Meeting called to order at 5:30 PM by Chair David Fornengo. Present were the following: Chair David Fornengo, Supervisor Anthony Fornengo, Supervisor Jason Canesi, Treasurer Wayne Hessler, and Clerk Kathleen Krejci along with Mike McCullen from the Duxbury Fire Department.
Pledge of Allegiance: Done
PUBLIC INPUT
Mike McCullen, the Fire Chief of Duxbury Fire Department, attended the meeting to discuss the increase in the yearly fee. The fee has been set at $4,500 since 2011, but this amount has recently become unsustainable to keep up with increases costs, upgrading equipment, and monthly training. It costs $7,000 to fully equip one firefighter. Each firefighter also receives a pension of $500 per year. It was decided that $10,000 was needed to sustain the VFD, but the increase was implemented in a stepwise fashion to allow Townships to adjust – $7,500 in 2025 and now $10,000 in 2026. The Duxbury VFD Response Record from 2025 obtained and stored on file. More firefighters are needed – anyone interested in joining is encouraged to contact Mike McCullen at 320-245-5494 or mccullenmichael3@gmail.com
AGENDA AND MINUTES
- Motion by Jason Canesi, second by Anthony Fornengo to approve the February 10th, 2026 agenda. (Carried 3-0)
- Motion by Anthony Fornengo, second by Jason Canesi to approve the minutes from January 13th, 2025 Town Board meeting. (Carried 3-0).
TREASURER’S REPORT
- Balance at Northview Bank is $51,092.23 in checking account.
- Motion by David Fornengo, second by Jason Canesi to approve the Treasurer’s Report. (Carried 3-0).
CLAIMS & PAYROLL
- Clerk Kathleen Krejci prepared the Claims and Payroll list for approval
- Motion by Anthony Fornengo, second by Jason Canesi to pay Claims and Payroll (Carried 3-0)
CLERK’S REPORT
- W2s mailed out to employees
- MATIT Worker’s Compensation Audit has been completed
- Please note that the IRS mileage rate for 2026 has increased to $0.725 per mile. Mileage and Reimbursement claim sheets updated.
- Year End Processing and State Auditor’s Report is due March 31st – Kathleen to work on this
- New Dosey Township has been allotted $16.38 for the Voting Operations, Technology, Elections, and Resources (VOTER) Account. Our options are to yield the township’s funding to the county to use on countywide election expenses due to minimal amounts OR to receive the allocations, but have to follow the reporting requirements that go with it. David Fornengo made a motion to yield the funding, second by Jason Canesi (Carried 3-0).
- Upcoming Important Events:
- March 2nd – Township Day at the Capitol from 10am-5pm, Free event
- March 9th – Monthly Board Meeting
- March 10th – Township Election from 4-8pm
- Supervisor Jason and Clerk Kathleen are up for re-election and both filed.
- Kathleen presented a list of election judges to the board. David moved to appoint Bev Carlin, Robin Fornengo, and Peggy Coveau to serve as judges. All are either trained or are in the process of completing the training. Bev Carlin will be head judge. Jason seconded (Carried 3-0).
- David moved to appoint Bev Carlin, Robin Fornengo, and Peggy Coveau for the absentee ballot board. Jason seconded (Carried 3-0).
- Location of election is still TBD as the town hall is currently under construction due to the flood.
- March 10th – Board of Canvass will meet immediately after the election closes
- The Board of Canvass should include 2 supervisors not up for election and 1 person from the community. Jason moved to appoint David Fornengo, Anthony Fornengo, and Jason Fornengo for the Board of Canvass. David seconded (Carried 3-0).
- March 10th – Annual Meeting at 8pm after the Board of Canvass certifies the official election results
- April 3rd – Short Courses at the Blackbear Casino from 8am-3pm for $75. Payment is due at registration on the day at the event. Kathleen will print checks to be signed at March meeting for anyone interested in attending.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Anthony Fornengo plans to resign from his Supervisor role, but not until March. The board will appoint a replacement to fill his term at that time.
- Road Work
- Still have some signs to replace when time and weather allows
- Hay Creek Road South – Lots of snow drifting on the field. The school bus still gets through and no complaints have been received yet, but if it worsens will need to get it plowed.
- Hay Creek Road South has trees and brush obstructing the plow truck due to overhanging growth – no updates on this yet
- Town Hall Maintenance
- The well water test has been obtained and Jason Canesi plans to collect and drop off the sample once the water is back on in the town hall
NEW BUSINESS:
- Town Hall Flooded due to water softener pressurized tank failure. Service Master was called for mitigation on February 6th. Release of Liability obtained. Mitigation is in process. David spoke with the insurance adjuster yesterday and he wasn’t happy with how many fans Service Master used (overkill). Working to empty out the town hall with the help of community volunteers and plan to start demo and construction next week with general contractor Klocke. Rolloff dumpster and porta potty has been delivered. Insurance claim has been filed with MATIT. The Town Hall is insured with a limit of $150,000 and a $250 deductible and with contents coverage of $5000 and a $250 deductible. Kathleen will create a Program Code in CTAS to track any expenses related to this project. The board discussed that while construction is underway, it may be a good time to update other parts of the town hall such as new windows (they are stuck shut and the casements are rotten), combine the utility rooms, repair the chimney and roof, vinyl siding is cracked and faded, etc. Will obtain pricing on these. Updating the townhall will hopefully lead to its increased use for and by the community.
- Fiberoptic is coming to New Dosey through ECE. The new fiber placement will occur on the following Township roads: Little Ox Creek and Heller Drive. Permit to work on these roads obtained from ECE.
- Garbage Board – David went to the most recent meeting. They are sitting good with finances. They created a new policy around new dumpsters in 2025 where there will be a charge of $160 above the annual fee. Existing dumpers are not affected. Annual meeting went well.
- Hospital Board – No updates
Anything else to come to the board? None
Next meeting is Monday, March 9th, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
Meeting adjourned at 6:51 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Krejci, Clerk