Kabetogama Township
Regular Meeting
March 5, 2019
Draft
Chairman Tomczak opened the meeting at 7:00 pm. Board members present were Supervisor Stegmeir, Treasurer Callais and Clerk Manninen along with 5 guests. All attending recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda – The agenda was reviewed, Supervisor Stegmeir asked to add Operators Agreement Renewal for PPSSD to new business, Chairman Tomczak moved to approve the agenda seconded by Supervisor Stegmeir, all voting aye the motion carried,
Minutes – The minutes for the February regular meeting were reviewed. Motion by Supervisor Stegmeir to approve the minutes, seconded by Chairman Tomczak, all voting aye motion carried.
The Treasurer’s report was read by Treasurer Callais.
Financial Report
Checking –
Beg Bal February 1, 2019 – $180,660.13
Income – 2,600.07
Total Expenses - $10,422.87
End Bal. February 28, 2019 – $172,837.33
Road Fund - $17,232.47
Road CD - $21,508.69
Road Fund Bal - $38,741.16
Checking CD - $26,200.65
Pucks Point Subordinate Sewer District
Beg Bal. February 1, 2019 - $17,665.48
Income - $0.00
Expenses - $3,119.00
End Bal. February 28, 2019 - $14,546.48
Capitol Debt Reduction
Beg. Bal. February 1, 2019 - $3,459.42
Income - $0.00
Expenses – $0.00
End Bal. February 28, 2019 - $3,459.42
The Treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by Supervisor Stegmeir, seconded by Chairman Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
Claims – Clerk Manninen read the claims.
Frontier Phone Co. – Phone and Internet – $101.81
North Star Electric – Town Hall - $161.00
Business Essentials – Office Supplies - $114.51
Greg House – Plowing of Pucks Point Road - $480.00
Menards – Town Hall Supplies - $20.70
Total - $878.02
PPSSD Claims – Septic Check - $2,500.00
North Star Elec. - $919.00
Greg House – Plowing of PPSSD Treatment Facility - $200.00
Total - $3,619.00
Chairman Tomczak moved to accept the claims and pay them in full, seconded by Supervisor Stegmeir, all voting aye motion carried.
Comment Period: None
Speakers:
Bob DeGross, Voyageurs National Park Superintendent, Ryan Maki, Voyageurs National Park Aquatics Ecologist, Emily Nelson, Northern St. Louis County SWCD.
Jim Yount, Kooch Technology Initiative, Blandon Foundation.
Fire Chief, Larry Warrington, KFD
Bob DeGross began by explaining what here was to discuss. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) treatment, Dark Sky Park designation and land transfer with BLM. Bob introduced Ryan Maki who is the VNP Aquatics Ecologist and Emily Nelson who is the AIS coordinator from North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District. In 2018 North St. Louis County SWCD sought funding through State sources to increase AIS decontamination treatment opportunities in the Kab area. The Kabetogama Lake Association sought funding to potentially place a CD3 AIS education and cleaning station in the community. Neither request was funded. It is Bob’s understanding that committees responsible for he funding sources have indicated interest in potentially funding one, or both, of the requests in the future. The Park is in support of these efforts and their interest in working closely with the community to assure that thoughtful placement of any infrastructure or operation is discussed and agreed to by all parties involved. Emily Nelson explained the level 1 and level 2 units. Level 1 is called a CD3 (clean, drain, dry, dispose) self-service unit operable 24/7 by the public that has tools to clean, drain, dry, dispose with a wet dry vac and other tools and attachments.. The level 2 unit is a self-contained, hot water, high-pressure unit. Hot water is used to kill AIS that may be on the watercraft and high pressure removes anything that may be attached. The unit holds 400 gallons of water that is collected on a reclamation mat, filtered, and reused. Emily gave a background of participation. 19 resorts, campgrounds and marinas signed a Private Launch Partnership Agreement to inspect entering and exiting watercraft at their respective private access. These were on Lake Vermillion and Pelican Lake. 28 resort owners /employees completed an online resort AIS watercraft inspector training. 15 out of 19 resorts uploaded watercraft inspections. 1 resort (Vermillion Dam Lodge) had a North St. Louis SWCD inspector staffed at their private access during Saturday turn-over, fishing seminars and a misk8ie tournament. The inspector conducted 132 inspections. Future plans are to increase the number of resorts inspecting watercraft. Increase the number of lakes with resorts that inspect water craft and continue partnership with Cass and Itasca Counties to regionally increase inspection efforts at private accesses as a part of the Initiative Foundation Multi-Region Ambassador Program: AIS Prevention Partnership. Also to explore training options allowing greater flexibility o meet demands of resorts interested in conduction inspections.
Voyageurs National Park is seeking designation as a Dark Sky Park through the International Dark Sky Association. Astronomy related tourism to experience unaltered dark sky conditions is coming a big sector of the travel industry. Voyageurs National park will be working over the next few years to complete documentation required to meet guidelines to be designated as a Dark Sky Park. They will also be working with other land management agencies (ISFS and Ont. Provincial Parks) within the Heart of the Continent Partnership geotourism region to obtain this designation.
Recently legislation passed by the Senate allowing for BLM lands within the park boundaries, about 39 islands to be transferred to the VNP. This would clearly define management roles on those lands. This legislation has yet to pass through the House of Representatives and be sent to the President to be signed into law.
Jim Yount from the Kooch Technology Initiative spoke on broadband related technology for our area. He had three topics to discuss with us. Expanding the broadband infrastructure in our area, the use of Co-Working space and finally Public WiFi access. They applied for and became a Blandin Broadband Community which is a two year process which began in January. During that process Blandin provides a lot of knowledge and logistical support, organization support and training. The program also has up to $25,000 in research and $75,000 in grant money available. Together, they will work to increase access use of and local skills for the world wide web by partnering with service providers, funding institutions and stakeholders throughout our community. Co-Work Space is a building or a business which can be non-profit where you have the members pay to come and go whenever they need the service of the internet. It can be set up in a business environment where you’ve got business desks, excellent internet and possibly coffee, meeting rooms, kitchenette etc. Most people who use this are individuals who have their own business who work out of their own homes but maybe don’t have the best internet or just want a different environment to work in. People on vacation who have the need to get work done while on vacation. These can be set up with a door with a card swipe to enter with. With a better broadband infrastructure this area could have public internet access areas. We will work closely with Kooch Technology Initiative and Jim Yount to get our area included. The Blandin Foundation grant money $75,000 is to be split up among a bunch of different projects. The most they can spend on any one project is $25,000. They want them to focus on $5,000 projects and in those they may require a one to one match. Or a three to one match where ¼ of the total money comes from other sources besides Blandin.
Fire Chief Larry Warrington has asked the township to budget to the fire department $38,000.00 on the 2020 levy. They are asking St. Louis County for $35,000.00 which comes from the unorganized township they serve. His projected budget is as follows: Building - $15,000; Insurance - $11,000; Utilities - $11,000; Vehicle Maint. - $9,000; Training - $8,000; Medical - $12,000; Other - $5,000.
Old Business –
PPSSD - Supervisor Stegmeir moved to approve the 2019 PPSSD Operators Agreement with Septic Check, seconded by Chairman Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried. The Governor has requested a Bonding Bill. The Joint Powers Board has requested $250,000 or so from clean water which will be going to Ash River and Kabetogama.
Community Sewer - The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.
Roads & Trails – Nothing new at this time.
Community Building/Town Hall – Nothing new at this time.
Other – Supervisor Stegmeir attended the Hospital Board. John has volunteered to sit at Mental Health Committee that they are trying to put together for this area. It is the Mental Health Initiative. John would like the board members to think about how we identify needs for our area?
The board again reviewed the levy for the annual meeting next week.
NEW BUSINESS –
Supervisor Stegmeir moved to change the date of the April board meeting to the 9th of April so Supervisor Kec could attend, seconded by Chairman Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
Our new County Commissioner would like to attend the May 7th regular board meeting.
St. Urho’s is on March 16th with a potluck at 5:30 and kids games at 4:30 here at the Town Hall.
Supervisor Stegmeir moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 pm. Seconded by Chairman Tomczak, all voting aye
Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk
RSS Feed