2013

                          SCHROEDER TOWNSHIP

      Minutes for Regular Board Meeting of Aug. 12, 2013

Present: Supervisors, Tina McKeever, Roger McKeever, Deb Johnson; Clerk, Doug Schwecke; Treasurer, Alicia Kangas; Asst. Clerk, Gale Ring; Fire Chief, Phil Bonin; Commissioner, Bruce Martinson, and residents of Schroeder.

The meeting was called to order by T. McKeever at 7:40PM.

  1. McKeever moved to approve the minutes of July 9, 2013. D. Johnson seconded. Minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Receipts for July totaled $831.33. Disbursements totaled $10,560.41. The ending checkbook balance was $15,220.20. R. McKeever moved to approve the treasurer’s report. D. Johnson seconded. Treasurer’s Report was approved.

  1. McKeever moved to approve checks #3074-3106 in the amount of $6,511.46. D. Johnson seconded. Motion passed.

Lodging tax debit slip for $2,767.57 was approved and signed.

Coralyn Koschinska spoke about Birch Grove Foundation. Since being started in 1985 their mission has evolved. Presently their two main functions are 1) to manage building for leases with BGCS, satellite clinic, hostel, and community oven. 2) to manage the Community Center, including senior lunches and programs, community lunches, educational programs, starting a lending library. Last year over 100 different people attended the senior lunches, with an average weekly attendance of 24. About half of those were from Schroeder. She also presented their financial statement for the year.

Nancy Grabko, Cook County Housing Administrator, gave an overview of EDA’s role in procuring over $2,000,000 for commercial and private residential rehabs in Cook County over the last 5 years. The EDA is an equal opportunity provider and does business according to the Federal Fair Housing Law. She is hoping to create a new target area of Schroeder, Tofte, and Lutsen Twps. She is seeking permission from each twp. to conduct a survey of year-round residents to assess the need to rehab private residences, including handicap accessibility, structural repairs, and energy improvements. Work approved would be done by local contractors. If need is shown a grant would be applied for in Nov. R. McKeever moved to approve EDA’s request to conduct a survey to assess need for a DEED Housing Rehab program for Schroeder residents, and to provide a mailing list. T. McKeever seconded. Motion passed.

Patricia Campanaro, new Mn Small Business Development Center consultant, explained her mission to provide free information, training, and counseling to assist in starting new small businesses and growing existing ones. Her office is in Grand Marias, but will be at Birch Grove one day a month.

Linda Lamb reported on SAHS activities. They had 75 people on their Lundy tour.John Schroeder Community Day will be this Sat. Aug. 17. They are working on “MN Reflections”, an oral history of the area.

Commissioner Martinson: Bruce reported that AT&T is installing equipment on the Schroeder cell tower and it should be operational as soon as the fiber optics cable is completed. The various county departments have submitted their budget requests for next year which would result in a 9.6% increase in the budget. State law mandates no more than 3%, so some work needs to be done before a budget for next year is approved.

Fire and Rescue: Phil reported last month was quiet for fires but very busy for rescue, with 3 calls in one day. They are fixing a few things on the trucks. Some members would be attending fire school next month.

Road and Bridge: The insurance value on the plow truck is $12,000. Clerk to check is to check if that is constant or devalued yearly. Beaver control on Sugarloaf Rd is ongoing, but we’re gaining on them.

Cemetery: Plot for Cory Schmid was marked off. The water tank should be cleaned out, as rust and other sediment are accumulating in the bottom.

Recreation: Nothing new this month.

Maintenance: T. McKeever moved to approve spraying the Town Hall for flies again this year. D. Johnson seconded. Motion carried. Brushing of the township roads was discussed. It was decided to not do anything this year, but to put out bids next winter to be decided on by April, with brushing done in June.

Other Business: Welcome Walls- On Aug. 8 we had 8 young people from Mn Conservation Corp assisted about 20 residents help clean the Welcome Walls of tansy and other weeds. Thanks to all who helped in this effort, especially Gale Ring for organizing it. Great job!

Correspondence: Sent– MnUI wage verification, OSA questions, CTAS survey

                        Received-Thank-you from NSFC, Jim Norvell,& Judy Gregg, Mn Town Aid for 2014, MAT District 10 meeting on Aug. 29, CTAS survey, questions from OSA & MnUI

  1. McKeever moved to adjourn. D.Johnson seconded. Motion carried.

Adjourned at 9:30 PM

Respectfully submitted,

 

Doug Schwecke, Clerk