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Town Board Meeting
October 14, 2004

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call Present: Jeff Cook, George Sundstrom, Corlis West, Stephen Dahl

Absent: Bruce Aho

Approve Minutes

George made a motion to approve the minutes as they were sent out, Stephen seconded. Motion passed

Concerns from the Audience

Approve Agenda

Additions

New Business – SLCATO

New Business – Sewer Board Meeting

Community Center – Township Insurance

Old Business – Storm Water Meeting

Old Business – Special Meeting date and time

New Business – November Town Board Meeting

Corlis made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, George seconded. Motion passed.

Correspondence

Notice from MN Department of Health – water passed

No Coliform Bacteria were detected

Nitrate + Nitrite Nitrogen Total: Less than .05 mg/L

Department of Public Safety

FEMA grant has now been completed

Mastech

Aho Road telephone cable project was approved and signed.

Patterson Lane telephone cable project was denied. This is a private road not a township road.

Jack M. Lindberg

Johnson Controls Certificate of Insurance

D/NSSD Audit to be kept in the township office.

Treasurers report

Beginning Balance $363,648.86

Deposit $ 50,539.17

Expenses $ 66,705.92

Ending Balance $347,482.11

Community School CD matures November 21. There is currently enough in the account to purchase a second $50,000.00 CD.

Department Reports

Police Department

Given by Chief Padden and approved

A Fourth Police Office, as requested by electorates at the Annual Town Meeting, is to be hired in January at 20 hours per month. We currently have 3 police officers working 160 hours per month.

Fire Department

Given by Chief Lampi and approved

Old Fire Hall on North Shore Drive was burnt Monday October 11, 2004. The burn was used as a training session, Normanna, Lakewood, Two Harbors and some members from the Fire School attended.

A 1982 Ford 4 wheel drive truck was donated by the DNR to the Fire Department. It is a nice all around truck and will replace our old truck currently used in Alden.

Scott Dane, a professional grant writer, attended the last Fire Department business meeting. Scott was hired for $1250.00, to assist the fire department in acquiring grants, specifically from Homeland Security.

Fire Department truck maintenance will be posted for bid after the first of the year.

Received notification from the State Fire Marshal Office that they will no longer be doing arson investigation. Arson investigation will now be the responsibility of each Fire Chief.

ISO – one more packet of training records and fire reports to send to the ISO office.

There will be a mass incident drill with all members of the Lakehead association, Saturday October 16th. The drill will include; Law Enforcement, all Fire Departments, EMS and 911 services.

Harvest Dinner at the Town Hall October 16th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Fire Department auxiliary.

Community Center

Insurance - Corlis made a motion to change our insurance carrier to MATIT (Minnesota Association of Townships Insurance and Bond Trust), George seconded. A copy of the policy will be created and sent to the charter board. Motion passed

Johnson Control Contract – The present contract runs an additional two years. At this time the school is tentatively thinking about not signing the new 5 year contract. George made a recommendation we continue, contingent upon a satisfactory agreement by the school board. Mike Wardlow will revise the documents and then present them to the board for their review. At this time there is no time and date set by the Charter school for continued discussion. This issue is to be tabled and added to the November agenda.

Lease Agreement – the last rent check received from the community school was under the old rate. It was the understanding of the board that there would be an increase in rent as of June first. George asked the township attorney to discuss the issue with Phil Strom from the Community School.

Legal

The November Board meeting falls on Veterans Day. George made a motion to move the November meeting to November 4, 2004 7:00 p.m., Stephen seconded. Motion passed. Bills are to be in the office by October 28, 2004. This date change will be posted.

The board would like to thank Tim Strom for the wonderful job he did researching the industrial zone and other zoning issues during their work updating the township zoning ordinance.

Town Hall

Stephen will hook up the telephone alert system to notify three board members if there is a heat problem at the Town Hall. George would like to have his number included on that list.

Carpentry repair work is needed at the town hall. Trim boards need to be repaired; board desks need new coverings and other assorted items. Place on the January agenda

Planning and Zoning

Special meeting November 30, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.

There will be two public hearings on October 28th.

Handouts of the grant proposal submitted to the Duluth/Superior Community foundation at the end of last year were approved. $3000.00 funding was received from the Community Foundation in February of this year. Stephen made a motion to approve the programs, Corlis seconded. Motion passed.

The programs are as follows:

Tuesday November 9th from 6:30 – 8:30 will be titled "Stormwater Management in Duluth Township: "helping our citizens to meet the needs of a growing township". Topic is: "Rain barrels and rain gardens to manage storm water and beautify your property".

Tuesday December 7, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. will be titled "Duluth Township and its connection to renewable energy". Focus will be on Solar – electric, Solar – heat and Wind energies.

Phase 2 is the education brochure. Stephen made a motion to approve the $4500.00 expenditure for an educational handout and the contracts with Fladmark publishing for $2400.00 and Superior Design for $2000.00, Corlis seconded. George amended the motion to have our attorney look at the recommendation and approve the contracts. Motion passed.

Recycling

Busy

The PTA has not completed the wire cage set aside for pop cans at the north recycling center.

Road and Bridge

Wildwood Road is done. The Cross culvert is now 4 feet longer and is fully functioning

North Bergquist Road – Utilities had a permit to install telephone cable on the East side of the road. LLB utilities installed the cable on the west side of the road totally destroying the ditch.

Cemetery

Denise sent an e-mail report stating she is overdue with completing the deeds, and a question. Do you have to be a resident of the township to purchase lots within the cemetery? George will contact Denise.

George will remove all artificial flowers after the 15th of the month.

VII Old Business

Storm Water – was covered

VIII New Business

SLCATO – At the last meeting a County commissioner said the county is considering selling tax forfeit lands to generate additional funding.

Duluth North Shore Sanitary District (D/NSSD). Mary Ann Sironen is running for a new term.

IX Pay Bills

X Motion to adjourn

By Ann K. Cox

Clerk, Duluth Township