Meeting Minutes January 22, 2020
Download the .pdf copy of the meeting minutes here.
TOWNSHIP OF CLAY
CLAY TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 22, 2020, 6:00 PM
MANTRAP VALLEY CONSERVATION CLUB
PARK RAPIDS, MN
- 1. CALL TO ORDER: The January 22nd, 2020, Meeting of the Clay Township Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Andy Kietzman, and those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
- 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Andy Kietzman, Supervisors Jeff Haukebo and Norm Leistikow, Treasurer Del Holz, and Clerk Margie Vik. Absent: None. Others Present: None.
- 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: A motion was made by Leistikow, seconded by Kietzman, and unanimously carried to approve the agenda as presented.
- 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Clay Township Regular Meeting Minutes-November 27, 2019: A motion was made by Leistikow, seconded by Kietzman, and unanimously carried to approve the Clay Township Regular Meeting Minutes for November 27th, 2019, as presented. - 5. NEW BUSINESS:
- A. Property Taxes: Vik stated the Hubbard County proposed property taxes for 2020 for the township’s property have increased to $134.00, over last year’s amount of $130.00.
- B. Hubbard County Township Association Meeting: Leistikow reported he had intended on going to the Hubbard County Association of Townships meeting but was unable to.
- C. Post Cards: The board authorized mailing post cards to property owners in Clay Township reminding them of the upcoming annual meeting on March 10th.
- 6. OLD BUSINESS:
- A. AIS Funding: Kietzman stated any contributions for additional AIS inspections in Clay Township have to be submitted by the January 31st, 2020, deadline. The township authorized $2,200 in 2018, and $2,500 in 2019. A motion was made by Kietzman, seconded by Haukebo, and unanimously carried to authorize $2,800.00 for additional AIS inspections for public lake accesses in Clay Township.
- B. Meeting Attendance Requirements: Kietzman stated after consulting with the MAT attorney he was informed that a supervisor could participate in a Clay Township meeting by means of a video conference. The place of the remote location that the individual is calling from has to be a public location where he can be seen and heard by all of the people involved in the meeting. Haukebo stated he would work on that to see what he could come up with.
- C. Jack Fish Road Speed Limits: Haukebo stated he talked to a MN DOT representative and was told that in order to change the mandated speed limit on a road a speed study would have to be conducted. The study would recommend that the limit be set according to the speed that the traffic is flowing, and that it would not be lowered. If the speed right now is at 40 to 45 miles per hour, that’s what you’ll get. The only way to lower the speed is to re-design the road. Haukebo questioned if it was feasible to put in a sidewalk for the pedestrians to walk on. Kietzman stated if there is enough right of way. That would be the safest approach. Since the township has no policies regarding special assessments, he would contact Jon Olson from Apex Engineering Group for his take on installing a sidewalk, the cost, and the special assessment process, so that the township can say we did our due diligence.
- D. Town Hall Building Committee: Kietzman stated the committee met with representatives of the Mantrap Valley Conservation Club (MVCC) to discuss possible alternatives to constructing a new building, and just focusing on safe records storage. The MVCC members were more inclined for us to construct a separate building instead of an addition onto their building. We have blueprints ready to get bids for a new town hall. The bids will be presented at the annual meeting. Haukebo stated the MVCC building isn’t heated in the winter, the handicap ramps aren’t shoveled out, which isn’t the best of situations.
- 7. APPROVAL OF TREASURERS REPORT: Holz presented his written treasurer’s report to the board (see attached). The board discussed several financing options as to where to place township funds for the best rate of return. A motion was made by Haukebo, seconded by Kietzman, and unanimously carried to authorize the treasurer to transfer $150,000.00 from the Edward Jones CD (matures 02-12-20) to the Edward Jones money market account with the interest rate of 1.4%. A motion was made by Kietzman, seconded by Haukebo, and unanimously carried to approve the treasurer’s report and to pay the outstanding invoices.
- 8. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Kietzman, seconded by Haukebo, and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m.