April 2021 Minutes
APRIL6, 2021 ERIE TOWNSHIP
Regular Meeting Minutes
Supervisor Chuck Chadbourne called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with all board members present. A list of additional attendees is attached to these minutes.
The agenda was reviewed by the board and a motion was made by Supervisor Joann Splonskowski and seconded by Supervisor Gerry Schram to approve the agenda with four additions as noted on the final agenda. Motion carried.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Clerk Karen Eifealdt read the minutes of the March 2, 2021 regular meeting. A motion was made by Supervisor Schram and seconded by Supervisor Splonskowski to approve the minutes as read.
Clerk Karen Eifealdt read the minutes of the March 18, 2021 Reorganizational meeting. A motion was made by Supervisor Schram and seconded by Supervisor Splonskowski to approve the minutes as read. Motion carried.
Treasurer Becky Renner gave the treasurer’s report with the checking account having a balance of $126,144.06; the money market account having a balance of $168,829.31; the CD having a balance of $128,706.69 making total funds as of March 31, 2021 $423,680.06.
Clerk Eifealdt read through the Certificate of Appointment for Deputy Town Clerk. Deb Zachariason was given the Oath of Office and will serve as Deputy Clerk of Erie Township through March, 2022.
Road Report:
Tom Graham gave a general report on the condition of the township roads. There are no major issues to address at this time.
A group of residents living on SW Pickerel Lake Road requested that Erie Township participate in cost sharing applying dust control on the road, Supervisor Splonskowski explained that Erie Township no longer shares in the cost of dust control and that the magnesium chloride is used mainly for gravel stabilization and is decided on a yearly basis which township roads it is needed on the most. Other issues with both SW and NE Pickerel Lake roads were brought up and discussed. The board will be looking at the road during the road tour.
Tower Road was briefly discussed. The board is willing to go on a road tour along with Burlington but it is the general feeling among all board members that the agreement between the two townships should be honored. If called, Chuck will relay this to Burlington.
Supervisor Chadbourne gave a brief update on the LRIP grant that was discussed last month and applied for. After considerable discussion and several suggestions, Dale Renner and Keith Drewes were asked to each take a look at 170th St and the intersection of 170th St and 305th Ave and to write up their opinions and recommendations. A motion was made by Supervisor Splonskowski and seconded by Supervisor Chadbourne to set a date to meet with both Mr. Renner and Mr. Drewes to go through their recommendations and to come up with a plan and some numbers. After considerable discussion, the motion was rescinded. A new motion was made by Supervisor Splonskowski and seconded by Supervisor Chadbourne to request both Mr. Renner and Mr. Drewes to do independent recommendations and when completed, meet to discuss. Motion carried.
The road tour was discussed and it was decided that it would be on Saturday, April 17th at 8:00 a.m.
The snowplow was discussed and a reminder made that it had previously been decided that we would need to start getting the truck ready in June.
Old Business:
A motion was made by Supervisor Splonskowski and seconded by Supervisor Schram to accept all quotes received with the exception of the one received on 3-25-21 after the deadline date. Motion carried.
The contracts were awarded as follows:
Motion Second
Magnesium Chloride app Stenger/Corbin S Splonskowski S Schram Carried
Grading/Crackfilling Thomas Graham S Splonskowski S Chadbourne Carried
Roadside mowing Theo Blauert S Splonskowski S Schram Carried
Gravel hauling/application Graham Excavating S Splonskowski S Schram Carried
Back-Up or Special Projects Assist D & B Septic & Excavation
Keith Drewes Excavating
There was considerable discussion following. A suggestion was made to possibly do 2 or 3 year contracts and will be discussed further next year.
New Business:
The subject of doing some improvements to the town hall property was discussed. The clerk will try to locate a copy of the deed and the last survey.
Citizen comments:
Joann Splonskowski commented that she had been given information that there may be gas leaking into the aquafer from buried tanks at the Four Corners. Supervisor Schram will try to find out where that information came from.
Payment of bills:
A suggestion was made to move the payment of bills up in the agenda. A motion was made by Supervisor Splonskowski and seconded by Supervisor Schram to place the payment of bills immediately following the treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
After a brief discussion about virtual training, a motion was made by Supervisor Schram and seconded by supervisor Splonskowski to pay meeting rate of $100 for attending training. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Schram and seconded by Supervisor Splonskowski to approve payment of the following bills in the amount of $7,543.60. Motion carried.
MN Revenue $97.98
U.S Treasury $1121.16
Forum Communications $247.20
Moore’s Septic $80.00
Jeanne Gilbertson $115.50
Leola Olson $93.50
Lon Engberg $137.50
Karen Eifealdt $118.00
Mary Schermerhorn $50.00
Mark Palm $880.00
Wild Rice $52.19
Community CoOp $291.99
Graham Excavating $675.00
Tom Graham $3165.00
Karen Eifealdt $80.70
Becky Renner $338.43
Supervisor Splonskowski moved to suspend the meeting and to continue it on April 17th for the road tour. The meeting was suspended at 8:53.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Eifealdt, Clerk