Annual Meeting 2002

Duluth Township
Unapproved Minutes
Annual Meeting March 12, 2002

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

Nominations for Moderator:

Lars Fladmark nominated Phil Strom.
Bill Aho nominated Lars Fladmark. Lars Fladmark declined.
Phil Strom accepted the position of moderator.

Bank of Deposit
Bill Aho made a motion to keep Wells Fargo bank as our bank of deposit. Lars Fladmark seconded. All approved.

Newspaper of Publication
Bill Aho made a motion to keep the Duluth News Tribune as our newspaper of publication, Lars Fladmark seconded, all approved.

Official Posting Places
Lars Fladmark made a motion to accept the following posting places: Town Hall, Scenic Café, Recycling Center - South, Fire Hall #1, North Shore Elementary Grade School (name change request to North Shore Community School.) Motion was seconded, all approved.

Budget Presentation

Police Department - presented by Chief Shawn Padden. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	Is there a phone number to call when there are questions to be asked?
	Answer:	If it is an emergency call 911, if not an emergency please call the town hall (525-5705) and leave a message.
	Question:	Who do I contact to acquire a handgun application?
	Answer:	Please contact the Sheriff's department.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded.
Question was asked if the fuel budget was adequate.

Motion Passed, budget was approved as presented - $36,482.92.

Fire Department - presented by Chief Jerry Simmons. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	Where is the relief budget discussed at the last town board meeting?
	Answer:	Relief line item is found in the General Budget
	Question:	Would the foam unit help the ISO rating
	Answer:	Yes, it would give us an extra water source and would our point system, which in turn will help lower our insurance rating.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded. Motion Passed, budget was approved as presented - $59,531.38.

General Township - presented by Supervisor Jeff Cook. The wage increase reflects the increase of Supervisors from 3 to 5. $6000.00 has been set aside for painting township structures. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	Where is Alden Fire Department on this budget?
	Answer:	Alden Fire Department is not reflected in this budget. This budget reflects only Duluth Township and it's Departments.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded. George Sundstrom made an amendment to the motion: to make the relief figure $3200.00 instead of $6500.00 as presented. Amendment seconded. Relief President Robert Engelson gave an informational overview of the relief fund, what the fund is composed of and how the funds are managed. Moderator Strom called for the vote as follows: A YES vote would change the relief fund from $6500.00 to $3200.00. A NO vote would fail the amendment. Amendment failed. Moderator Strom called for the vote on the original motion. Motion passed, budget was approved as presented - $86,412.00.

Planning and Zoning - presented by letter from Wayne Dahlberg and read by Ann Cox Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor. Hearing none, Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded. Motion Passed, budget was approved as presented - $8,000.00.

Cemetery Budget - presented by George Sundstrom. Supervisor Sundstrom is not content with the current sextant. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	Will the sextant matter be taken up at a regular meeting?
	Answer:	Yes, this question will be discussed at a regular town board meeting.
	Question:	How do you intend to remediate this problem?
	Answer:	Again, this question will be discussed at a regular town board meeting.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded. Motion Passed, budget was approved as presented - $6,000.00.

Road and Bridge - presented by Bruce Aho. Bill Aho made a motion to increase the Road budget $10,000.00 to a total of $65,000.00 Motion seconded. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	What is the current escrow total?
	Answer:	Right now the current escrow is $35,000.00

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as increased. Motion made to approve the budget as increased, seconded. Motion failed. Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented. Motion to approve the budget as presented and seconded. Motion passed, budget was approved as presented - $55,000.00.

	Question:	Do we approve the total budget?
	Answer:	Yes we generally do.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the entire 2003 budget as presented. Motion made to approve the entire 2003 budget as presented, seconded. Moderator called for questions and comments from the floor.

	Question:	What is the 5% sum?
	Answer:	5% is the sum used as the towns operating capital. We don't receive our first tax apportionment until June, the 5% carries us until we receive our first check is received.
	Question:	Can we get by without this percentage?
	Answer:	Yes, it may be revisited each year in the event we might need it. As of right now the township is in excellent condition.

Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the total 2003 budget of $263,997.61 as presented. Motion to approve the 2003 budget as presented and seconded. Bill Aho made an amendment to remove the 5% total of $12,571.31 for the year 2003, seconded. Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve amendment, seconded. Motion passed. Moderator Strom called for a motion to approve the 2003 budget as amended. Motion to approve the budget as amended and seconded. Motion passed, budget was approved as amended - $251,426.30

This ended the budget portion of the Annual Meeting

Time and Date of Annual Meeting 2003 .
Motion to accept the March 2003 town meeting date as March 11,2003 8:15 p.m.
Reconvene of Annual Meeting
Moderator called for a motion setting the date for a reconvening of the 2002 Annual Meeting if necessary. Motion to have August 8, 2002 7:30 p.m. as the date and time to reconvene the 2002 Annual meeting in the event a reconvene is necessary. Motion seconded Motion passed, reconvene date and time were approved.

Lars Fladmark made a motion to approve the 2001 Annual Meeting minutes as presented, seconded. One correction, under commercial fishing the word requested should be replaced with ordered. Motion passed, minutes from the 2001 Annual meeting were approved as corrected.

Election Results

Two (2) Town Supervisor - 3 year terms
George Sundstrom 465
Bruce Aho 419

There were also 30 write in votes for this position totaling 51 votes - the total list of write in votes is available in the Clerk's office.

One (1) Town Supervisor - 2 year term
Corlis West 456

There were also 9 write in votes for this position totaling 54 votes - the total list of write in votes is available in the Clerk's office.

Lake Superior School District #381 referendum
Yes 280
No 288

Concerns from the Audience

A letter from Lois Tweed was read.
Lars Fladmark would like Robert's Rules noted as the rules to guide the Annual Meeting.

At this time the 2002 Annual Meeting was closed.

By Ann K. Cox Clerk, Duluth Township

Election Judge ________________________________________