Author: Mary Hellman

January 2022 Board Meeting

TOWN OF NORTH STAR

01/18/2022          

CALL TO ORDER – Gary Mantay

ATTENDING – Supervisors Gary Mantay, Jan Keough, Dick Dillon, Treasurer Donna Elsbury, Clerk Mary Hellman. Guests Sue and Marv Forbragd, Linda Britton, Ray Barnes and Deb Pomroy

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –All Present recited the Pledge of Allegiance

MINUTES APPROVAL – Motion to accept December 2021 Minutes with discussed corrections by Dick, second by Jan, all ayes.

REVIEW AND APPROVE PAYROLL AND CLAIMS – Motion made to accept Payroll and Claims by Dick, second by Gary. Dick, aye; Jan, aye; Gary, aye.

TRANSFER – Total amount of checks – $4628.88. Transfer of Funds amount is $3552.38 for checks 8321-8329, and auto payments 010122-010222.

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER –

January 2022 Financial Summary

• A motion was made to set the Audit Meeting Date on Friday, January 28^th, at 1:00 pm at the NS Hall by Dick, second by Jan, all ayes.
• A motion was made to set the Budget Meeting Date was on February 8^th, at 6:30 pm at the NS Hall by Jan, second by Gary, All ayes.
• Annual Meeting – March 8, 2022 at 8:15 pm at the NS Hall, with Township Election voting to precede the meeting from 5:00-8:00pm. This date is predetermined by the state.
• Mary presented a list of Election Judges available for the Annual Meeting Election; Sue Forbragd, Linda Britton, and Bill Taft. A motion to accept named election judges was made by Dick, second by Gary, all ayes.
• Jan completed the Board of Equalization and Appeal Training.
• Credit Card updates done.  CLP and Superior Fuel have been notified of new card #.   
• St. Louis County March Election candidate filing deadline was December 28, 2021. Two people applied for candidacy for the Supervisor Position.
• Carrie L., retiring clerk, passed the NS computer, files and supplies on to new clerk, Mary H.
• Donna and Mary are registered to attend the Clerk/Treasurer Class provided by MAT in St. Michael, MN on January 25^th.

CORRESPONDENCE – None

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Gary reported the FD had annual department elections. Rory was voted in again as Fire Chief and Gary will be Assistant Chief. NSFD/EMS had 2 calls in December.

Fire Fighter Don McCormick passed away in December. Arrangements by FD made for Memorial Gift of $250 and a plaque. Gary to pick up the plaque from Stewart Wheel Goods and provide to Don’s wife Julie.  Funeral is January 22^nd. Let Gary know if attending with the group.   

MAINTENANCE – Dick

Town Hall Heater was cleaned and checked/tested by General Heating of Duluth with Dick and Gary present.   

RECYCLING – Jan completed the 2022 WLSSD grant for Designated Recycling Drop-off Center Operations for North Star Township.  The application identifies $5125.22 requested for operations of our Center.  The 2021 annual report defines a successful recycling program with growing participation by the community.

ROADS – Gary reported that the roads are white and slippery.

WEBPAGE REPORT – Jan reported the Website is online.  Information is being added, and more to follow, such as election info and monthly Meeting Minutes. Mary is learning the process. 

COMMUNICATION REPORT – Carrie will be asked to bring the Enewsletter up to date with more township election information. Gary stated that the Fire Department is looking for a Grant Writer. The applicant(s) would not need to be active fire fighters or EMS per Rory, FD Chief.  Jan offered to make a draft of this for the Enewsletter.  Dick suggested that job benefits are included, and Linda suggested the requirements of belonging to the FD are listed.

New email addresses have been made for Township contacts for Donna/Treasurer and Mary/Clerk and will be used for online sites.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS –

Lee Kaplan will need a replacement card for Website costs.

NEW BUSINESS – Deb Pomroy brought a packet of Weed Report information which should be helpful to Tim Walters, the new reporter. He still needs to finish the required reporting for 2021 to the website.  It appears that Tim may need to ensure that the 2021 Weed Report is complete in EDDMaps. Dick will contact him regarding this.   

REVIEW OF DUTIES – Gary will pick up Don’s plaque during the week before the funeral.

UPCOMING EVENTS – Audit Meeting is January 28^th at 1:00 pm, Budget Meeting is February 8^th at 6:30 pm. All meetings at North Star Town Hall.

NEXT BOARD MEETING – February 15, 2022

ADJOURNMENT – Jan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 pm. Dick seconds, all ayes.

Respectively submitted,

Mary Hellman, Town Clerk

TOWN OF NORTH STAR

December 2021 Meeting Minutes                 

12/21/2022

CALL TO ORDER  –  Gary called the meeting to order at 6:30.  Attending:  Gary Mantay, Rory Blazevic, Donna Ellsbury, Ray Barnes, Marv and Sue Forbragd, Jan Keough, Dick Dillon, Tim Walters, Carrie Landman and Mary Hellman.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance

MINUTES APPROVAL – Jan makes a motion to approve the November 2021 minutes with corrections, Dick second, any discussion, all in favor aye.

REVIEW AND APPROVE PAYROLL AND CLAIMS – Dick make a motion to approve, Gary second, any discussion, all in favor aye.

TRANSFER – Total amount of checks $6,072.07.  Transfer amount is $5,735.94.  Dick makes a motion, Jan second, any discussion, all in favor aye. 

December 2021 Financial Summary

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER  –

• Tax apportionment $23,493.67 – See attached.
• SLC 2021 Year End Advance – $382.44
• ARP additional funds of $336.13 were deposited into our account on Nov. 23.
• St. Louis County March Election deadline Dec.28, 2021
• Carrie will pass on the clerk laptop /printer/files by end of December to Mary

• New Credit Card from SCCU has been put in Mary’s name as new clerk and received.
• Dick completed Board of Equalization and Appeal Training
• Donna reported that Mary has signed all forms to be added to the SCCU accounts and Carrie has signed the form to be removed.
• Mary reported that a resident is interested in becoming an election judge and she will work with the resident on training

CORRESPONDENCE = MAT Insurance annual paperwork and invoice reviewed. Dick noted that all three trucks are insured and wondered if the 1995 Isuzu truck needs full coverage. The amount for the 1995 truck insurance is $287 annual. Jan suggests selling the 1995 truck in 2022.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Rory reported one medical call and volunteers are working on training.  Gary reports that the State of Minnesota has created insurance for volunteers that is offered to fire department members at no charge.  Gary provided the paperwork to Rory for review. 

MAINTENANCE – Dick reported that the light ballast is not worth replacing so the new lights are LED with no ballast.  Dick and Gary suggest that future light ballasts be replaced with LED bulbs.  Gary asks if the ARPA funds can be used to replace the ballast with LED.  Donna said some of the funds can be used for building things but she is unsure yet.  There are four or five resolutions that the State has provided and Donna will review the resolutions to determine if the light replacements qualify as ARPA spend. 

Dick reported that he is still waiting for General Heating to call back regarding the heat in the Hall.  The battery in the thermostat in the Fire Hall was dead and has been replaced. 

A plowing contract has been given to Jim Taft, as he has agreed to plow again this year for the township /recycling lot. 

RECYCLING – Jan reported that she attended the annual WLSSD meeting regarding the 2022 Grant.  The data for the report will be due in January and the grant request turned in at the end of February.  The good news is that bubble wrap can be recycled in 2022.  The furnace in the recycle building has been replaced.

ROADS – Gary reports that the roads are white and slippery.  Use caution and slow down.

WEBPAGE REPORT – The new North Star Township Website has been designed and the content has been uploaded.  Jan, Carrie, and Mary met with Lee Kaplan and he created a user manual.  Jan reported that she requested Mike delete the @northstartownship.org domain which resulted in the email being deleted.  Jan is coordinating with Mike on creating new emails for the clerk, treasurer and supervisor correspondence. 

Lee will need a replacement credit card for costs because Lee used Carrie’s card to pay for the new website domain.  

COMMUNICATION REPORT –  The November North Star Township eNewsletter was sent out. Of 61 recipients, 43 opened the newletter.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – 2019 Federal Filing update; Linda B. sent out copies of the 2019 W2 and W3 on 12/1/2020. 

NEW BUSINESS –

VEGA 3 Grant – DS200.  Dick would like the Clerk to be trained fully on the DS200 before the mid-term election.  Jan would like the Clerk to have the representative come and make sure the equipment works before training.  Jan would like to add an item to the next enewsletter to ask residents to volunteer for election judges.  Carrie reported that Mary has the paperwork and the contact for training.

Tim Walters prepared and distributed the 2021 Annual Weed Report.  See attached.  Tim reported that the online form (eddmaps) is impressive and he submitted the report and the pictures on 12/21/2021.   Jan asked if Tim is interested in continuing in 2022.  Jan makes a motion to accept the 2021 Weed Inspection, Dick second, any discussion, all in favor aye.

2021 Weed Report

Jan reports that she is filing for the 2022 Supervisor position and has completed the application and will submit her filing fee.

Dick makes a motion for both the Treasurer and the Clerk to attend the MAT training on 1/25/2022 which covers the topics below.  All in favor, aye. 

• Clerk/Treasurer Duties/Statutes
• W-2’s, 1099’s, PERA
• Board of Audit
• PERA Exclusion
• Annual Meeting
• Financial Report
• Reorganizational Meeting
• CTAS/Accounting Procedures

REVIEW OF DUTIES:  Dick will call General Heating again about the Hall furnace. 

UPCOMING EVENTS – None at this time

NEXT MEETING – January 18, 2022   

ADJOURNMENT – Gary makes a motion to adjourn, Dick seconds the motion, all in favor aye.  Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.

Respectively submitted,

Mary Hellman – Town Clerk

TOWN OF NORTH STAR               

2021 November Town Board Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER  –  Gary Mantay called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.  Attending:  Gary Mantay, Rory Blazevic, Ray Barnes, Donna Elsbury, Sue Forbragd, Linda Britton, Marv Forbragd, Jan Keough, Dick Dillon, Mary Hellman and Carrie Landman

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –

MINUTES APPROVAL – Dick makes a motion to approve the October minutes with corrections, Jan seconds, all in favor aye.

REVIEW AND APPROVE PAYROLL AND CLAIMS – Jan makes a motion to approve  the payroll and claims, all in favor aye.

November 2021 Financial Report

TRANSFER – Total amount of checks 8286 – 8303, 110121 and 110221 in the amount of $10,071.03.  Jan makes a motion to transfer from money market to savings, Dick seconds.  All in favor aye.

COMMENTS FROM CLERK OR TREASURER  –

• Donna has been signed up at Superior Choice Credit Union.  Ray has a form for Carrie to sign in December.  Donna will take over as Treasurer at the next meeting.  She put all the reports together for the November meeting. 
• 2019 W2/W3 discrepancies pending – will check the former Clerks laptop.  Carrie/Mary to check.  Check the IRS website.   
• Transition Training for new Clerk Mary: Carrie and Mary are working together on the various clerk responsibilities, including monthly meetings, posting responsibilities, financial/CTAS, elections. Mary reported that she attend the MAT clerk training with Lori Stalker which was extremely helpful and informative. MATR has a plethora of resources and will help Mary with future questions.

CORRESPONDENCE –

FIRE DEPARTMENT –  Gary reported that the volunteers have done some additional training, one call in November and Stacy is retiring. 

MAINTENANCE – Dick reports that one of the light ballasts in the Hall needs to be looked at Knight Electric and ceiling tiles to be replaced in the restroom.  Dick suggests the furnace in the Hall be checked the furnace runs when the thermostat is shut off.  Dick will contact General Heating & Mechanical.

RECYCLING – Jan reports the furnace in the recycle building needs to be replaced.  Quotes from DJ Solem.  The quotes are believed to include installation.

$720 to replace the “smart valve”

$1625 to replace the heater

Bill Taft was trying to get another bid but the vendor has not responded.  Jan makes a motion hire DJ Solem to replace the heater and ensure it is up to code. Dick seconds, all in favor aye.

ROADS – It is winter, roads are icy and slippery.

WEBPAGE REPORT  – Jan contacted Lee Kaplan to build and transition the North Star website.  There will be a calendar, contact form, various sections for minutes, elections, fire department.  Ultimately the Clerk will post the content to the website.  Jan has committed to assembling the content for the new website launch. Lee suggests budgeting for additional dollars for Greenpress support.   There is $1820 in the 2022 communication budget.  1 year – $544 – $802 1-year cost:  $221.39 – $479 2 year +– proposal attached

• Jan makes a motion to accept the proposal, Dick seconds.  No other discussion, all in favor aye. 

Type of support			Year 1 cost/year		Year 2 and beyond/year
Establish website (Kaplan)			$400		0
DreamPress Account			$144		$221.39
Tech Support (as needed In township budget  $258/y			Up to $258		Up to  $258
Total Estimate			$544 –  $802		$221.39 – $479

COMMUNICATION REPORT  –  

• November Enewsletter to be sent to residents on 11/18/2021

UNFINISHED BUSINESS –

• Credit card change from former clerk Linda Britton pending appointment of new clerk.  The credit card transition will happen after Mary has a Township credit card.
• 2021 Annual Weed report and Invoice from Tim Walters  – status? 
• Mary Hellman – recorder for monthly meetings.  Mary received the recorder at tonight’s meeting. 

NEW BUSINESS

• ARPA Project Expenditure Report due 4/30/2022 – no info yet, watch MAT
• The Board presents Ray Barnes with a plaque and card acknowledging his years of service. 

REVIEW OF DUTIES – Dick to call General Heating and Mechanical, Jan will get signature line added to Lee Kaplan’s proposal and get it signed. 

UPCOMING EVENTS –

NEXT MEETING    December 14, 2021

ADJOURNMENT  – Jan makes a motion to adjourn, Gary second.  All in favor aye.

Respectively submitted, Carrie Landman – Town Clerk