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TOWN OF NORTH STAR                New Phone Number  425-436-6362   Access Code:  3839349#

March 15, 2021

CALL TO ORDER –  Supervisor Jan Keough called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm – those in attendance are Supervisors Janet Keough, Gary Mantay and Dick Dillon, Treasurer Ray Barnes,  Clerk Carrie Landman and Deb Pomroy. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – those in attendance recited the pledge of allegiance

MINUTES APPROVAL – Gary makes a motion to approve with minor corrections, Dick second, Gary aye, Dick aye, Jan aye to approve the February minutes with the minor edits.

REVIEW AND APPROVE PAYROLL AND CLAIMS – Dick motion, Gary second, Gary aye, Dick aye, Jan aye to approve the financial reports.

March 2021 Accounts Summary

TRANSFER – Request approval to transfer $3980.33 from savings to checking for checks 8190 – 8201, 030121 and 030221.  Motion to approve Gary, Dick second, vote Gary aye, Dick aye, Jan aye.

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER

1. Ray said the Office of the State Auditor – additional 2020 Year End Financial Report/was redundant with information submitted by Linda Britton on 2/1/2021.
2. Notary – exficio not public – $120 filing fee for either exficio or public notary.   Is this something you want the Clerk to have?  Jan thinks it would be nice, Gary thinks it’s not necessary for the residents unless we charge for it as they have options at their individual banks.  Dick would like to table until an open monthly meeting for further discussion. 
3. Lien release requested and received for 2007 Freightliner fire truck.   Lien holder Kansas City removed from MATIT Commercial Insurance.  Paperwork including lien release stored in fireproof safe.
4. SLC deposit – foreclosure land apportionment – $1,252.29 – March
5. Clerk Q1 reports due in April
   • 941 2021 Q1 federal tax
   • 2021 Q1 MN Unemployment filing

CORRESPONDENCE –

Carrie requests clarification on what types of correspondence to include in monthly meeting agenda.  Confirmation from Board to only include correspondence that requires a Board response.  Informational correspondence forwarded by email prior to the meeting does not need to be included.

1. St Louis County Board of Adjustment meeting – March 11, 2021 at 10 for Peggy Kuettel variance
2. Dept of Revenue 2020 Production Tax Payments & Distribution – North Star not included FYI only
3. Inquiry from Casey Sunshine Duluth Township/former deputy clerk Normanna.  Digitize files.  Hourly – open to salary.  Comments from the Board, Dick and Gary have no interest at this time and Jan recommends keeping her name in the file in case we have a future need. 
4. MATIT Legislative Policies Resolutions & Advocacy Guide – at the Hall in the Supervisor folder
5. Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Association of Minnesota – Annual Meeting Notice – conference is canceled but the Benefit is from 10 – 11 Saturday April 24, 2021.  Financial statement and minutes – in the Supervisor folder
6. MATIT  Spring Short Course Information and Registration email – FYI
   1. Jan inquired whether Clerk would take them
7. Jackie Dolentzj Duluth Public Schools questions regarding School Board elections: primary 8/10 and General 11/2
   • Is it okay if Duluth handles the absentee ballot process again this year?  Board confirmed yes.
   • Will North Star hand count ballots?  Board confirmed yes.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Gary reported that the fire department resumed having meetings last week, another one is scheduled for March 17^th and then every other week.  No calls since last month.

MAINTENANCE – Dick reported an issue with the furnace in the Hall and Gary found someone to temporarily fix it but it will be fixed completelyand an invoice will be sent upon completion.

RECYCLING  – Jan reported all is going well.

ROAD – Gary reported the roads have turned from white and slippery brown, muddy and slippery

WEBPAGE REPORT  –  Website is up to date on monthly minutes and Carrie has been replaced as clerk on the Staff page in response to resident Linda Britton raised during the beginning of the Annual Meeting on March 9^th.

COMMUNICATION REPORT  – Carrie to select and start working on an email service provider and enewsletter to residents.  Print copies?  Jan said it would be great to send an enewsletter mid-April with election results, annual meeting continuation, broadband.  Jan suggests posting print copies at the Hall, Briar and Alden lake rather than mailing, Gary no comment at this time, Dick agrees.  Carrie suggests a waterproof receptacle at the Hall for people to take.  Dick suggests posting a notice at the Hall with information that they can take one from the Hall.  Jan suggests only a few and B&W only.  10 copies. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Review financial report for Annual Meeting in June  Jan asked Carrie to prepare this report for the 2021 Annual Meeting and would like to review while it’s fresh in everyone’s mind.  Jan felt we should provide more detail to the citizens rather than General, Fire and Road Bridge gross funds.  Dick and Gary agree the report is fine.  Jan would also like to list the 2020 receipts for transparency and include some of the one-time only receipts so the residents can see where the money comes from. 

Ray confirmed that Rory sent a thank you to CLP for the fire turnout gear grant.  CLP meeting was the week of March 8^th and they acknowledged the thank you.  Rory will send pictures of the volunteers in the new gear and send to CLP.  Jan asked when we could apply for additional funds and Ray confirmed it’s annual and we can apply again in September 2021.

NEW BUSINESS –  

1. Reorganization meeting – see additional March 2021 Reorganizational Meeting final
2. Sue Forbragd would like the Township to purchase a vacuum so she doesn’t have to bring her personal vacuum.  Dick makes a motion for Sue purchase what she needs under $200, Gary second provided she can make the purchase otherwise a Supervisor will purchase.  Vote Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.  Motion carries.
3. When to resume monthly meetings at the Hall. Dick makes a motion resume monthly meetings at the Hall for the May meeting with some restrictions, Board at the table with social distancing and anyone else that attends in chairs as far out and into the fire hall.  People required to wear masks.  Dick also requires a posting at the door and if feeling sick don’t come in.  Could take temperatures as the Fire Department has the device.  Gary second the motion.  Discussion – Ray has no problem in May, Carrie commented that if proper social distancing rules and masks are required, she would attend the an in-person meeting as it’s part of her job as it would be in a public/private sector position.   Current state guidelines to be followed.  Jan suggests voting and creating a posting to review in April. Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye
4. Carrie to research and contact vendor for the ballot counter to check the machine and provide training.

REVIEW OF DUTIES –  Carrie:  create a Q1 Township enewsletter, create a posting regarding resuming meetings at the Hall with May, create 2020 payments report for the Annual Meeting in June.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEXT MEETING      April 19, 2021 at 6:30 pm

ADJOURNMENT   Jan makes a motion to adjourn at 7:32 pm, second Gary.  Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.

Respectively submitted,

Carrie Landman

Town Clerk

TOWN OF NORTH STAR                New Phone Number  425-436-6362   Access Code:  3839349#

February 16, 2021

CALL TO ORDER –  Janet called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Attending the meeting were Supervisors Janet Keough, Dick Dillon, Gary Mantay, Treasurers Ray Barnes, Towanna Rovenko, Clerk Carrie Landman, Deb Pomroy and resident Linda Britton

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  was recited

MINUTES APPROVAL – January 2021 Meeting Minutes, Dick makes a motion to approve amended minutes, Gary seconds the motion.  Take a vote:  Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.  Dick makes a motion to approve the January 2021 Audit Meeting Minutes, Gary seconds the motion.  Take a vote:  Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye to approve the amended Audit meeting minutes.  Gary makes a motion to approve February 2021 Budget minutes, Dick seconds the motion.  Take a vote:   Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.

TRANSFER – Request approval to transfer $8,508.92 from savings to checking for checks 8172 – 8189, 010521, 010621, 020121, 020221.  This includes two January claims in the amount of $92.78 that were done after the January 2021 meeting.  Additional PERA payment and SCCU check order.  Dick makes the motion to approve the treasurer reports, Gary seconds, Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye approve the reports.  Request approval to transfer to checking Gary makes a motion, Dick seconds the motion.  Take a vote: Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye to approve $8508.92 to checking.

February 2021 Accounts Summary

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER

Ray to setup a  time with Towanna to setup the accounts at SCCU.  Ray has Township computer for Towanna and will coordinate a time to give it to her.  Towanna is setup for MAT

Carrie reports St Louis County 2020 tax apportionment $1,030.78 was deposited in January 2021

Carrie reports St Louis County 2021 Town Road Aid $1,751.46 was deposited in February 2021

Carrie reported the MATIT Commercial Package Premium $4,047 invoice and paperwork was received and requested where to store the paperwork/insurance cards be stored?  Carrie left a copy of the insurance card for the Fire Truck for Rory on 1/12/2021.  Insurance policy and cares will be stored in the new fire proof safe.  Jan asks about the combination for the safe and a backup person.  Carrie will setup the new combination and give to a back up person. 

Carrie reported the Office of the State Auditor has requested additional financial Annual Reporting due 3/31/2021 beyond the CTAS reports generated at year end.  Ray confirms that the CTAS numbers into an Excel format.

CORRESPONDENCE –

Carrie reports St Louis County Variance Application was received and sent to the Board for review/approval and be returned to SLC by 3/11/2021. Supervisor Dick Dillon makes a motion to approve the variance, Gary Mantay seconds the motion.  Vote Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.  No objection to the variance.  Carrie to return February 2021 Month Meeting. PDF to the County as confirmation the variance was accepted.  

2021 St Louis County Board of Appeal and Equalization.  May 19, 2021 3 – 4 pm.  Resolution 01-02.  A resolution must be passed by town board if you wish to reinstate your Local Board of Appeal and Equalization powers. It is due in by 2/1 of the year you are eligible to reinstate (2022), but can submitted earlier if you’d like. Town must also have a trained member by 2/1 of the year of the reinstated LBAE. Jan makes a motion to approve the resolution, Dick second Vote Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.  Carrie to meet Jan at the Hall to sign Resolution 01-02 and return to St. Louis County.

St Louis County Association of Townships annual meeting/election/dues. $496.44 (County and MAT dues).  Meeting in May – will be on the May meeting agenda. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire donation – verbal approval from Board to Rory:  $200.00 from Fire Donation Fund.  Additional funds from the firefighters to the recipient.   Gary reports one call to treat a carpenter who traveled to North Star Hall, Gold Cross was called, but no transport required.  Gary reports all else is going well.  Gary reports they are working with the DNR on burning roughly 10 brush piles on Spring Lake Rd and two fire wise off Pequaywan Lake Rd

MAINTENANCE – The new sign has been installed and Carrie will update the board with the recycling and Annual Meeting information and the website address

RECYCLING  –  Janet reports that grant to WLSSD in the amount of $4,770.  As a reminder WLSSD is looking for all receipts, electric, supplies, snowplowing anything except wages and benefits.  Ray reminds that receipts are required for everything or the amount has to be refunded to the Township. 

ROAD –  Gary reports still white and slippery

WEBPAGE REPORT  –  41 users of which 38 were new to the website.  Average time on website:  00:01:54.  Resident Linda Britton asks about the minutes on the website and update to remove her from the website. 

COMMUNICATION REPORT  – nothing at this time

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Carrie has access to Linda Britton’s Google Docs which can be shared with others.

Jan recommends hold the Annual Meeting by telephone and resume in June 2021 when the residents can meet outside.  Step one resolution, step two communication Board posting, direct mail and possibly email.   

March 9^th meeting will report the election results, motion to request continuation of meeting on June 8, 2021 at 7 pm when the 2022 Levy will be presented. 

Dick makes a motion, Gary second to approve Resolution 01-21 to conduct the meeting remotely.  Take a vote:  Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye

Board of Canvass reports will be emailed to Board within three days of the Election.  Conference call to review approve.

Jan brings up the new toll-free phone number for residents to dial into the March 9^th meeting which will be included in the Annual Meeting posting together with the regular number.

Resolution 03-21 – Appointment of the 2021 Absentee Ballot Board -Jan motion, Dick second vote Dick aye, Gary aye, Jan aye

NEW BUSINESS –  No new business

REVIEW OF DUTIES –  Carrie:  Resolutions to have signed and returned, Meeting Minutes to SLC for variance, Annual Meeting postings to create/approve posted, mailed, possibly emailed and added to website, Ray and Carrie have the financial report for the Office of the State Auditor.  Carrie to post 2020 Schedule 1/Receipts/Disbursements on the message board.  Carrie to update the new sign. 

Ray laptop to Towanna, Towanna training

Carrie to post Schedule 1 for 2020 at the Hall

UPCOMING EVENTS:  March 9, 2021 Election and Annual Meeting at 8:15pm.  Board of Canvass will meet 2-3 days after March 9^th.

NEXT MEETING      March 15, 2021 6:30 pm

ADJOURNMENT   Jan makes a motion to adjourn at 7:25 pm

Respectively submitted,

Carrie Landman

Town Clerk in training

TOWN OF NORTH STAR                712-770-4927/718924#

January 19, 2021

CALL TO ORDER – Janet Keoughcalled the meeting to order.  In attendance:  Supervisors Janet Keough, Dick Dillon and Gary Mantay, Treasurers Ray Barnes, Towanna Rovenko, Town Clerks Linda Britton and Carrie Landman, Weed Inspector Deb Pomroy and Fire Chief Rory Blazevic

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

MINUTES APPROVAL –Dick Dillon requests removal of this text from December minutes:  Dick Dillon but requested they be consolidated/shortened in the future.    . Janet Keough confirmed the minutes should contain factual comments.  Dick Dillon made a motion to approve the December minutes, Gary Mantay second the motion, vote: Gary aye, Dick aye, Jan aye.  Minutes are approved with changes above.

TRANSFER – Request approval to transfer $4,856.90 for claims #8156 – 8171, 010121, 010221, 010321, 010421.  Gary motion to accept, Dick seconds vote Gary aye, Dick aye, Janet aye.  Financial materials approved ****Dick made the motion to approve the transfer and Jan seconds the motion.   Vote: Dick aye, Gary aye Jan transfer from savings to checking

January 2021 Accounts Summary

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER   

Ray Barnes noted that training with Towanna is pending.  Janet Keough confirms that Towanna will have a Township laptop and printer by 2/1/2021.  Janet Keough suggests taking it to Best Buy to be cleaned if she is interested.

Carrie Landman reported all January 2021 quarterly/annual State and Federal filings have been completed including the 2020 W2’s.  She also reported that Dick Dillon is the sole candidate for the March 2021 Election.  Carrie Landman requested a motion to approve the election judges:  Gary Mantay, Bill Taft, Sue Forbragd  

Dick made the motion, Jan second the motion.  Vote: Dick, aye, Gary aye, Jan aye.  Linda Britton confirms she will ensure Sue is trained on how to file the election paperwork with the county.

Carrie also made a recommendation to purchase the fireproof storage cabinet for document archive from Camping World/Gander for $400.  Dick suggests that he and Gary can move it.  Jan makes a motion to purchase the cabinet. Dick second the motion to purchase and he and Gary will pick it up.  Gary will pay for it on his Township credit card.  Vote Dick aye, Gary aye and Jan aye.  Carrie to call and confirm and put Township name on one and confirm with Dick and Gary. 

Carrie Landman reports she now has a Town of North Star notary stamp. Linda Britton reports that she will work with Carrie Landman on the election transition

CORRESPONDENCE – Duluth School Board resolution – combined polling place – Lakewood Town Hall.  Jan suggests putting it in future Township email communication possibly 3^rd quarter.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Rory reports there have been no calls.  They’ve ordered three sets of turnout gear but there is a backlog.  In addition, all classes for Firefighter 1 and 2 have been postponed.  EMT training at has been postponed until March and will be re-evaluated at that time  Rory reported that some EMT members have received COVID19 vaccines.  Linda asks about Fire training, but it’s still on hold.  Rory suggests that after the second round of vaccinations training might be able to resume.  Ray requests Rory write a thank you letter to CLP and include how the grant money was spent.  Rory would like to include photos of members in their gear.  Ray says they read the thank you letters at their Operation Round Up meeting and it gets published in their member manual.  Carrie Landman asks Rory if he has retrieved the MN Depart of Revenue 2020 Fire Equipment Certification for Fire State Aid Payable in 2021 which requires Rory to fill out, sign and return by 3/15/2021.

MAINTENANCE –  Dick Dillon reports a potential candidate for Weed Inspector. Janet reports she can communicate with the Pequaywan Garden Club for potential candidates. Todd Signs took down and is working on the new sign!

RECYCLING  –  Janet reports that Ray provided the report for the 2020 Recycling grant. 

ROAD –  Gary Mantay reported they moved a 200-pound boulder to ensure the snow plow wouldn’t hit it.  The roads are still slippery.

WEBPAGE REPORT  –Carrie reported 35 email sign-ups received since form went live and newsletter went out at the end of December. 

COMMUNICATION REPORT  – Carrie Landman researching email service providers (ESP).  A system the Township can use to send emails to the residents who have signed up to receive emails.  Carrie reports the benefits to using an email system to send emails:  email design templates, protecting the @northstartownship.org domain, manage resident opt outs.  Jan also reported using a email system makes it easy to track bad emails and our email communication will display well on both a computer and smart phone.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS –  Carrie Landman reported that she is working with Linda on access to her Google docs and will coordinate with Towanna on a Cloud/Web based storage solution for important documents.

Janet brought up the March Annual Meeting and whether or not the meeting can be held in person.  Jan would like to suggest that due to COVID North Star Township have a ‘remote’ Annual meeting via telephone where the election results and 2020 Audit Report would be shared with those attending the remote meeting.  Linda reported that the decision to hold the annual meeting ‘remotely’ is not up to the Board but the residents.  Towanna Rovenko suggested sending a print, email and message board posting communication to the residents requesting that, due to COVID19, whether the meeting should be held in person, with limited capacity at the Town Hall or by telephone with a continuation of the meeting in June or July when the weather permits outdoor seating.  The communication will include that March Election voting will be held in person at the Hall.  Jan will do research with both the Minnesota Association of Townships to see if the communication is permitted and also with neighboring townships to see how they are handling the Annual Meeting.  Residents have to be notified of the Annual Meeting by 2/28/2021.

NEW BUSINESS –  No new business

REVIEW OF DUTIES –  Dick and Gary to purchase, pick up and deliver the fireproof safe after Carrie Landman calls to confirm availability, Rory write the CLP thank you, Jan finish and send the recycling grant report, Janet will contact MAT and other Townships regarding Annual Meeting.  Carrie to post the 2022 Budget Meeting notice.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Audit meeting January 27, 2021 6:30 pm:  signs posted on message boards   Janet will not be able to attend.  Gary and Dick will do the Audit meeting.

2022 Budget meeting February 8, 2021 6:30 pm Carrie Landman to post 10 days before the meeting

NEXT MEETING      February 16, 2021 (Tuesday due to 2/15/2021 holiday)

ADJOURNMENT   Janet adjourns meeting at 7:22 pm

Respectively submitted,

Carrie Landman

Town Clerk in training