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