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, Micah and Ellen Murray, Rebekah Calder, Sarah Bergren, and Noah Crow.
Approved Ground Rules: The board has adopted ground rules for meetings: Citizens must raise their hand and be recognized by the chair to speak; No interruptions; If a speaker asks question of another person, they can answer but speaker holds the floor; Maintain respect and decorum.
Clerk’s Report of June Board Meeting. Paul read the report; Maureen moved to approve; Alden seconded; passed.
ROAD REPORT: Alden reports on any plowing/grading, repairs, etc. The south end of Little Tamarack Lake Road down by Holters got 16 loads of 2”minus pit run gravel. He bladed the west roads. Next week he will work on Vink Road.
OLD BUSINESS: Widen Dollar Lake Road Entrance: Aaron Gunderson of Pine Co. Highway Dept. says: “When an entrance culvert is still functioning and the county is not reconstructing our road, we do not replace culverts or widen approaches by request. We do not have immediate plans for replacing culverts along that part of CSAH 30. So if the township would like to widen their approach the township can at their cost – or wait until the culvert needs to be replaced and the county can widen it at that time.” Alden said we need to widen it for fire trucks, for one thing, so they can get in and out easier. Plus any other trucks. Mike said even for snowmobiles. Alden will get Summerland to inspect it and give an estimate of gravel to widen it.
Additional Duncan Rd sign for South Duncan Road: Per Aaron Giunderson: “We sign our roads according to sign standards which is to have one street sign at intersections, so if the township would like to buy and install their own sign they can do that.”
OLD BUSINESS: MATIT Town Insurance Policy: The Board reviewed the policy and said our coverage is too low for what it would cost to replace our town hall and fire/grader hall. We asked for another appraisal if we paid for it. Per Lisa Utley: “What is the board thinking a better value would be for these two buildings? MATIT only sends our EXL again in-between that timeframe if there is a new building or an addition to value. I have attached the most recent Property Valuation that was done 8/11/23. As of October 31, 2024, there has been an adjustment to the values of both properties. The value of the Fire Hall Garage (Building 2 61042 on County Road) has been revised to $173,859 from the previous amount of $176,703. Please see the attached document for details regarding this change, which is effective immediately. The appraisal from 2023 has been submitted to EXL to request the current estimated value for both properties. We have the option to increase the coverage by up to 5%. Could you please confirm if you would like to proceed with increasing the coverage for both policies? These valuations are scheduled with our third-party property appraisal company with a schedule of every 5 years for an update. Please let us know what other questions you may have.” Mike moved to ask them to increase our values by 5%; Alden seconded; passed.
County Land Sale, North Duncan Road: The County wants to sell 200 acres of tax-forfieted land in Section 11, on the east side of N. Duncan road.
Mike attended the special County Commissioner’s meeting in Pine City on Tuesday for the public hearing on this sale at the courthouse. He said they were somewhat sypathetic to our concerns about losing public lands. He asked how they’d feel if the government sold off Yellowstone to private interests. These lands are our Yellowstone, and people have hunted and had deer camps here for generations. Mike spoke with Greg Beck for a long time. They have devoted many acres to Veterans Memorial Forests, which are still open to the public, but Mike said they can rescind this at any time if they want. The Commissioners voted 4-1 to go ahead with the sales. Roger Nelson voted no. He said he was shocked at how much public lands the county sold off when he was off the board. They assured Mike that this is the last public sale of Wilma land.
Wilma Zoning: Mike said the Commissioners encouraged Wilma to either opt into County-wide zoning or enact our own ordinace. Wilma had a draft ordinance prepared and submitted by the Wilma Township Planning and Zoning Commission, which was made up of Eldon Schmedeke and Gary Vink, on March 11, 2003. “Whereas, Wilma Township residents, as a whole decided at their annual meeting March, 2002, to adopt a minimal zoning and ordinance plan, the Planning and Zoning Commission has drafted this plan and ordinance to submit to the Board of Supervisors and to the Town of Wilma for deliberation and discussion. This ordinance is establishing and adopting land use and zoning regulations within the Town of Wilma, Pine County, Minnesota.” Mike explained the history of this draft and that Eldon quit the zoning board when some of the provisions were questioned, and the issue died without his participation. Micah asked about the zoning commission; do we have one now? Paul said both Eldon and Gary have died and two Supervisors cannot be on any commission; it has to be a Supervisor and citizens or just citizens.
Mike said he didn’t want to offend anyone or step on anyone’s toes, but there is some concern in the community about unrestricted expansion of the Ecovillage and the proposed commune development on N. Duncan Road. Micah assured the board that they have no desire to take over the town, nor does the man on N. Duncan Road, who they know. He said they like how the town is governed. Micah said they researched the state and found few jurisdictions where they would be allowed to have multiple family homes on a site. Alden said he is hesitant to support any zoning.
Mike asked how can we restrict unlimited houses on a parcel to prevent uncontrolled expansion? Danforth does not allow multiple homes. Mike said it is not personal, since we like the Ecovillage people and how they have integrated into the community and fire department. His own family has roots here over 100 years. Patrice said you don’t have to have such long roots to love our town. Paul said his family moved here 110 years ago, and there is something to be said for people with deep roots here; we know the elders who ran our town and our history and heritage. When some new people moved in a few years ago, they disrupted the town and attacked the fire department and our board members.
Paul said all three Supervisors have the draft ordinance, and if they all mark up their copies and add what they want and remove what they don’t like, we can make a new draft ordinance to submit to our attorneys, Couri&Ruppe.
NEW BUSINESS: Coiuri & Ruppe Legal Seminar: In Rutledge, Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9 am to 4 pm. On Agenda: Cartways; Engineering: Roads; Municipal Contracting; Ordinance Enforcement; Family Medical Leave Act; Road Rights-of-Way; Open Meeting Law.
Coiuri & Ruppe Legal Seminar: Will be in Rutledge, Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9 am to 4 pm. On Agenda: Cartways; Engineering: Roads; Municipal Contracting; Ordinance Enforcement; Family Medical Leave Act; Road Rights-of-Way; Open Meeting Law.
Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills: $11,376.51. Alden moved to approve her report and transfer $11,000 from savings to checking. Maureen seconded; all aye. Passed. Mike moved to adjourn; Alden seconded. Adjourned at 9:00.
Paul Raymond, Clerk