Routine business addressed by Greenwood Town Board
Members of the Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors met Wednesday, August 15 and addressed the routine business on the meeting agenda before the township.
The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday to avoid conflict with the Minnesota Primary election conducted on the township’s regular meeting date.
Opening the meeting to public comments, Chairman Mike Ralston learned, in a report made by Jari Ankrum, that additional black dirt was spread at the township’s pavilion site and that grass was beginning to sprout from the seed plated early this summer. “Benches are on order and we hope the will arrive and be assembled before the township’s 40th Anniversary Picnic Celebration,” Ankrum told the board of supervisors. The board received a packet of information outlining some concerns outlined by the Greenwood Community Recreation Board and Ankrum asked the town board to review the packet for its later consideration.
Steve Rodgers acknowledged, and thanked Ankrum for her “positive and uplifting letter to the editor” published in recent editions of the local newspapers. Apparently Township Clerk Sue Drobac took umbrage with Rodgers comment suggesting that he “discontinue his letter writing” referencing a recent letter he also submitted to a local paper.
Both Dr. John Bassing and Barb Lofquist spoke siting concerns about the Greenwood Fire Department and Lofquist asked people in the township to be kind to the township clerk. Lofquist said she remained concerned with actions that the fire department might have undertook during an emergency call at Fortune Bay Casino and that “people need to be more polite to the town clerk.”
Bassing read a lengthy statement accusing the fire department of “over inflating its roster” to fraudulently receive training dollars.
Chairman Ralston asked Bassing if he was aware of any of the fraudulent activity he currently accused the fire department of perpetrating while the township was under his recent chairmanship. Bassing responded, “I did not know everything.” Supervisor Carmen DeLuca asked Bassing to provided the town board with a copy of his written script but Bassing was not forthcoming in providing the copy during the exchange. Ralston noted that the board would take the comments under advisement, but acknowledged that the current Greenwood Town Board has little interest in micromanaging the township fire department.
Mary Richard reminded everyone that a rummage sale was upcoming at the townhall on September 8.
Pam Lundstrom reminded everyone of the upcoming August 25 Township 40th Anniversary party, reporting, “everything is under budget and on track.” Residents are encouraged to join in the festivities.
Tackling citizen concerns about the recycling canisters at the town hall, Chairman Ralston said, “Contrary to the rumor mill we have not decided to remove the recycling continuers. the township has been plagued with people dumping garbage and overfilled recycling canisters throughout much of the summer season. Supervisor DeLuca has been monitering the canisters daily and reported that compliance with the recycling policy is very high, however others ignore policy and it does take repeated effort to keep the area clean. Residents and visitors are encouraged to follow the basic guidelines and refrain from making a mess in the area.
At the last township meeting the board listened to concerns that loose garbage and recycled materials might interfere with helicopter life-flights. Ralston reported that he checked with fire fighters and emergency medical personnel in the township and learned that they routinely secure the area before a helicopter attempts to land, alleviating that safety concern.
The township would like to continue to provided the recycling services at the townhall. however the public needs to be reminded that it is an optional service and the township is not responsible for recycling. St. Louis County reportedly will move the canisters to Soudan, and township residents and businesses will have travel that extra distance if the township removes the service. Ralston reminded residents that it would continue do what it can to keep the recycling area clean, and put the question before residents at the township’s annual meeting in March.
The town board is still interested in considering adding water to the pavilion area and Chairman Ralston asked anyone with ideas, or proposals to bring them forward to the town board. “We will consider any and all ideas,” Ralston emphasized.
In other action, the Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors:
• Tabled any further discussion or action on the Jeff Maus grievience
• Determined that it would wait until the 40th anniversary picnic was over until it again looked at determining if the kitchen hood needed professional cleaning
• Noted that the fire department standard operations guidelines would be reviewed by the town board and fire department
• Reviewed a copy of an opinion from the Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Administration and learned that the township was in error in not making a copy of material which was presented to the board and making it available to the public at a May special meeting. The complaint originated with John Bassing, Ralston reported
• Discussed at length the township’s responsibilities in maintaining the Birch Point extension road and approved sending a letter asking residents to comply with brushing along the roadway
• Removed insurance on the playset which was obtained to provide coverage while it was in storage
• Discussed, but took no action, on a suggested policy to determine when money in the township’s capital equipment fund would be utilized rather than utilizing funds from the general account
• Passed a resolution accepting another donation to the fire department in memory of Darrel Horsman
• Approved continuing to offer fire protection for unorganized township 63-15 at the $8,000 payment offered bySt. Louis County
• Approved paying $7,936.59 in July claims and approved paying $898.17 in August claims to date
• Approved advertising the procedures necessary for residents to apply for absentee ballots for the November election
• Approved the minutes of the July 10 Regular Meeting of the Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors and approved the minutes of the July 24 special meeting conducted to finalize aproval of the primary election judges
• Approved the July end Treasurer’s report acknowledging that the township’s balance was at $733,552.82, including $251,186.26 in the checking account; $251,651.27 in long term investment accounts and $230,715.29 in the savings account. The Opening balance for the month was at $655,080.59 and the township receipted $107,801.59 in July and disbursed $29,329.68 to achiever the $733,522.82 July end balance.
NOTE: A correction to this article was made at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 6. 2018. The word immediately was removed from two separate places in a sentence. The original, and incorrect sentence, was written as: “Reviewed a copy of an opinion from the Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Administration and learned that the township was in error in not immediately making a copy of material which was presented to the board and making it immediately available to the public at a May special meeting.”