2021 February Town Board Meeting Minutes

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 9th 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 9th 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 9th.

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