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Duluth Town Board Meeting
August 8, 2002

        Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

        Corlis West and Bruce Aho were absent

  1. Approve Agenda – No action taken
  2. Approve Minutes: Jeff made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded. Motion approved
  3. Concerns from the Audience:
  4. Correspondence
  5. Treasurers Report

    Beginning Balance $137,097.03
    Deposits $ 59,533.88
    Expenses $ 14,049.16
    Ending Balance $182,581.75

  6.  Department Reports
    1. Police Report: given by Shawn Padden
      • The Board recognized Steve Peterson for breaking up a party in the greenhouse at the North Shore Community center.
      • Request to support a resolution from PERA. George made a motion to accept resolution 61302, seconded. Motion passed.
    2. Fire Department: given by Jerry Simmons
      • We have a few residents interested in joining the fire department which almost gives us a full department. We still need a few new first responders.
      • Tanker needed repair – now fixed and back in service.
      • Alden contract – Tim has contacted Corlis and will include Jerry in the discussions.
    3. Town Hall
      • Painting has been completed.
      • New Microphone and stand has been purchased to replace old equipment.
    4.  Planning and Zoning
      • There was a good turn out to the Comprehensive Land Use Public Hearing. The decision to adopt or reject has been tabled until August 21, 7:00 p.m.
    5.  Recycling – Busy
    6.  Road and Bridge
      • There was a problem with a property owner on the Mace Road. Jeff recommended the next time there is a problem contact the Sheriffs department. Shawn Padden said to contact him before any work is done on the Mace Road, he will make himself available that day.
    7. Legal
      • Culas Road: Easement of the town has been signed and entered into the land office.
      • Attorney gave the Clerk a closing binder of the North Shore Community Center. Clerk will put all the documents in the safety deposit box.
      • A copy of the Comprehensive Land Use plan was given to the Attorney. Tim will look through it before the August 21st meeting.
      • Certificates of Insurance for the Community Center: There will need to be a state inspection of the boilers and a separate insurance policy.
    8. Cemetery
      • George researched the title and plot map, the dimension of the cemetery are now known. He will check on the length of the road for installation of a turnaround.
      • No bill from Denise.
      • The treasurer has not received any checks at this time.
    9. Community Center
      • Tim Strom will check into a couple of changes on the insurance paperwork.
      • The North Shore Community School administrator will take care of school rentals for the rest of the summer and school year.
      • Desks and old equipment will be sold off this Saturday. It is inappropriate for the Community school to sell township property. The township does want the burden of disposing of the property so the township is allowing the sale to continue. The money will go to the Community school for handling the sale, if there is a profit, the profit must go to the township, not the community school. As the Town Board is the townships recreational board, the recommendation is to take any profit and put it into recreational development at the Community Center. Stephen will discuss the issue with Phil Strom.
  7. Old Business – There is no old business.
  8. New Business

Bob Abrahamson brought the "St. Louis County Living Wage Resolution" to the floor.

Whereas, the St. Louis County Board recognizes that it is a critical part of it’s mission to help move people up and out of poverty and into self-sufficiency, and

Whereas, the Board values the work of people and believes it is consistent with the Board’s mission and values to do everything within its power to ensure workers are paid a reasonable and living wage, and

Whereas, it is in the best interest of the public to find and retain the highest quality of labor reasonably available and to reduce the need for many of the County’s services by reducing poverty, and

Whereas, it is the Board’s prerogative, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 471.345, subd 7, to set a minimum, reasonable and living wage standard, which must be agreed to by any contractor providing labor or services for the County before the contractor may be awarded a contract.

Therefore be it resolved, it is the St. Louis County Board’s intent to establish a living wage policy which sets, as a minimum standard, a living wage of 110% of the poverty line for a family of four plus single health insurance for all employees furnishing any labor or service under contract with St. Louis County.

Be it further resolved, that the Board shall establish a committee comprised of three Board members and an equal number of representatives from the Coalition of Citizens for a Living Wage, and that this committee shall submit to the Board no later than October 15, 1998, a report identifying questions that must be resolved and recommending an implementation process and date for enacting this living wage policy.

Bob would like to see the minimum rate for the township raised from $8.00 per hour to $8.50 per hour. The County resolution was created for full time employees who worked 6 to 8 months of the year. It is the town board discretion to set the amount it will pay its employees. George recommended Bob bring the minimum wage increase to the next Annual meeting.

  1.  Pay Bills

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

_________________________

By Ann K. Cox, Clerk