Meeting called to order at approximately 5:30 PM by Chair David Fornengo. Present were Chair David Fornengo, Supervisor Jason Canesi, Treasurer Wayne Hessler, and Clerk Kathleen Krejci. Also in attendance from the public were Anthony Fornengo, Robin Fornengo, and Jason Fornengo.

Pledge of Allegiance: Done

PUBLIC INPUT

None

AGENDA AND MINUTES

• Motion by Jason Canesi, second by David Fornengo to approve the April 13, 2026 agenda. (Carried)
• Motion by Jason Canesi, second by David Fornengo to approve the minutes from March 9, 2026. (Carried)

TREASURER’S REPORT

• Checking account balance reported at $58,664.20
• Discussion on how to utilize funds to cover town hall repairs after flood
  • Approximately $12,897 in gas tax funds were received from Pine County, however, these funds are designated for road and bridge purposes only and cannot be transferred to the general fund
  • Concern raised regarding insufficient funds in the general fund to cover upcoming construction expenses outside of insurance reimbursement. Board discussed potential short-term internal fund adjustments from Road and Bridge to General fund (excluding the $12,897 from gas tax). Upcoming property tax settlement in May may relieve some cash flow concerns.
• Motion by David Fornengo, second by Jason Canesi to approve the Treasurer’s Report. (Carried)

CLAIMS & PAYROLL

• Clerk Kathleen Krejci prepared the Claims and Payroll list for approval
• Motion by Jason Canesi, second by David Fornengo to pay Claims and Payroll (Carried)

CLERK’S REPORT

• Quarter 1 payroll tax filings (941s), Paid Leave and UI reports This our first payment to the Minnesota Paid Leave program and the township cost for this quarter was $35.77.
• Election Results:
  • 18 total ballots cast
  • Jason Canesi elected Supervisor (3-year term) with 17 votes
  • Kathleen Krejci elected Clerk (2-year term) with 17 votes
• Kathleen presented culvert pricing for 2026, but board states we have plenty of culverts on hand from last year’s purchase.
• Annual Donations of $250 were issued to Seven County Senior Federation and Pine County Historical Society per discussions at the Annual Meeting.
• Discussion held regarding separating driveway snowplowing vs. township road expenses in CTAS for clearer accounting. Will come up with a plan this fall for next season.
• Shared Road Snow Plowing – Discussion regarding billing Arna Township for snowplowing their portion of Hay Creek Road per our contract. Clerk Kathleen looked at our CTAS records and it appears that no billing has occurred since 2021 despite New Dosey Township plowing that section of road. Decision to:
  • Back-bill prior years at ~$120 per event
  • Bill current year at ~$185 per event
• Upcoming Important Events:
  • April 17^rd – Short courses rescheduled due to weather. Kathleen will attend and will carpool with Clerk and Treasurer from Wilma Township to save on mileage.
  • April 23^rd – Board of Appeal and Equalization Meeting at 2:30 at the North Pine Government Center. The purpose of this meeting will be to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor.
  • October 3^rd – Township Legal Seminars by Couri & Ruppe

REORGANIZATION MEETING

Monthly board meeting recessed at 6:03pm for Board of Reorganization Meeting. Adjourned at 6:16pm.

OLD BUSINESS

• Supervisor Appointment – Anthony Fornengo resigned in March, so a motion was made by David Fornengo and carried 3-0 to appoint Jason Fornengo as Supervisor to fill the remaining term. Oath of office administered during the meeting
• Town Hall Flood Update – Construction is nearly complete. The town hall interior has been painted, trim is on, ceiling is finished, lights have been upgraded, and flooring has been installed. Next, is installing the kitchen cabinets and new kitchen appliances. Ideally, the town hall needs new windows and siding as well, but will wait on that until we have a better idea of where our finances stand. Robin Fornengo provided recommendations for replacement cleaning supplies for the town hall. Kathleen brought forward a recommendation from MATIT to consider increasing the contents coverage limit (currently $5,000) for the town hall. The Board discussed that increasing the limit would also increase the insurance premium and that it’s best to wait until we have a better picture of actual expenses and replacement needs. Of note, there was a significant increase in our electric bill (~$850) due to running the fans and heat during the remediation process and construction. Kathleen to look into potential reimbursement for this.
  • Total project estimated at approximately $102,000
  • Insurance covering approximately $67,283
  • Initial insurance check expected this week: ~$57,884
  • Final reimbursement check (~$17,497) expected upon project completion
  • The township is responsible for remaining balance, including any upgrades beyond insurance scope
• Hay Creek Road South has trees and brush obstructing – a contractor has been contacted and expressed interest in this project. Work will proceed once ground conditions allow. The board will coordinate with adjacent Arna Township for shared responsibility and contact affected landowners regarding tree removal and whether brush/wood remains on-site or is removed.
• Well water test for town hall – the contractor took a sample and the results are pending

NEW BUSINESS

• Road Work – Kingsdale Road culvert area has been temporarily repaired and is passable. Warning signs and cones remain in place due to risk of washout. A contractor has been contacted for repair/replacement estimates to determine if we should continue with temporary maintenance or proceed with full replacement
• Annual Road Review – MAT guidelines reviewed and there is no strict statutory requirement for a specific date. The board agreed to conduct the review in early May (weather permitting).
• Grader Maintenance – We received an incorrect replacement part (~$500 item). Plan to remove the existing part and bring it to the supplier to ensure correct replacement. The grader is still operational, but requires repair to prevent further issues.
• Plow Truck Maintenance – Has transmission leaks, joint wear, and needs overall servicing. The board agreed to delay service slightly due to budget constraints.
• Garbage Board – No meeting, no updates
• Hospital Board – No updates. Still looking for a new hospital board representative.

Anything else to come to the board? None

Next meeting is Tuesday, May 12th, 2025 @ 5:30 PM

Meeting adjourned at 6:38 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Krejci, Clerk