics. The Beltrami County Fair needs to be considered when scheduling the work for this road, and the fair board will be contacted. A two (2) year to completion schedule might need to be considered. The Northdale owners will also be contacted in order to talk about some of the details related to their businesses there.
The regular meeting followed:
PRESENT: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Curt Blumhagen, Gary Barnard, Mike Kelly, and Chris Lahn. Administrator Mark Borseth, Engineer Mark Fuller of Freeberg & Grund, Road Supervisor Tim Vigen, Treasurer Crystal Peterson, and Clerk Mary Israelson. See guest book for visitors.
VISTORS:
MINUTES: A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2024, meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
Borseth reported that the Planning Commission will be conducting a Public Hearing to hear a request for a Rezone of a lot in Centerpoint by Beltrami Ironwood.
Sewer Utility Project – Borseth has talked with someone from Ehlers, Inc to get a proposal for funding from them. He reviewed some of the scenarios for cost sharing as it relates to hookups/users. There will also be another meeting soon with reps from the state park, to discuss a possible route through the park.
Beltrami County Access and Soil Boring Permit – In order to do some preliminary soils investigation work on the proposed county property, permission is needed. A motion was offered by Lahn, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the request for the Beltrami County Board. The motion was approved. The form will be sent to the County for approval at their next board meeting.
Letter to adjacent property owners – Fuller reported that there are several properties surrounding the potential county property, that the well information with the GPS location and the size of the casing were not known. Lahn will prepare a letter to the thirteen property owners, indicating that someone will be stopping by their property to obtain this information. They will also be asked to a meeting, if they have concerns or questions.
The legislature has yet to decide on our bonding request, but there are file numbers on both sides. Frenzel would like to make some consideration to contact Bob Meier for more help in getting this to the Governor, if need be.
EPA – In order to meet a schedule that might include bidding the project next spring, 70% of the plans are needed to be completed by July, and 90% by August. Beltrami County has been very patient with their Birchmont Beach Road project, and hope to start it in 2025. Lahn added that he and Fuller met with the administrator of our grant, and found out that there are no restrictions on when the funds need to be used. There is going to need to be some kind of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ruttger’s Resort at some point, agreeing that the township is working on a solution to their needs and that they agree to connect as soon as possible. There are a lot of moving parts in this process!!
ROAD REPORT:
Crack filling – Vigen is making preparations to have this work looked at.
Road Tour – Consideration will be made to schedule it.
BELTRAMI ASSOCIATION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (BATO):
Barnard reported that this semi-annual meeting was held a month early, mostly to hear more about the proposed Bylaw amendments being proposed by MAT, and to be voted on at the area short courses. Beltrami County Highway Engineer addressed their upcoming projects, and Commissioner Craig Gaasvig reported on some of the things they are dealing with.
JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD (JAZB):
Frenzel reported that he attended a meeting, and a draft of a new airport zoning ordinance should be ready soon, and a copy will be forwarded to us. This will affect Northern Township very little.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT:
Blumhagen reported that he expects to have some ideas regarding a town hall remodel soon.
TREASURER REPORT:
Bills – Peterson reported that this month’s bills are payable with check numbers 11769 to 11787, totaling $49,401.16. Kelly questioned items on the Freeberg & Grund invoice for Barr Engineering – this is work that they did on items related to a mechanical wastewater treatment plant, and falls under Freeberg’s estimate. A motion was offered by Barnard, and seconded by Blumhagen, to approve the bills as presented. The motion carried unanimously. (ACH payment of $425.00 to FLYTE to set up Lahn’s HSA account was made in April – Total bills was $49,826.16)
Treasurer Report: Cash by Fund balances are; Revenue – $255,353.839, Road & Bridge – $994,395.83, RFA – $(102,532.80), Sewer District Waville – $9,147.15, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds – $228,562.37, and Sewer District Lake Bemidji – $(50,646.22), for a total of $1,334,280.16. A motion was offered by Blumhagen, seconded by Kelly, and carried, to approve the report as presented.
Certificates of Deposit: Peterson reported that there is a $150,000 CD maturing, and recommended that $100,000 be re-invested at Security Bank for 1 month at 4.9%. Consensus was given for approval.
Reports – Peterson reported that the State Auditor’s Reports was submitted March 21st, and she is working on the ARPA Report to be submitted by April 31st.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1) Thank you note from resident Mike Granlund regarding the work on Wild Plum Road grant, 2) response letter from Director of Division of Forestry, Patty Thielen, regarding the letter sent by Board, 3) Notice of Award of State Park Road Account funding for Wild Plum/Beach Lane, 4) Notice of Award of Local Road Improvement (LRIP) funds for Fairgrounds Road, 5) note from Frenzel regarding JAZK meeting, 6) note from BRO Property Services regarding their services, 6) notice from MnDot that spring load restrictions were being lifted.
Meeting with DNR regarding Section 36 – Barnard had made contact with Meribeth Karl regarding a meeting, as indicated in the letter received from Patty Thielen. Karl was not aware of this, but a meeting was scheduled for Thursday, April 11th from 10:30 to 11:30 am.
OTHER:
Engineer – A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Lahn, to approve Freeberg & Grund Engineering as the township’s engineer for 2024 and any applicable on-going projects. The motion carried unanimously.
Lahn asked to purchase some equipment for the office to be used for his work here, that would include a new computer monitor and laptop dock for approximately $700.00. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the request. The motion carried, with Lahn abstaining.
Lahn has also been looking into creating a shared file system, for work with the Board and Planning Commission, and a new email system through Micro-soft. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Barnard, to authorize Lahn to proceed. The motion carried.
Health Insurance – Lahn is proposing an HRA through ICHRA for his $1,000/mo medical allowance, with a $1,020.00 annual expense. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the expense. The motion carried, with Lahn abstaining.
Salaries – Reviews for Vigen and Dockendorf will be forthcoming.
With no further business forthcoming, the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.