Crane Lake Township

TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ & REORGANIZATION MEETING
January 8, 2013

The January 8, 2013 Board of Supervisors’ and Reorganization Meeting was called to order by Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman at 7:35PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those in attendance including: Supervisors Butch Eggen and Jerry Pohlman, Treasurer Terrie Hoff, Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman and one member of the community. Supervisor Jim Janssen arrived prior to minutes’ approval.

Nomination of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Clerk Jo Ann asked for nominations for Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Butch nominated Jerry Pohlman as Chairman, and Jim Janssen as Vice Chairman with Jerry supporting the nominations. There were no other nominations. All voted in favor of Jerry continuing as Chairman and Jim continuing as Vice-Chairman for 2013. Jo Ann turned the meeting over to Chairman Jerry Pohlman.

BUSINESS

Additions to the Agenda: Liquor License approvals and Election Judge payments were added to New Business.

Minutes – A motion was made by Butch, supported by Jim, to approve the minutes of the 12/11/2012 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report – Terrie read the December Cash Balances and presented the bills as follows: St. Louis County Auditor – $87.11; Jan Jackson – $4,200.00; Minnesota Revenue – $144.42; IRS – $293.98; CLVTB – $270.18; and Payroll – $612.76. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as read and the payment of bills. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Fund Transfers will be made in February.

The Clerk presented the correspondence. The correspondence was received as read and will be placed on file and acted upon as required.
OLD BUSINESS

Land Exchange/Community Property Project: Ruth L. Carlson reported the following: As recommended by the Town Board at the December 11, 2012 meeting Attorney Mary Frances Skala was contacted and asked to prepare the necessary legal agreements for the land leases and easements necessary to proceed with the exchange. Consultant Dave Schmidt was contacted and he agreed to work with Mary Frances on providing her information on the exchange. Dave met with Mary Frances and provided all of his information. The following legal documents will need to be obtained.
Fire Hall – A land lease to be drawn up for continued use of the land for the purpose of fire protection as well as the necessary space for the buildings. Fee of $1.00 per year
Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District – An easement to be drawn up for continued use of the land for the purpose of a road, power line and sewage pipes, as needed. No dollar amount required.
Lake Country Power – An easement to be drawn up for the continued use of the land for power line poles. No fee.
Frontier Telephone Company – Legal Advisor Mary Frances Skala recommended the Telephone Company be offered a land lease. A necessary motion is needed for a land lease to be drawn up for the continued use of land as used at the present time, with an annual fee to be charged.
Mary Frances is waiting for the return of her partner Melissa from a maternity leave. Melissa is knowledgeable in real estate properties and will be available the middle of January. She will determine the legal boundaries of the property needed for the land leases and easements and if they will require to be surveyed. This work on easements and land leases is being completed as we wait for the appraisal from the Forest Service and for the Environmental Assessment Review Period to end.
A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, to write a letter to Mary Frances Skala of Fryberger, Buchanan advising her to prepare a land lease between the Town of Crane Lake and the Crane Lake Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $1 for the property that the Fire Hall and accessory building is on; to prepare and easement for the CLWSD’s continued use of the land for the purpose of a road, power line and sewage pipes as needed for the CLWSD, no fee; to prepare an easement for Lake Country Power’s continued use of the land for power line poles, no fee; and to prepare a lease between the Town of Crane Lake and Frontier Telephone Company for the land their building is on relying on Mary Frances’ recommendation as to a lease dollar amount. Jim and Jerry voted in favor, Butch abstained and the motion carried.

CLWSD Report: There was none

Assessor Status Report: MN Department of Revenue is currently reviewing the status of Jan’s work. The report has moved from the commissioner’s office to another entity at Revenue and it is expected to be ‘a number of months’ before the report becomes public. There were no new reports received.

Jacque Eggen Memorial Fund: There was no report.
NEW BUSINESS

Tobacco License Renewal: A motion was made by Butch, supported by Jim, to adopt Resolution No. 2013-01 approving the issuance of a tobacco products license to Pine Point Lodge & Resort, Inc. d/b/a Pine Point Lodge & Resort, Inc. for the year ending the 31st day of December 2013. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Board of Audit Meeting Date & Time: The Board of Audit meeting date and time is set for February 12, 2013 – 7:00PM at the Fellowship Hall prior to the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.

Budget Committee Meeting Date, Time, Location: The meeting was set for February 1st at 10AM at the Clerk’s home. Meeting date is subject to change.

VNP Reservations & Fees Meeting: The Board discussed sending a letter to the VNP stating the position of those community members that attended the 1/7/13 meeting and decided that the public should be giving an opportunity to provide their opinions. The issue was tabled until the February meeting.

Fireworks: A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch, to pay the fireworks fee of $7,300 in February to take advantage of increased product by paying early. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Liquor License Approvals: A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch, to grant requests for renewal of 2013/2014 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor Licenses for Anderson Outfitters, Inc., Handberg’s Marine, Inc. and Pine Point Lodge & Resort, Inc. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Butch, to grant requests for renewal of 2013/2014 Combination On-Sale/Off-Sale and Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for Crane Lake Bar & Grill, LLC and Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats. Jerry and Butch voted in favor, Jim abstained and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch knowing that he had a conflict as an owner of Nelson’s Resort, to grant a request for renewal of 2013/2014 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor License and 2013 Seasonal On-Sale/Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Nelson’s Resort, Inc. Jim and Butch voted in favor, Jerry abstained and the motion carried.

Election Judge Payments: The Clerk discovered that the election judges had been paid $8 an hour rather than $9 per hour as approved at the 2012 Reorganization Meeting. The Township will pay the election judges the additional $1 per hour at the February meeting.

Reorganization:

Official Newspaper: Price quotes were received from both the Timberjay and the Cook News-Herald. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch, that the Cook News-Herald would remain as the Official Newspaper for legal notices. There was discussion. Jim voted in favor, Jerry and Butch voted against and the motion did not pass. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Butch, to accept the Timberjay’s lower price quote of $1.49 per column inch. Jerry and Butch voted in favor, Jim voted against, and the motion carried.

Salaries & Meeting Rates: A motion was made by Butch, supported by Jerry, for Supervisors to remain at $25 per meeting; the Clerk’s salary would increase from $300 per month to $320 per month plus $45 per meeting; and the Treasurer’s salary would increase from $175 per month to $195 per month plus $45 per meeting; Election Judges would remain at $9 per hour and $10 per hour after 10PM. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, to designate the following for 2013:
Town Board Meetings – Date & Time remains as the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30PM, any changes will be posted.
Official Posting Places remain the same as one posting listing all meeting dates for the year at the Church, Post Office & the following businesses when open – Anderson’s, Handberg’s, Nelson’s, & Voyagaire. Changes will be posted as needed.
Legal Representative remains as Couri, MacArthur & Ruppe of St. Michael with the option to consult others on an as-needed basis.
Depository/Bank remains the same as any bank in St. Louis County may be used with Beacon Bank of Duluth designated as the primary bank.
Fellowship Hall Donation was increased to $400 per year.
Minutes Distribution & Posting Policy remains the same – Minutes are mailed to those supplying the Clerk with stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Minutes are posted at the Post Office, the Church, and on the Website.
Copy & Information Request Policy remains the same – Charge of 25 cents per copy (includes labor) for copy requests & $25 per hour for other labor requests.
Mileage Reimbursement remains the same to follow State guideline, which fluctuates and at this time is 56.5 cents per mile.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.

A motion was made by Jim, supported by Butch, that Committees would remain as follows:
Community Property Project – Trails/Beautification – Ruth L. Carlson remains as Chairman.
Budget Committee – One Supervisor (Jerry), the Clerk, the Treasurer and two members of the community (Bruce Beste and Dee Kuder).
All voted in favor and the motion carried.

A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, that Town Representatives would remain as follows:
International Rainy Lake Board of Control – Rob Scott remains as the Crane Lake representative.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Other New Business: There was none.

Comments from Officers: Terrie wished everyone a Happy New Year.

PUBLIC COMMENTS – Ruth L. Carlson reminded the Board that all four items for leases and easements should be included in the letter to Mary Frances Skala of Fryberger, Buchanan to avoid confusion.
Next Meeting: Board of Audit Meeting, February 12, 2013 – 7:00PM, Fellowship Hall
Board of Supervisors’ Meeting, February 12, 2013 – Following Board of Audit Meeting

 
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25PM.

 

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk Jerry Pohlman, Chairman

 

 

This draft of the Crane Lake Township minutes has been posted solely for preliminary informational purposes. Minutes are unofficial and subject to change until they have been approved by the Crane Lake Board of Supervisors.