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, March 15, 2011, beginning at 7PM. Official minutes of this board meeting have not yet been approved.

Township officers attending the meeting were Gerald Peter, Brad Kelly, David Williams, David Larson and Charles Olson. Township road engineer Butch Obieglo also attended the meeting. Township resident Paul Olson attended the meeting.

Gerald Peter, township 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 $70,255.43 as of February 28, 2011, after the payment of all February bills. Olson stated that $12,131.22 in deposits had been received by the township during February, most of which consisted of the state gas tax allocation to the township. Olson stated that $7,047.68 was expended by the township during February.

Outstanding Bills

The township board reviewed bills received by David Larson since the February meeting. The total amount of outstanding bills, excluding current wages, was $3,423.01. Fuel supplies represented a substantial portion of this amount. All outstanding bills were approved for payment.

Road Report

Butch Obieglo reported that the township roads have become soft and rutted in several places with the spring thaw and melting of ice. Several roads require gravel in places before the rains begin.

Proposed Marvin Kuhn Manure Pit

David Larson stated that the township received a notice from the Fillmore County Zoning Office informing the township board that Marvin Kuhn proposes to build and operate a manure pit on his dairy farm in neighboring Newburg Township. Kuhn has applied to Fillmore County for a conditional use permit allowing him to build and operate the manure pit and to conduct aerial application of liquid manure onto his fields. Kuhn's application for a conditional use permit will be heard by the Fillmore County planning commission on March 24, 2011. David Williams indicated that he would obtain copies of the manure pit design plans and operating plan from Mike Frauenkron, the county feedlot officer; and would then attend the planning commission hearing. At this point, the township board has no position on the proposed manure pit.

Officer Compensation

David Larson stated that the March township board meeting is customarily the time when the township board reviews compensation payable to township officers. Larson pointed out that the township supervisors and treasurer currently receive $75 for each meeting attended or each work event undertaken. The clerk receives $250 each month in compensation. The township board discussed officer compensation, and deferred making any decision about compensation until the April board meeting.

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.

Equipment Hourly Rates

David Larson urged the township board to review the current rate schedule charged by the township to neighboring townships for the use of its road equipment. Preble Township currently charges $90 per hour for the plow truck, and $110 per hour for the road grader. The township board discussed whether the rates should be increased, and deferred making any decision about increasing the equipment rate schedule until the April board meeting.

Spring Road Tour

Gerald Peter noted that the township board should conduct its spring road tour soon, and schedule Saturday, March 19th, beginning at 8:30AM for the township board to tour all township roads.