CLERK’S RECORD OF WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7, 2026 WILMA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

Chair Mike McCullen called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. with the Pledge. Also present, Supervisors Alden Shute and Maureen Rioux, Clerk Paul Raymond, Treasurer Patrice Winfield, Deputy Clerk Cindy Kleinschmidt, Daniel Calder, Clay Heller, Jr., Micah Murray, Terry Havala, and Steve Menth.

Clerk’s Report of December Board Meeting. Paul read the report; Alden moved to approve; Maureen seconded; passed.

ROAD REPORT: Alden plowed twice. He had to get new tires from Glen’s Tires in Mora.

Plow Schedule: Mike said traditionally the snowplow went to homes with children first since buses won’t go down unplowed roads. Cindy said that the kids on Vink Road had to walk all the way to the road. Alden said he would be glad to go west first, but Micah and Ellen Murray and Maureen Rioux also have children on Tamarack Pine Drive. He may need to alternate north and west.

New Lighting in Grader Hall: Ervin Kleinschmidt put new lighting in the Fire Hall so it is much brighter. The fire department paid for the lights and materials, and the township paid for Erv’s labor. Mike said Erv would be willing to install new lights in the grader hall also. Alden said he has found two very bright work light stands, so this may be all he needs for adequate lighting in the grader hall.

Jerry’s Roadside Mowing: He is retired and no longer mowing. Alden said he will ask Jerry if he knows of anyone else who does this work.

OLD BUSINESS: Minnesota Paid Leave: Poster posted in town hall and notice given to all officers and employees. This program stared on January 1, to give paid time off for workers for illness or birth or caring for loved one. To qualify for payments must have been paid$3,900 in 2025. The state pays the paid leave funded by premiums paid by the town and the employee. Current rate .88% of covered wages. This requires no accounting in CTAS. The clerk will report the quarterly gross wages for all officers and employees, and the state will bill us for .88% to go into the paid leave fund.

CTAS and Windows 11: To use CTAS, the clerk and treasurer had to have Windows 11 computers. Patrice and Erv bought a new laptop with Windows 11 and a new printer, paid by the township. Paul had to buy a new PC computer and the board agreed to pay half of the cost. The clerk requested to use the old township laptop for his CTAS backup and to use for CTAS, and that it not be erased. His laptop won’t run CTAS. Patrice said she has no use for it, but it can’t get CTAS Windows 11 updates. Paul said it will still be good as a backup for him and we should not erase 10 or more years of CTAS records in case we ever needed the backup.

Minnesota Association of Township’s Annual Conference: Was Thursday, December 11 through Saturday, December 13, 2025. Paul attended and took these sessions: Paid Family and Medical Leave; Small City & Town Accounting System (CTAS) Presentation and Assistance; Township Fire Contracts: Plan, Negotiate, Protect;The Ex Officio Notary Power: Uses & Concerns (Clerk is not a notary except for township stuff); Fire Incident Trends and Prevention Strategies for Safer Communities; Township Roads: Gravel, Pavement & Beyond. Paul haa handouts for board.

Speakers: Ben Winchester, on rural living and the challenges of growth of rural communities; Eric Guthrie, on demographic changes in townships and trends in aging, ethnic diversity and population shifts; Julie Tesch, retaining talent in townships; Julie Blaha, State Auditor; Steve Simon, Sec. Of State. Paul was able to put universal cell service in rural communities on the agenda for future lobbying.

NEW BUSINESS: Township Day at the Capitol: Will be March 2, 2026; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Capitol Radison. Free. Lunch provided. To lobby legislators, e.g. for cell service. SCHEDULE: 10:00 AM: Registration/ Radisson Hotel St. Paul/Capitol Ridge (161 Rondo Ave, St. Paul); 10:30: Welcome, and Legislative Briefing at hotel; 12:00 NOON: Lunch (provided) at hotel; 12:30 PM: Buses/travel to Capitol (3 blocks away, transportation provided); 1:00 to 4:00 PM: Individual Legislative Meetings at the State Capitol (Senator Rarick and Rep. Nathan Nelson). 1:00 to 4:00: Open House and Speakers at the State Capitol; 3:45 to 4:00: Last bus back to the hotel 4:00 to 5:00 PM: Debrief and door prizes at the hotel

5:00 PM: Conclusion. There is no cost to attend this event. MAT: “We encourage as many township officers to attend as possible.”

Paul said this is our best opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with Senator Rarick and Representative Nathan Nelson and we can lobby them for better cell phone service and to exempt township officers from Paid Leave.

Micah said citizens can have a strong effect also by directly calling or emailing our officials. Mike said we need to post their contact info: Senator Jason Rarick, Capitol Office, 95 University Avenue W., Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 3413 St. Paul, MN 55155. 651-296-1508 E-mail: sen.jason.rarick@mnsenate.gov.

Rep. Nathan Nelson (R) District: 11B 2nd Floor Centennial Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-0518; Toll Free: 800-704-8185 E-mail: rep.nathan.nelson@house.mn.gov

A&T Satellite Cell Service: Clay and Cindy said that AT&T just launched a new satellite-enabled direct-to-device (D2D) , which allows users to connect their existing smartphones to satellite networks for better coverage, especially in remote areas. Clay said that whoever lobbies our Senator and Representative should tell them that this technology exists now for AT&T customers, and ask them to lobby to get it for all cell phone users, since the technology exists.

NEW BUSINESS: Board of Audit: Will be before February 4 Board Meeting, 7:30. Paul said the clerk and treasurer’s books match so far.

Township Election: Will be Tuesday, March 10, 2026, for Supervisor and Clerk, voting from 5-8 p.m. Paul and Alden are the incumbents and Steve Menth also filed to run for Supervisor. People can file to run for office until January 13, 2026. Must use new affadavit form. Annual meeting follows at 8:30 after the Board of Canvass.

Spring Short Course: This year will be back at the Blackbear Casino, Friday, April 3. Federal mileage rate now $ .725/mile. We usually carpool.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills: $2,458.12. Alden moved to approve her report and transfer $2,400 from savings to checking. Mike seconded; all aye. Passed. Alden moved to adjourn; Maureen seconded. Adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Paul Raymond, Clerk