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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, January 17, 2012, beginning at 7:00PM. 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 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 $99,516.37 as of December 31, 2011, after the payment of all December bills. Olson stated that the township received $35,116.78 in property tax revenue in early December. Olson reported that $15,863.07 was expended by the township during December, with $10,000 of that amount representing the semi-annual truck loan payment to Associated Bank.
Outstanding Bills
The township board reviewed bills received by David Larson since the December meeting. The total amount of outstanding bills, excluding current wages, was $7,324.15. All outstanding bills were approved for payment.
Road Report
Butch Obieglo reported that he added icerock to potentially slippery road areas throughout the township. Snowfall has been sporadic and light, but the roads still require occasional plowing and maintenance.
Gerald Peter reported that he and Brad Kelly met with John Grindeland, the Fillmore County Road engineer, at the "Vitse" bridge site to discuss replacement of the bridge. Grindeland told Peter and Kelly that there is no funding available in the bridge account for replacement of this bridge. Grindeland foresees that it might be at least a decade before there are sufficient funds available in the county bridge account to replace the "Vitse" bridge. David Williams reported that he spoke with the head of the township's liability carrier (MATIT) to get clarification of the possible liability impact of Preble Township not having sufficient funds to replace this aging bridge. The township board approved a plan to study options for replacing and repairing this bridge. The township board also approved a reduction of the weight levels on the bridge to not more than 3 tons.
Year 2012 Budget Preparation
The township board reviewed and approved the annual financial statements of the township for year 2011. The financial statements showed that the township received total revenue of $120,128.72 during 2011, and expended a total of $92,512.01 during the year. The township board also reviewed and marked up a draft of the proposed township year 2012 budget. Modifications of the proposed budget will be made, and the budget will be resubmitted for approval at the February board meeting.
Wisel Cemetery
David Williams reported that the new cemetery association received a contribution of $500 from the Canton American Legion post. Williams has been encouraged to apply to the Lanesboro American Legion post and Mabel Lions for additional funding. Williams noted that the January 16th issue of the Bluff Country Reader contained a full page story on the community's efforts to restore the Wisel Cemetery burial grounds.
Silica Mining Discussion
David Williams led a continued discussion about the sudden proliferation of proposed silica mining projects in southeastern Minnesota, including two large projects proposed for Fillmore County. Williams reported that the Wisconsin Town Association recently hosted a day-long workshop on township land use planning issues raised by the recent proliferation of silica mining projects. The Wisconsin Town Association is encouraging its townships to approve moratoriums on silica sand mining projects to allow time for study the impact of mining on townships. Gerald Peter suggested that Preble Township officers take a tour of western Minnesota silica sand mining operations to gather first hand knowledge of the potential impact of these projects. Peter and Williams will organize a township board tour of these sites.
The discussion of silica mining will continue at the next township board meeting.
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