June 12, 2018 Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors meeting
June 12, 2018 — All five members of the Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors, along with Township Clerk Sue Drobac and Treasurer Pam Rodgers, met on Tuesday, June 12 to conduct the regular business before the board.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call the supervisors unanimously approved the minutes of the board’s May regular meeting and the minutes of the April 6 Board of Canvas recount meeting, as they were presented by Clerk Drobac.
Rodgers presented the treasurer’s report noting that the township’s checking account balance was at $24,649.72, the long term investments were at $251,651.27 and the savings account was at $228,709.59. The total of all accounts was $685,010.58 at the end of May. The township totaled receipts of $1,044.59, including a $300 donation.
The Clerk presented the board of supervisors with claims totaling $15,657.58 and the board gave its unanimous approval to pay the bills. Treasurer Rodgers cautioned the town board that due to personal bereavement she has not had time to review the township’s payroll. Rodgers explained that she routinely reviews the payroll records before they are paid and the quarterly amounts due at the Internal Revenue are reported. She said that she has caught some small issues in the past and had to do a reconciliation for 2016 and forward it to the IRS when she became Greenwood Treasurer. Clerk Drobac became agitated at Rodgers comments as she routinely prepares payroll. Rodgers told the board that by the end of the business week she would have time to review the payroll. “I think we should have the payroll verfied,” Chairman Ralston said. The board approved the payroll pending the review and noted that it could call a special meeting to approve the payroll if discrepancies were found.
The Board of Supervisors approved a $100 donation towards the Tower 4th of July celebrations. Pam Lundstrom told the board that with Bayview’s closure the area events board was revitalizing the Flotilla to run between McKinley Park Bay and theTower Harbor. She asked, and was granted, use of the town storage garage to build a float for the parade and Flotilla advertising the township’s 40th anniversary celebration scheduled for August. Jari Ankrum reported that the new playground soon be complete. “I think it will be used a lot and people will love it,” Ankrum concluded. It was decided that Greenwood would look into the costs of providing water to the pavilion site. The board also listened to public comments from Mark Drobac, Mary Richards and Dr. John Bassing.
Clerk Drobac reported that the State of Minnesota demographic center sent correspondence reporting that the township’s population was 900, consisting of 416 households.
The board accepted a quote of $125, per occasion, for mowing. The quote was made by Paul Richardson. The 4-1 vote came with Supervisor Byron Beihoffer voting against the motion. Jack Williams also bid the same amount, but did not include proof of insurance as was requested. Beihoffer said that he should be provided an opportunity to present insurance before the board made its decision.
Supervisor’s Deluca and Tahija moved to approved the Standard Operations Guideline for the Greenwood Fire Department. the motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Ralston reported that upon his investigation with the State Attorney General’s office learned he that the township is not permitted to make donations to private organizations so a donation request for the Veterans of Foreign Wars was rejected.
The Greenwood Board reviewed the Jeff Maus complaint against the fire department and set Tuesday, May 19, at 4:00 p.m., at the town hall, as the date for a special meeting to address the grievance.
The town board also acknowledged that the 2018 fire department training budget was nearly exhausted and unanimously voted to place a moratorium on any additional training beyond routine in-house monthly training sessions and Fire Fighter I and II training for new firefighters. The motion passed unanimously.
Fire Chief Dave Fazio requested, and was granted, authorization to purchase a “Snowbulance” from a vendor in Canada at an estimated cost of $7,300. Fazio reported that the department has recently received $3,885 in donations in memory of Darryl Horsman which will be used towards payment for the rescue vehicle. He also explained that the fire department would save money if it did not buy the battery for the machine in Canada and that it could be obtained here for a better price in the U. S.
In other action, the Greenwood Board of Supervisors
• Tabled the idea of building a Maintenance Vendor list
• Approved the purchase, and installation, of a new town hall handicap door closer and opener at a cost of $3,321 from Arrow Auto, Virginia
• Asked the Fire Chief to cut down the Smokey Bear signs because they are in serious disrepair and replacements cannot be obtained
• Learned that all new township email addresses were set up for use and are listed on the township’s web site: greenwoodtownshipmn.com
• Approved a quote from Reichel Electric to replace old emergency exit signage and lights with new LED equipment at a cost of $2,336
• Accepted a donation on behalf of the Greenwood Fire Department
• Approved purchasing two Greenwood Township signs from St. Louis county at a cost of $800
• Approved the purchase and installation of two culverts on the Greenwood Bike Trail from United Landscaping $2,200.