Local Municipality Minutes

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Upsala City • March 7, 2023

Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:00 P.M. The pledge of allegiance was said.

On roll call members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Council Members Lana Bartells, Mitch Lange, and Wendy Rene. Absent: Alan Gunderson. Staff present: Public Works Director Mike Tschida, and City Clerk-Treasurer Jane Popp.

Minutes: Lange moved to approve the regular city council meeting minutes from February 6, 2023, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.

Added agenda items: Bartells moved to approve the agenda as presented, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Presentations, Citizen Appeals/requests: None

Department Reports: Fire Department Report: Chief Nick Johnson updated the new members are going through training. Nick Johnson also attended State software training for monthly reports to send to the city and townships.

First Response Team: First Response Team Vice President Danielle Haus was absent, so Nick Johnson reported eleven calls for February. One member is resigning, and two members are taking a leave of absence. The First Response would like to hire up to six new members.

First Response Hire of New Members: Rene moved to approve the First Response to hire up to six new candidates, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

Maintenance Report: Tschida reported on water and sewer levels as well as the various tasks done throughout the city. The city had a main water break that has been repaired. A huge appreciation to Mike for everything he did to make that happen.

City Office Report: Popp reviewed the March calendar. Popp stated that she will be going to clerk training in St. Cloud March 21-23, 2023.

Planning Commission: Rollie Johnson reported that one building permit was approved at the Planning Commission’s meeting.

Heritage Days: A meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2023. The committee is still looking for a DJ.

Unfinished Business: None

New Business: Fire & EMS Ledgers, Allocations and Contract: The council needs more time to review the Fire & EMS Ledgers, Allocations and Contract. Sourcewell Grant for Plow Truck Resolution 3-7-2023-1 This was tabled at this time.

Approve Lions Club Donation of $5,260 for Fire Department Resolution 3-7-2023-2: Rene moved to accept resolution 3-7-2023-2, accepting $5,260 from the Upsala Lions Club for the Fire Department, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously. Liquor License for Buffy’s Bar LLC Bartell’s moved to approve the Liquor License for Buffy’s Bar LLC, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Liquor License for Upsala Ball Park Association Rene moved to approve the Liquor License for Upsala Ball Park Association, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

Upsala First Response By-Law changes: The City Council reviewed the changes but are waiting for a response from the letter the city sent to the Upsala First Response in December.

Acknowledgements: To the Upsala Lions Club for donating $5,260 to the Fire Department. Financials Rene moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

Coffee with a Council Member: It will be the second Thursday of the month starting Thursday, April 13th from 9:00-9:30 at the Community Center. Residents are welcome to engage with the council for any questions or concerns.

Adjourn Rene moved to adjourn at 8:42 pm,

2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Popp, Clerk/Treasurer

Grey Eagle Township • March 6, 2023

Call to Order: Mike Rohe called the meeting to order at 8:00 pm. The pledge of allegiance was recited.

Members Present: Mary Ann Primus, Mike Rohe, Alan Roering and John Young. Erv Herdering and Mike Rohe’s daughter, Ray Bense, Ruth Ann and grandson were also in attendance.

Agenda Approval: A preliminary agenda was presented. Mike asked if there were additions to the agenda. John made the motion to accept the agenda. Alan made the second. All in favor. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes: Alan made the motion to accept the February 6, 2023 audit meeting minutes. John made the second. All in favor. Motion carried. John made the motion to accept the February 6, 2023 Township minutes. Alan made the second. All in favor. Motions passed.

Town Clerk’s Report: Clerk presented the claims list for February. Claims list included claims 3792-3800 for a total of $7,847.73. Alan made the motion to pay the claims. Mike made the second. John needed to abstain from Hometown News claim. All in favor. Motion carried. Mail included a letter from P&Z and credit card offers. Also, notice of upcoming Equalization meeting.

The financial report was presented, Alan made the motion to approve, John made the second. All in favor, motion carried. CD that was up for renewal- John made the motion to renew within the same time frame and to check on a better rate. Alan made the second. All in favor. Motion carried.

Road and Bridge Report: John had a call about the Big Birch Lake access, he notified Erv and repairs were done to the plank that was pushing up. After the frost goes out, may need to follow up with repair work. Mike stated the crack filling contractor needs to be contacted to get on the list for this year. John will make that contact. Some discussion on tar projects, John will contact Loren F. at the County.

Additional agenda item: Donation request from the Crisis Center, it was decided not to send a donation. Weed meeting is set for March 29th, Alan will attend. Levy discussion for the Annual meeting- Dennis Bacon gave direction that also stated the board should look at the R&B fund as well as the Fire fund.

Public Comments: None

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by John, second by Alan. All in favor Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Minutes not approved.

Mary Ann Primus Clerk/Treasurer

Notes from the Capitol By

State Rep. Paul Anderson

Numerous aspects of education funding to consider this session

Expectations are high that a significant increase in education funding will be passed during this legislative session. The per-pupil funding formula is the most common way to raise money for education, and it most likely will happen.

But, there are other bills floating around and, if any or all of them also pass, it could account for a significant portion of the state budget.

I met with area school officials last week, and there was discussion concerning all the mandates being proposed this year that would affect pre-K to 12 education. Each of them represents a good idea and would be nice to have, but each contains a cost, some a significant cost. And taken together, they represent a large operating increase for our school districts. For example, there is a bill mandating minimum health insurance contributions, another that sets a $25 per hour minimum wage for all non-licensed school personnel, and one that increases prep time for teachers.

Those are in addition to legislation that will probably pass this session mandating paid family leave. This would impact all employers in the state, even those with as few as one employee. Our schools would also be affected by this proposed law, which would be funded by contributions from employers and employees. For school districts, that means an acrossthe-board increase of up to .35 percent of their payroll. And that's not counting the additional expense of hiring long-term substitute teachers and other workers for up to 24 weeks.

We have already spent several hundred million dollars on school lunches for all, and there are also discussions of fully funding special education, in addition to revisions to teacher pensions. And we haven't even gotten to the main funding tool, which is the per-pupil formula. Numbers being discussed include five percent increases in each of the two years of the coming biennium. Those are the highest numbers I've seen and, if enacted, would represent the largest increase to the formula in recent memory.

Our schools, like everything else, have been impacted by inflation. And, depending on just what bills pass this session, even that 5-and-5 percent increase in the formula may not be enough. Items will need to be prioritized. Reforming teacher pensions is one of them, and it should be on the list. Teachers play a huge role in the development of our children, and we need to encourage more students to enter the teaching profession.

Language establishing a "Grain Indemnity Fund" has been passed in the agriculture committees in both the House and Senate. Main difference between the two bills is the level of state funding to jump-start the fund on the way to its maximum of $15 million. The Senate version fully funds the program from the start with state money, while the House version puts $5 million into it.

The idea for such a fund is to protect farmers who sell grain to an elevator that goes bankrupt before issuing payment for the grain. This situation has occurred several times in recent years, with the elevator at Ashby being one such example. An assessment collected when grain is sold by farmers would be used to bring the fund up to $15 million if the state contribution is less than that. It would then blink off until the balance got down to $9 million. It also contains an opt-out feature, where a farmer could request a refund of the money contributed to the fund. The farmer could re-enter at a later date but would have to re-pay money back to the fund.

If both chambers pass the bill, a conference committee would work out the differences, with the major item being the size of the state contribution.

You can always call my office at (651) 296-4317, my home phone at (320) 239-2726 or email me at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn if you need additional information.

Painting

Assessment Notice

Important Information Regarding Property Assessments

This may affect your 2024 property taxes

The Board of Appeal-Equalization for Grey Eagle Township is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Town Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor.

If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office to discuss your concerns. If you disagree with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The board will review your assessments and make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to the local Board before appealing to the County Board of Appeal-Equalization.

You must make an appointment to appear before the board of appeal and equalization. For appointments, contact Todd County Assessor's Office at 320-732-4431.

Mary Ann Primus, Grey Eagle Township Clerk - March 21, 2022

ATTENTION! Grey Eagle Housing Association Members

The 43rd annual meeting of the Grey Eagle Housing Association will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2023, in the Menge Community Room at Village View Apartments in Grey Eagle. (Our Monthly Meeting will be held at 3:45 p.m.)

Nominations & Elections of 2 Directors: If you qualify as a member of Grey Eagle Housing Association and live in the area, you may nominate yourself, or another member of the association, to the Board of Directors either at the meeting or in writing before the meeting. This year we will elect 2 people to three-year terms. Please submit the names you wish to nominate to Margaret Newberg, 303 Cedar Street North, #25, Grey Eagle, MN 56336. For more information, please call 320-285-3973.