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PREBLE TOWNSHIP Fillmore County, Minnesota
Preble Township Annual Town Meeting Highlights The following topics were discussed at the annual meeting of the township held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, beginning at 8PM. Official minutes of this annual town meeting have not yet been approved.
Residents attending the annual meeting were Paul Spande, Sherry Berg, Robert Housker, Steve Vrieze and Mike Marsden. Township officers attending the meeting were Gerald Peter, Brad Kelly, David Williams, David Larson and Charles Olson.
David Larson, township clerk, called the meeting to order. Township residents elected Robert Housker as moderator of the meeting.
Topics Discussed
Treasurer's Report
David Larson distributed and presented the treasurer's report of financial activity during year 2009, and reported on the township bank balances available.
Year 2010 Budget
David Williams circulated and presented a review of the year 2010 budget approved by the township board. The budget compared proposed 2010 spending to actual and budgeted spending for year 2009. The 2010 budget calls for the township to spend approximately $134,757 this year, with $109,280 of the expenditures being allocated to road and bridge maintenance and road equipment maintenance and repair. Williams pointed out that the amount allocated for gravel is being reduced to $18,000 this year because the township board believes roads will need less rock following a heavier application of rock last year. Although the township replaced and repaired a large number of culverts in 2008 following flooding, the township board anticipates replacing and repairing several culverts during 2010.
Road equipment purchases comprise another large amount, with $20,000 to be paid to Associated Bank of Rushford for financing the 2008 purchase of a new plow truck. The final payment on purchasing the road grader was made in 2009, and that piece of road equipment is now owned by the township free and clear of any encumbrance.
Property Tax Levy for 2011
David Williams presented the township board's recommended options for a property tax levy for 2010. The board recommended a total levy in the amount of $98,000, the same amount as the 2009 levy. Some township residents urged an increase in the levy by $2,500, and the township residents ultimately approved a levy of $100,500 for year 2011.
Road Repairs
Gerald Peter reported on the accomplishments of repairing road throughout the township during 2009. The yearend found township roads in the best condition than they had been in years. Peter noted that two failing bridges plague the township, and will probably require substantial repairs or replacements during 2010. The two bridges are the old small timber bridge over the Root River in section 10 and the small bridge along the bend in Arrowhead Road in section 26. The Fillmore County bridge engineer has condemned the Arrowhead Road bridge, and replacement is imminent.
Times for Annual Meeting and Regular Board Meetings
At the recommendation of the township board, township residents approved scheduling the annual town meeting to begin at 8:05PM on March 8, 2011. All township board meetings will start at 7:00PM during 2010.
Official Newspaper
The township residents designated the Fillmore County Journal as the official newspaper of the township.
Drake Road Cartway Dispute
David Williams reported on the nature and status of the ongoing dispute with Amherst Township over the maintenance of the Drake Road cartway.
Report of Annual Election
David Larson reported on the results of the township election. Brad Kelly was re-elected as supervisor, and David Larson as re-elected as clerk.
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