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PREBLE TOWNSHIP Fillmore County, Minnesota
Preble Township Board Meeting Highlights The following topics were discussed at the regular meeting of the board of supervisors held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, beginning at 7PM. Official minutes of this board meeting have not yet been approved.
Township officers attending the meeting were Brad Kelly, David Williams, David Larson and Charles Olson. Supervisor Gerald Peter did not attend the meeting. Township road engineer Butch Obieglo also attended the meeting. Township resident Paul Olson attended the meeting.
Brad Kelly, township vice president, called the meeting to order and led the discussion.
Topics Discussed
Treasurer's Report
Chuck Olson, treasurer, reported that the township checking account balance at Rushford State Bank was $65,171.89 as of January 31, 2011, after the payment of all January bills. Olson stated that $3,016.93 in deposits had been received by the township during early January. Olson stated that $9,390.80 was expended by the township during January.
Outstanding Bills
The township board reviewed bills received by David Larson since the January meeting. The total amount of outstanding bills, excluding current wages, was $5,754,84. All outstanding bills were approved for payment.
Road Report
Butch Obieglo reported that very little road work has been recently performed due to little snowfall and warming temperatures. Obieglo anticipates that with the increasing warmth and projected rainfall, the township roads will become soft and rutted. Obieglo is preparing to grade some roadways as ruts begin to develop
Year 2011 Budget Review
David Williams led the discussion of the proposed budget for year 2011. The township board suggested a few last changes to several line items of the year 2011 budget, and voted to approve the budget as modified.
Year 2012 Property Tax Levy
David Williams suggested that the township board should recommend to the township electors in March that the property tax levy for year 2012 be maintained at the same level as year 2011. The township board approved a recommendation to the township electors that the property tax levy for year 2012 be approved at $100,500.
Camper Lane Maintenance Reimbursement
David Williams reported that Preble Township had not yet received any invoice from Amherst Township for Preble Township's share of the costs of maintaining Camper Lane. Williams urged David Larson to remind the Amherst Township clerk to send Preble Township an invoice for such maintenance costs through December 31st.
Butch Obieglo Performance Review
Brad Kelly reported that the township supervisors recently met with Butch Obieglo to review his work performance over the past year. Numerous township residents have given positive reports to Obieglo's grading and plowing work. The township board approved a revised employment agreement with Obieglo, which includes the possibility of Obieglo receiving a performance bonus at the end of year 2011 if his work performance justifies it.
Lanesboro Rural Fire Association
David Williams reported that he attended the annual meeting of the Lanesboro Rural Fire Association at the Lanesboro Firehall. The Lanesboro fire chief reported fewer fire calls during 2010, but an increased number of ambulance rescues due to injuries on the bike trails and in the Root River. All townships voted to be assessed a total of $14,000, of which $439.60 will be assessed of Preble Township. Ambulance assessments will continue to be made from each township at the rate of $8.00 per township resident.
The debt on a rural association-owned fire tanker will be paid off by the end of year 2012, and that will eliminate an annual payment of $4,493.15 that has been paid by the rural association for several years.
Gopher Bounty for Year 2011
The township board voted to continue paying a township gopher bounty of $2 for each gopher trapped by township residents during 2011. Township residents must deliver the two front feet of each gopher killed to the township clerk to claim the bounty. David Williams noted that during year 2010, Preble Township paid a total of $1,572 in bounties to township residents who had trapped gophers.
Proposed Legislation Affecting Townships
David Williams reported that several bills have been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature to limit the right of city and township governments to impose interim ordinances or moratoriums on proposed commercial or industrial developments in order to give city and township governments the opportunity to study the effect of such developments on land use. The Minnesota Association of Townships is opposing such proposed legislation, and will lobby legislators to inform them of the township point of view.
Fillmore County Local Water Management Plan
David Larson informed the township board that the Fillmore County Board of Commissioners had recently approved the five year amendment to the county's water management plan. The revised plan had been prepared by the Fillmore County Soil & Water Conservation District. Preble Township has been advised that the township is required to submit its water and related land resources plan to the Soil & Water Conservation District within 90 days. Preble Township will study the revised water management plan, and will respond to the Soil & Water Conservation District.
Board of Audit
Following adjournment of the township board meeting, the annual Board of Audit was convened. All township officers present participated in the review of the township's financial records for year 2010, and concluded that the financial records were acceptable. |