NORTHERN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – Monday, March 25, 2024, Northern Town Hall, 445 Town Hall Road NW, Bemidji, MN, 6:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. Work Session:
Present: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Chris Lahn, Curt Blumhagen, Gary Barnard, and Mike Kelly. Administrator Mark Borseth, Civil Engineer Mark Fuller, and Clerk Mary Israelson.
Bryan Oakley, with Barr Engineering, joined virtually to help with topics related to a packaged mechanical wastewater treatment plant vs pond treatment. This process is being considered due to the fact that less property is needed, and Beltrami County might be able to help with acquiring a parcel for it. There has been a total of $6 million appropriated from Federal funding, but nothing has been approved through State funds.
Frenzel would like the Board to consider moving forward with plans to construct a mechanical plant, and direction for engineer Mark Fuller to start the work to prepare for it. Fuller indicated that the NEPA work involving topo, environmental review, preliminary plans, etc., would be approximately $200,000 to $500,000, and work needed from today to letting bid documents would be approximately $1.2 million.
Regular Meeting Follwed: Frenzel called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m.
PRESENT: Supervisors Jess Frenzel, Chris Lahn, Curt Blumhagen, Gary Barnard, and Mike Kelly. Administrator Mark Borseth, Road Supervisor Tim Vigen, and Clerk Mary Israelson. See sign in book for guests.
MINUTES: A motion was offered by Barnard, and seconded by Blumhagen, to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2024, meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
Borseth reported that the planning commission held a meeting and reviewed some outstanding cases, with three (3) matters for the Board to consider; 1) Dollar General has a balance in escrow, and was being held until dying trees were replaced. There is no tree requirement in our ordinance, so it is suggested that the escrow be returned, 2) Beltrami Iron & Recycling – a complaint has been received, and the PC has asked to see past information regarding this property, and 3) Beltrami Ironwood – this matter involves many violations throughout their properties, that the JPB Attorney had been handling. It was suggested to hold off on the Dollar General refund until the trees can be inspected and hopefully replaced, and Attorney Kubousheck will be contacted regarding the other matter.
ROAD REPORT:
Vigen reported that he has started to prepare for repairing pot-holes, tree trimming, and brushing.
There is a snow system taking place now, and is supposed to end tomorrow. He and Johnson will be taking care of the needs from it.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT:
Following lots of discussion regarding the proposed project and what is needed as the next step, it was agreed that a commitment is needed to move forward in order to get to a point that the federal grant dollars can be drawn – Fuller estimates that it will take approximately $250,000 worth of engineering work to get to that point. There is a virtual meeting with reps from the MPCA on Thursday, and there will hopefully be some clarity on what is needed for that to happen.
Kelly offered a motion to commit to preparing the work needed to design a packaged mechanical wastewater treatment plant system, with Lahn seconded the motion. The motion carried with Blumhagen, Lahn, Frenzel, Kelly and Barnard voting in favor of the motion.
Kelly offered another motion to move forward with this plan by hiring the engineering firm of Freeberg & Grund to prepare the needed preliminary design work, not to exceed $250,000. The motion was seconded by Lahn, and the motion carried with Barnard, Kelly, Frenzel, Lahn and Blumhagen voting in favor of the motion.
TOWN HALL PROPERTY:
Blumhagen presented a quote from Matt Smith, DSGW Architects, to engage in design services for addition improvements to the town hall. A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Lahn, to approve the Phase I: Schematic Design Study portion of the work for $2,400. The motion carried with all voting in favor unanimously. It was agreed that this project might be postponed due to the other current financial needs.
Lawn Care: A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Blumhagen, to approve the quote from BRO Property Services for mowing/spring cleanup services for another year. The motion carried unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1) Notice of burning restrictions beginning, 2) quote for lawn maintenance services from BRO Property Services, 3) request from C&C Lawn Care to put in bid for lawn work, 4) new copier to be installed in the office on April 2nd, 5) information from Kevin Warne from Beltrami County regarding release of our land use files, 6) Short Course information for April 3rd in Bemidji, 7) recap of meetings with MPCA and Beltrami County Board, from Frenzel.
OTHER:
BATO: Will meet this week for the semi-annual meeting.
Clerk: A motion was offered by Blumhagen, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the salary adjustment for Israelson as presented, retro-active to the first of the year,. The motion carried unanimously.
Northern Township Administrator Job Description: A motion was offered by Kelly, and seconded by Barnard, to approve the description as presented by Borseth, with an amendment regarding some field work needs. The motion carried, with Lahn abstaining, due to his interest in the position.
Northern Township Administrator: Supervisor Chris Lahn expressed his interested in the position and presented his proposal for employment. A motion was offered by Kelly, to accept the contract as presented with an adjustment to the number of legal holidays, with Blumhagen seconding the motion. The motion carried with Frenzel, Kelly, Barnard, and Blumhagen voting in favor, and Lahn abstaining.
With no further business forthcoming, the meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.