CLERK’S RECORD OF WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 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, Micah Murray, Ellen Cales, Daniel Calder, Clay Heller, Jr., Dylan Linet, Hannah Rank, Alexa Eggen, Memphis Mitchell, Mike Siebencler, Michael Bean, Jody Mattson, Jobi Adams, Rebecca Calder, and Cindy Kleinschmidt.

Clerk’s Report of August 6 Board Meeting. Paul read the report; Maureen moved to approve; Alden seconded; passed.

ROAD REPORT: Eight loads 2” minus gravel on the Little Tamarack Lake Road, from the landing to the curve; three loads on Mayfield Road; 1 load on South Duncan Road, all 2” minus pit run.

Road Brushing/Mowing: Rootke brushed the west range-line roads and Fornengo Concrete brushed Wilma roads. Mike said Jason Palme said Crooked Lake road was not brushed, but this may have been before Rootke came down there. Alden will check.

Widen Dollar Lake Road Entrance: Alden said the culvert could be extended on both sides without any ditching, and then rock and gravel could be used to widen the entrance.

Alden said that with all of these projects, we will be a little over budget, but he’s basically done for the season.

Backup Grader Operator: Jody said that Doug Witta is available to do backup grading when Alden can’t do it, but only in the summer. Alden moved to hire Doug as backup operator for summer grading. Maureen seconded; passed. Rachel Bean said that she and her husband would also like to be considered for backup operator, and Daniel Calder said the same. Alden will need to train Daniel and anyone else who hasn’t operated a large grader.

OLD BUSINESS: : Pine Co. Tax Forfeit Land Auction: Will be Friday, September 19, 10 a.m. at the courthouse: 200 Acres on North Duncan Road. Mike attended the Commissioners’ meeting to oppose the sale of the land but they voted to proceed with the sale. The Pine County News gave Wilma a whole half page addressing the issue and our concern about public land sales.

OLD BUSINESS: Wilma Zoning: Mike explained the history of zoning and deliberations in Wilma Township. He first started researching our past zoning efforts last spring, and the board distributed Wilma’s 2003 zoning proposal at the beginning of June to all board members and any interested public citizens. Mike said the issue is complicated, with strong opinions on both sides, those who wanted no zoning, as we have now, and those who wanted some restrictions on the spread of multi-family parcels with multiple single-family homes. Maureen reported that she surveyed at least 10 citizens, and got opinions on all sides of the issue. Many of the people who wanted some reasonable restrictions on developments were not at the meeting. Jody said one reason they don’t come is because all of the conflict in our town a year and two ago, with out-of-control meetings. She said the board needs to take into consideration all viewpoints even if they are not personally represented.

The Supervisors have reviewed Wilma Township’s 2003 proposed draft planning and zoning ordinance, but they are not ready yet to present a revised ordinance to the township or to the attorneys for review. Mike consulted with Wilma Attorney Robert Ruppe who advised that to avoid future problems and issues the town board should adopt an interim ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on all single-family buildings, new plats and subdivisions and land uses (with certain exceptions) to allow them time to draft an ordinance. Copies of the resolution to adopt an interim ordinance and copies of the proposed ordinance were distributed to everyone. Mike said this will give the board some time to draft a good zoning ordinance while still protecting the townspeoples’ concerns.

Long discussion on the moratorium, with many offering opinions. Wilma is the only township in the county without either county zoning or local zoning and many citizens said this is exactly why they moved to our township and love it here. Our town has a stong independent spirit and we have never wanted to be ruled by intrusive zoning officials. Micah said the reason many people have moved to Wilma is because we do not have zoning, but he understands the concern about people changing the town. Dylan and Hannah and Micah all said they have no desire to change the town; they love this township.

Alden said if we ever have a zoning ordinance it needs to fit on two pages. He said that Arna Township is going bankrupt now because of their huge, strict zoning ordinance and all the legal fees they’ve accrued from Couri&Ruppe.

Micah asked how this moratorium came about? Mike said the attorneys wrote it and they strongly suggested that since we still have no zoning ordinance this would give the board time to figure it out. Dylan asked why can’t we just not pass this now and let things continue as they are? Everyone gets along and they have no desire to change or control the township. Do we want a township with freedom or one with rules and regulations?

Mike said one concern is that with many homes on a single parcel it would limit the freedom of hunters on adjoining lands so they don’t shoot near homes. Dylan’s land is narrow and all houses would be near the boundaries. Dylan said he would be happy to set aside half of his land as permanently undeveloped so hunters wouldn’t have to worry about being near buildings.

Several citizens said if there is any zoning, it should address big trucks hauling loud loads starting at three in the morning. Or dogs who bark incessently. Mike said he has received two complaints about loud rock music blasting until the early mornings at events in our town and zoning could address these issues.

Mike said there was never an intent to harm anyone, but that the board wants things to be done correctly, and the ordinance would give the town some time to work things out. Alden said we’ve existed since 1907 with no zoning and we do not need to rush into it now. Ellen said it is an unnecessary step. A misdemeanor for building a house? With all these people here wanting to live and build and grow in peace, two supervisors can have the authority to stop all future building in our town? Alden said we were a dying township and these new people are the hope of life and a future in our town. Dylan says this is all targeted at Ecovillage and his project. Micah asked what is it about their village that makes people so uncomfortable? Is it the number of residences? Is it political differences? That they will all come our and vote? He said we need to find out what people are afraid of; what will make them feel safe? Is the fear hearsay or based on truth? Mike offered to visit Ecovillage and Dylan’s people to get their input on some reasonable zoning regulations. Mike said he’d been criticized by Paul for giving in too easily on his principles because he wants people to like him. Paul said he hates to see any division and hurt and anger in our town and this may be one time it would be best to give in and compromise and maybe it would be best to just table this resolution for now. Mike agreed and Alden moved that the resolution be tabled for now; Maureen seconded; passed.

NEW BUSINESS: Minnesota Paid Leave: This starts January 1, 2026, intended to give paid time off for workers with health or caregiving needs. This is separate from ESST, Earned Sick and Safe Time. Elected officials are exempt from ESST but not from Paid Leave. Clerk had to submit quarterly wage reports for both employees and elected officers for July-Sept., 2024, October-December, 2024; January-March, 2025; and April-June, 2025. Very difficult report and enrollment procedure.

Fall L&R Meeting. The MAT Legislative & Research (L&R) Committee develops, reviews, and recommends legislative actions on behalf of townships. Friday, September 12, 2025 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center Grand Hall, Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, MN 56001. No cost to township officers to encourage increased attendance and participation. Included are materials, refreshments, and lunch. Registration 10 a.m.

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. They will answer any zoning questions free.

Minnesota Association of Township’s Annual Conference: Will be Thursday, December 11 through Saturday, December 13, 2025; St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills: $3,227.46. Alden moved to approve her report and transfer $3,000 from savings to checking. Maureen seconded; all aye. Passed. Mike moved to adjourn; Alden seconded. Adjourned at 9:15, but many citizens stayed behing to visit and talk after the meeting.

Paul Raymond, Clerk

CLERK’S RECORD OF WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 2025 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, Micah Murray, Ellen Cales, Daniel Calder, Clay Heller, Jr., Dylan Linet, Hannah Rank, Duane Glienke, Brian Hughes, Lane Cales, Cindy Kleinschmidt, and Kim Felton.

Clerk’s Report of July 2 Board Meeting. Paul read the report; Maureen moved to approve; Alden seconded; passed.

ROAD REPORT: Six loads 2” minus gravel on the Vink Road; three loads on Mink Farm Road; 3 loads on North Duncan Road, all 2” minus pit run.

Widen Dollar Lake Road Entrance: Alden is still working on researching this project. In July he said he will get Summerland to inspect it and give an estimate of gravel to widen it.

Road Brushing/Mowing: Alden has hired Fornengo Concrete to brush and mow our roads. He said some are so overgrown that he will ask them to make 3 passes. Mike asked about trees; do we need to notify landowners. Alden said the trees they will brush are not big enough.

OLD BUSINESS: County Land Sale, North Duncan Road:

Mike attended the special County Commissioner’s meeting in Pine City for the public hearing on this sale at the courthouse and the Pine County News gave a full half-page to our township and Mike’s appearance and our concerns.

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 by the Wilma Township Planning and Zoning Commission, which was made up of Eldon Schmedeke and Gary Vink, on March 11, 2003.

Long discussion on zoning, with many offering opinions. Patrice asked if the board could set a date by the next meeting for all of the Supervisors to go over the draft and delete what they don’t like and add anything they’d like to see. 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, after all three Supervisors have input, the clerk can combine all of their ideas into a new draft ordinance to present at the next board meeting for public input and opinions and then it can be submitted to our attorneys, Couri&Ruppe for their legal advice. Mike agreed to this. Paul said that many voters have copies of the ordinance and they can also contribute ideas for the board to consider.

Micah asked why the county is pressuring the town to adopt zoning. Paul said it’s not corersion or pressure but best practices, that they believe that we should have some zoning since we opted out of county zoning, perhaps out of concern with blight and garbage and junk that plagues so many towns. Wilma is the only township in the county without either county zoning or local zoning. Alden said that if we have zoning there is less chance that a future Board of Commissioners will force county-wide zoning on us and all townships. We could set a reasonable minimum lot size for homes. Micah said the reason many people have moved to Wilma is because we do not have zoning. He understands the concern about people changing the town. Dylan and Hannah and Micah all said they have no desire to change the town; they love this township.

Dylan said he is the person on North Duncan Road who wants to have settlement similar to EcoVillage on his 40 acres, and he said it is not a commune. He asked where we got the information about him. Paul said we didn’t know what was planned there beyond what Micah and Ellen told us and it was Jim Bredesen who alerted the town to his development planned there.

Micah said he would like a zoning committee or commission appointed now. Only one supervisor would be allowed on the committee so the other two would have no input in the draft. Paul said if they all three work on the draft this month, then next month a committee could be appointed if people think we still need one. The Supervisors’ proposed draft may be acceptable to the town and can be forwarded to the attorneys without needing a committee.

NEW BUSINESS: Fire Contract: Patrice gave Mike a copy of the contract with Duxbury VFD for Mike to sign. She is sending contracts to New Dosey and Arna Townships also, with the new rates.

MAT District 7 Meeting: Tues., August 19, 2025. Registration 6 p.m. Meeting 6:30 p.m. Anoka Ramsey Community College, 300 Spirit River Dr. S., Cambridge, MN. On agenda: Jeff Krueger with Executive Director’s Report; Legal update; Clerk and Treasurer Trainer updates. Paul said that last year Wilma presented a resolution asking the Minnesota Association of Townships to promote universal cell phone service like they have promoted broadband for so many years. Our resolution was passed by District 7 and then by the MAT L&R Meeting in St. Cloud, and then at the annual conference in December of the whole MAT. Since we already have done this and have no new issues, he will not be attending the district meeting. Mike said any officer who wants to will be able to. Paul said that both Senator Jason Rarick and Representative Nathan Nelson are aware of our concern for this, and we see Nathan every week and have reminded him to keep it in mind. The legislature is adjourned until November. Mike said the Eagle Head tower could have cell phone repeaters if they could get MN Dot to relent on this.

Minnesota Paid Leave: This starts January 1, 2026, intended to give paid time off for workers with health or caregiving needs. This is separate from ESST, Earned Sick and Safe Time. Elected officials are exempt from ESST but not from Paid Leave. The clerk must submit quarterly wage reports for both employees and elected officers, starting October for July-Sept., 2024.

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. They will answer any zoning questions free.

Treasurer’s Report and Claims: Total bills: $11,962.03. Alden moved to approve her report and transfer $12,000 from savings to checking. Maureen seconded; all aye. Passed. Mike moved to adjourn; Alden seconded. Adjourned at 9:00.

Paul Raymond, Clerk