May Minutes 2024
ERIE TOWNSHIP
Rebular Board Meeting Minutes
May 7, 2024
Board Members Present: Chairman Neal Sundet, Supervisor Kyle Vareberg & Supervisor Brett Friesen
Officers Present: Clerk Karen Eifealdt & Treasurer Becky Renner
Others Present: Dawn Utke, Matt Arola, Chris Kennedy, Donna Kennedy, Nick Bowers, Terry
Bowers, Ron Johnson, Dan Gustner, Ray Nolan, Dale Renner, Kelly Grenier.
Gerry Schram
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Neal Sundet.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Friesen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Friesen to approve the April 2nd, 2024 regular meeting minutes with no additions or corrections. Motion carried. A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Friesen to approve the minutes of the April 30th, 2024 special meeting with one correction, adding 330th Ave south of Hwy 34 to the list of those roads to be sprayed. Motion carried.
Treasurer Renner gave the treasurer’s report ending April 30, 2024 with the checking account having an ending balance of $394,658.32; the Money Market account having an ending balance of $454,053.98; and the CD having an ending balance of $138,398.43 with total funds of $987,110.73. A motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg to approve the treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg to approve payment of the bills as presented – payroll claims in the amount of $2,984.07 and expense claims in the amount of $13,224.98 for a total of $16,209.05. Motion carried.
MN Unemployment Insurance
$ 263.75
MN Unemployment Insurance
$2.00
Arvig
$96.45
Becker County Auditor
$60.00
D & B Septic
$5,351.13
Graham, Tom
$700.00
Gustner Construction, LLC
$6,307.50
Mosher, Amos
$50.00
Renner, Becky
$69.95
Stenerson-Eifealdt, Karen
$95.17
Sundet, Neal
$174.03
Zachariasonn, Debra
$55.00
Awards were presented to Dawn Utke and Gerald Schram for their years of service to the residents of Erie Township.
Questions were asked regarding the town hall building size etc and the proposed size and what it would include was provided by Supervisor Sundet. There was concern about using the building as a venue for small events and the increased traffic it may cause.
No road report.
Old Business:
Nothing more on the town hall building than had already been discussed earlier.
The ARPA Annual Report was filed on April 29th.
Supervisor Vareberg briefly discussed the process used for deciding which roads got magnesium chloride, which is based traffic count, if it’s a through road and speed. However, since there is a potential long term cost saving in spraying additional roads, it was suggested that we do a cost sharing with residents of the township who wanted it done and it was suggested that it be 50-50 across the board. After some discussion, the suggestion was made that those wishing to participate would get neighbors who were interested on board, collect the money to pay their half, bring it to the township, and then it would get sprayed. After further discussion, a recommendation was made that the subject be brought up in the fall, possibly October so that there would be plenty of time to coordinate a plan.
New Business:
There were no objections to the request received by Becker County Planning and Zoning.
There was a brief discussion regarding the hiring a town attorney. The clerk will check to see if there is a form on the MAT website that can be used to send to perspective attorneys.
There was some discussion on establishing a Township Board Meeting and Rules resolution. Clerk Eifealdt brought up the fact an Administrative Policy had been adopted on November 5, 2019 which included the same rules for meetings.
The Board opened the bids that had been received for township contracts.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that Corbin Excavating Inc be given the contract for the spraying of magnesium chloride. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that the contracts for road grading, snow plowing, and miscellaneous work neede be given to Gustner Construction LLC. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that the contract for Class 5 and screen gravel be given to D & B Septic & Excavation LLC. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that the contract for crack filling be given to Thomas Graham. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that the contract for roadside mowing be given to Blauert Ditch Mowing. Motion carried.
After some discussion on a contract for brush mowing and the possibility of the two contractors who quoted, a motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet that the contract for brush mowing be split between Lakes Are Dirt Works and Gustner Construction LLC. Motion carried.
Clerk Eifealdt informed the Board that the state was reimbursing expensed from the PNP held in March. The total reimbursement should be about $1500.
Election judge trainings will take place in June.
The Appeals and Equalization meeting took place but because Erie Township had no trained supervisors, it was an open book meeting so the County Assessor and our assessor decided on any appeals and will also do so in 2025. The County Assessor also informed us that it can be a choice to remain open book, but that if the township chose that, it would be a 6 year commitment.
Ther being no further business, a motion was made by Supervisor Friesen and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Eifealdt, Clerk