Duluth Town Board Meeting
January 12, 2006
Meeting was called to order at: 7:00 p.m.
Meeting opened with the Pledge.
Members Present: Wendy Anderson, Jeff Cook, Dan Tanner, Stephen Dahl, Corlis West
Members Absent: None
1. Approve Minutes
- Corlis West made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted by the Clerk, Wendy Anderson seconded. Motion passed.
2. Concerns from the Audience
- Correspondence: George Sundstrom - Commercial Fishing Resolution.
- Zoning: George Sundstrom - processing time for building permits.
3. Approve Agenda
- Planning and Zoning: Jeff Cook - Stormwater seminar.
- Jeff Cook made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, Dan Tanner seconded. Motion passed.
4. Correspondence
- Co-op light and Power
- Janet McTavish – letter of resignation from the Planning Commission. Interviews for the open position will be February 21, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
- George Sundstrom presented the following resolution for the board to consider.
RESOLUTION TO COMMISSIONER GENE MERRIAM,
MINN DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
WHEREAS: The Minn. Commissioner of Natural Resources is accepting comments on a plan to allow taking of lake trout from Lake Superior by gill netting, and
WHEREAS: The Minn. Portion of Lake Superior is proposed to be divided into 3 zones; Duluth to the Canadian border; and
WHEREAS: zones 2 and 3 – from approximately Two Harbors to the border – would allow the taking of 2000 and 3000 trout per year respectively per zone – but zone 1 (Duluth to Two Harbors) would all none, and
WHEREAS: 80% of trout fishing pressure in Minnesota’s Lake Superior water is in zone 1 from charter fishermen with no limit on their annual catch, therefore.
BE IT RESOLVED That the Town of Duluth supports the limited taking of lake trout by commercial fishermen in zone 1 who possessed a commercial fishing license as of January 1, 2006.
Jeff Cook would like to make a motion to adopt the resolution Dan Tanner seconded. Tim Strom offered a friendly amendment, under "Be it Resolved", change from the Town of Duluth to The Duluth Town Board. With that change the Motion Passed
Vote on the Resolution: Yes – Wendy Anderson, Jeff Cook, Dan Tanner
No - Corlis West
Abstained - Stephen Dahl
5. Treasurers Report
- Beginning Balance $654,816.42
- Deposits $108,705.09
- Expenses $124,968.74
- Ending Balance $638,552.77
- CD is coming due at the end of the month and will be renewed for 2 years.
- Wendy Anderson checked into the safety of township finances and received the following letter from The Lake Bank. "The Lake Bank abides by regulatory requirements by pledging securities or Letter of Credits for all public entities equal to 110% of deposits, including accrued interest, in excess of FDIC insurance. As allowed by regulations, your public deposits are covered up to $100,000 for non-interest bearing accounts and additional $100,000 for interesting bearing accounts. Our bank verifies that we have adequate securities or Letters of Credit pledged twice a day, each morning and afternoon before 2:30 p.m. If we calculate that you need additional collateral, we will make a phone call to your treasurer or other authorized individual to stop in at our bank and sign the new pledge agreement."
6. Department Reports
a. Police Report
b. Fire Report
c. Community Center
- Security is now into the portables.
- Solar panels are now up and running.
- Preparation is underway for asbestos removal.
- The freezer is starting to go, bids are being sought to repair, replace or rebuild the freezer.
- Endowment fundraiser is underway. Candlelight ski at the Korkki Nordic on February 14, 2006.
- The Township received $10,000 from the County recreation grant for the Community Center soccer fields.
- Portables. The roof leaked because of inferior materials and heat was lost on one building due to shoddy workmanship.
- Damage done to the skating warming shack by vandals.
d. Legal
- Darrell Rajavouri – violation did go to court
- Reversionary Clause – letter for Tim was signed and returned to his office.
- Apostolic Church, cemetery. Under the old ordinance the Apostolic Church received a conditional use permit, at that time they discussed the possibility of creating a cemetery. Under the new ordinance it will now go before a public hearing process.
e. Town Hall
f. Planning and Zoning
- Sucker River Upzone - Jeff Cook made a motion to accept the zoning recommendation to bring this issue to a public hearing forum, Stephen Dahl seconded. Motion passed. The Planning and Zoning commission will hold a public hearing on this matter on February 2, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
- Planned Unit Development – Wayne Dahlberg has not yet seen a letter for the development sewer information.
- Tim Strom is recusing himself from this issue; Ken Butler will handle any township legal issues for the Planned Unit Development.
- Clear cutting may not be done without an approved plan
- Adult use draft – has been passed along to Tim Strom.
- George Sundstrom questioned the length of time it takes to receive an "over the counter" building permit.
g. Recycling
- There is a continuing problem of icing in front of the recycling shed. Dan Tanner will contact the tool house and request 2 yards of salt/sand.
- Jeff Cook will contact WLSSD and see if they can pick up the recycling more often.
- There will be a South Recycling Shed meeting 9:00 a.m. on January 19, 2006.
- There will be a Minnesota Stormwater steering committee meeting, January 19, 2006 at the Hermantown Community Center from 8:00 – 4:30 p.m. A $75.00 fee will be charged.
h. Road and Bridge
- Dan Tanner has been calling the County Garage and requesting salt and sand on icy roads.
i. Cemetery
- Dan Tanner and Wendy Anderson will check the Cemetery guidelines from Canosia Township.
- A sign needs to be created requesting no artificial flowers.
7. Old Business
Wendy Anderson would like either herself or Stephen Dahl to call a meeting to define the feasibility of need for expansion of the Community Center.
8. New Business
- Board of Canvas will meet March 16, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. to canvas the votes from the March 14, 2006 election.
- Internal Board of Audit with Treasurer will meet February 28, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
- Program of Work – no date was set.
9. Pay bills
10. Motion to adjourn
- Jeff Cook made a motion to adjourn as soon as the bills are paid. , Dan Tanner seconded. Motion passed.
RESOLUTION TO COMMISSIONER GENE MERRIAM,
MINN DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
WHEREAS: The Minn. Commissioner of Natural Resources is accepting comments on a plan to allow taking of lake trout from Lake Superior by gill netting, and
WHEREAS: The Minn. Portion of Lake Superior is proposed to be divided into 3 zones; Duluth to the Canadian border; and
WHEREAS: zones 2 and 3 – from approximately Two Harbors to the border – would allow the taking of 2000 and 3000 trout per year respectively per zone – but zone 1 (Duluth to Two Harbors) would all none, and
WHEREAS: 80% of trout fishing pressure in Minnesota’s Lake Superior water is in zone 1 from charter fishermen with no limit on their annual catch, therefore.
BE IT RESOLVED That the Duluth Town Board supports the limited taking of lake trout by commercial fishermen in zone 1 who possessed a commercial fishing license as of January 1, 2006.
At the January 12, 2006 meeting of the Duluth Town Board of Supervisors, Jeff Cook made a motion to adopt the above resolution, Dan Tanner seconded. The motion passed by the Following total:
Aye: Wendy Anderson, Dan Tanner, Jeff Cook
Nay: Corlis West
Abstain: Stephen Dahl
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Jeff Cook Vice Chair
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Attested by:
Date: January 12, 2006