Duluth Township

Annual Town Meeting

March 8, 2005

Meeting was called to order at 8:15 p.m.

Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance

Many thanks to Sue Lawson and Don McTavish for all their volunteered time and service this past year.

Nomination of Moderator

Bill Aho nominated Phil Strom as moderator. Phil Strom accepted the nomination. There were no other nominations.

Approval of minutes from the 2004 Annual Meeting

Bruce Lotti made a motion to approve the 2004 minutes, Jeff Cook seconded. Motion passed.

Call for Bank of Deposit – currently The Lake Bank of Two Harbors.

Lars Fladmark made a motion to continue with the Lake Bank, Bill Cox seconded. Motion passed.

Call for Newspaper of Publication – currently the Duluth News Tribune

Prudence Cameron made a motion to approve the Duluth News Tribune as the newspaper of publication John Kessler seconded. Motion passed.

Call for Official Posting Places - Currently: Town Hall

Scenic Café

~~South Recycling Center~~

Fire Hall #1
North Shore Community School

With the removal of the South Recycling Center, John Kessler made a motion to approve the Official Posting Places, Barbara Strom seconded. Motion passed.

Presentation of Budgets

Audit Report – An outside auditor was hired in 2003, the audit found the books to be in keeping with Standard Accounting practices. One recommendation was made to include a Petty Cash statement each month. A second audit for the 2004 books has been authorized.

Police Department - Shawn Padden presented the proposed budget of $42,118.00. Bruce Lotti made a motion to approve the Police Department budget of $42,118.00, Lars Fladmark seconded. Motion passed.

Question: Christopher Clay - if fuel costs increase how will you handle that?

Answer: We have a surplus left in our budget which will be used to cover any excesses in a line item.

Fire Department – Barry Lampi presented the proposed budget of $67,804.50. The single largest increase in our budget for next year will be to replace an aging fire truck. John Kessler made a motion to approve the budget of $67,804.50, Toni Fladmark seconded. Motion passed.

Barry would like to ask permission to begin the bidding process to replace a fire truck. Jeff made a motion to approve replacing a fire truck in the upcoming year, Don McTavish seconded. Attorney Tim Strom: This is a "sense Motion", this motion carries no authority, it is merely a recommendation from the people to the Town Board. Motion carried.

Question: Where will the down payment come from?

Answer: From the current budget

General Township – Corlis West presented the proposed budget of $111,410.00. Bill Aho made a motion to accept the budget, Sheri Camper seconded. Bill Aho made an amendment to his motion to remove the lawn mowing and snowplowing expense for the Community Center from the budget, Arthur Rose seconded. Question was called to vote on the amendment to remove the $6,000.00 Lawn mowing/Snow removal line item from the budget. Amendment failed. Vote on the Motion to accept the budget of $111,410.00 as presented. Motion passed

Question: Mary Ann Sironen - is it not true that each child has funds coming from the state to the school?

Answer: Yes

Question: Mary Ann Sironen - so no child is getting a free ride.

Answer: Your property tax’s go to the school district, not necessarily to the Charter School.

Question: Mary Ann Sironen - there is not a line item for the North Shore Management Board.

Answer: Jeff Cook – they are trying to re-organize.

Question: Dan Nieman - Fire Hall #1 is township property, why is the grass at the fire hall not cut?

Answer: Barry Lampi – Next year we will try and have lawn mowing a line item on the fire department budget.

Question: Dave Sundstrom – that shouldn’t be a fire department line item, it should be a general township item since the township owns the building and property. If you are going to do it for the Community Center/Charter school why not do it here?

Answer: Phil Strom – request to continue with General Fund discussion.

Question: Keith Darsow – Is it standard procedure to put snowplowing out for bid?

Answer: Jeff Cook – no we hired our road maintenance contractor to do the snow removal out of respect for those who need to get into the town hall. While we do contract with the County, it can take them 3 to 4 days before they get to the town hall.

Planning and Zoning –Wayne Dahlberg presented the proposed budget of $15,000.00. Prudy Cameron made a motion to approve the proposed levied budget of $15,000.00, John Green seconded. Motion passed.

Wayne invited Toni Fladmark to stand and thanked her for the 6 years she gave to the township. Wayne gave special thanks to all the planning commission members, Carolyn, the clerk. To the town board who has been working on the zoning ordinance, it has not been an easy task – thank you for your dedication.

Question: Jim Simmons - how much do you expect for income from permits?

Answer: Wayne – we bring in about $9,500.00.

Cemetery – George Sundstrom presented a proposed budget of $3,000.00. George Sundstrom made a motion to approve the budget of $3,000.00 John Kessler seconded. Motion passed.

Question: Why is Denise Connolly included in the budget?

Answer: Denise Connolly is the sextant for the cemetery.

Road and Bridge budget – Jeff Cook presented the proposed budget of $40,000.00. Lars Fladmark made a motion to approve the budget of $40,000.00, Bill Aho seconded. Motion passed.

Bill Aho – there is a new gravel pit on the Clover Valley Road, something has to be done to keep the dust down.
Jeff Cook spoke on the township Storm Water plan.

Community Center – Presented by Phil Strom as an informational budget item, the township does not vote on this item. It is a non-levy item.

Approve Total Budget - John Kessler made a motion to approve the entire budget, Barbara Strom seconded.

Police Department $ 42,118.00
Fire Department $ 67,804.50
General Township $111,410.00
Planning and Zoning $ 15,000.00
Cemetery $ 3,000.00
Road and Bridge $ 40,000.00

Total Department Budgets $279,332.50

Plus 5% ~~$ 13,966.63~~

Total Budget ~~$293,299.13~~

George Sundstrom amended the motion to remove the 5% line item of $13,966.63. Bill Aho seconded the amendment. Motion on the amendment to remove the $13,966.63 passed. Motion to approve the budget of $279,332.50 passed.

2006 Annual Town Meeting Date and Time – Lars Fladmark made a motion to approve the 2006 Annual Town Meeting Date and Time of March 14, 2006 8:15 p.m., Mary Ann Sironen seconded. Motion passed.

Date and Time to Reconvene the Annual Town Meeting – Corlis made a motion to reconvene the Annual Town Meeting in the event such a meeting is necessary on August 11, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Bill Cox seconded. Motion passed.

The Annual Town Meeting will reconvene only if the Board of Supervisors decide such is needed. If such a meeting is deemed necessary it will be posted in the official township posting places.

Election Results.

Dan Tanner – 258

Wendy A.M. Anderson – 194

George Sundstrom – 115
Pat Farley – 1
John Lindgren – 2
Richard Bakke – 1
Mickey Mouse - 1

Concerns from the Audience.

George Sundstrom thanked Mary Ann Sironen and Lars Fladmark for their work on the Duluth North Shore Sanitary Board (D/NSSD).
John Bowen would like to have the township provide a copy of the adjusted Zoning ordinance before it goes to the county.

Meeting recessed at 9:50 p.m. The meeting is closed not adjourned in the event this meeting will require reconvening at a later date.

_______________________________Election Judge