MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

PALMER TOWNSHIP

December 9, 2024

 

The regular meeting of the Palmer Township Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Palmer Township Hall, with Chairman Ganz, Supervisor Demeules, and Supervisor Wipper present. Also, present was Amy Bragelman Township Clerk and Treasurer Roger Johnson via Zoom. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Treasurer Roger Johnson read the balances from the Treasurer's report. Supervisor Demeules made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Supervisor Wipper seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Sheriff’s Report:  Capitan Ben Zawacki read the Sheriff’s report for November. There were 98 Total calls for service as compared to 80 calls for service in 2023. There was 1 theft and 1 property damage, 5 accidents involving an animal, 17 traffic stops, 10 security checks, 8 extra patrols, 1 domestic complaint, 11 medicals, and 1 suspicious person to name a few. 

 

Road Maintenance/Signs: Chairman Ganz reported that two signs were damaged and are on order to be replaced. One was a road sign 47th and 90th and the other was a 911 sign. Supervisor Demeules mentioned that we received the bill for 26th Street and 108th Avenue from Astech. The final projects came in under the original budget. The Township saved 29,556.14 on 108th Avenue and saved 34,094.52 on 26th Street. Supervisor Demeules also reiterated the snowplow policy that is posted on the website.

 

Fire Department: Chief Koren reported for October and November. The monthly call report for 10/14/2024 to 11/11/2024 shows 17 calls for the Clear Lake Fire Department. Six of those calls were for Palmer Township, 4 were medical, 0 were fires, 0 were auto accidents, and 2 were tree limbs on power lines. The monthly call report for 11/11/2024 to 12/08/2024 shows 19 calls for the Clear Lake Fire Department. Eight of those calls were for Palmer Township, all were medical.  

 

P.E.C: Nothing new to report

 

Park Report: Supervisor Wipper reported that the Township ordered 14 trees from the Briggs Lake Nursery. They will be held at the Nursery and planted in the spring. The Briggs Lake Nursery donated $150 towards the trees and the total cost for the trees was $2,000.

 

Two Inlets: Supervisor Demeules reported that there is no meeting for November. Supervisor Demeules is unsure if there will be a meeting in December.

 

Park Committee: Nothing new to report.

 

Lake Association: Shelly Alger-Peyton was not in attendance but did send some updates via email. The next meeting is December 14th at 8:30 am. One development is the BLCA received 2 grants from the COLA and Keep It Clean Coalition totaling $1500 and the BLCA paid $500 to have a geo-fencing program designed by the Star & Tribune that will begin mid-December and go through February/mid-March. We thought this would be a great small program to try with winter. Geo-fencing is an app-based program that will ping cell phones with location services enabled to cross these virtual geo-fences. These fences will be set up around each of our 4 lakes 75-100 feet from the shorelines and at each boat launch. They will alert people to the new MN law about cleaning up ice fishing garbage passed in 2023 and other conservation efforts. This grant was possible through the Keep It Clean Coalition to help spread awareness about Ice Fishing etiquette/conservation cleaning up after ice fishing and taking all of your garbage and any lost items with you off of the lakes. 

 

Tlid: Nancy Hahne Reported on the behalf of the of the T lid. Bob Sass the Chair of the T lid has completed grants and they are hopeful that they will be receiving some of those. They went over the Alum feasibility study. Stantec is recommending that Briggs be treated at the deepest parts of the lake with Alum. They had a Zoom call with James Johnson and went through the Lake Julia interpoint survey. The only invasive weed Julia has is curly pond leaf. Briggs Lake will be done next year. They have a vacancy on the board at this time and are looking for someone to fill that spot. Bob Sass scheduled a Zoom call with a company called Carp Solutions. They looking forward to working with them and developing a plan for the overpopulation of Carp.

 

Approval of Minutes: Supervisor Demeules made a motion to approve the November minutes Supervisor Wipper seconded it and the motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  Nothing              

 

NEW BUSINESS: Supervisor Demeules went over the Cannabis policy. Supervisor Demeules made a motion to adopt the same business regulation and registration ordinance as Sherburne County Supervisor Wipper Seconded and the motion was passed. Supervisor Demeules made a motion that the Township also approve a proposed Joint Power Agreement between the County and Township for the administration and regulation of cannabis retail business registration. Supervisor Wipper seconded and the motion was passed.

Chairman Ganz made a motion to make Palmer Township once again the designated annual polling place for elections held in 2025. Supervisor Wipper seconded and the resolution was passed.    

Supervisor Demeules made a motion not to continue our partnership with the Human Society. It would not be in the Township's best interest to sign a contract with the Human Society as it is written. The Township does not wish to pay for cat boarding and neutering as it has been abused in the past. Supervisor Wipper Seconded and the motion was passed.

The Board of Appeal and Equalization has been tentatively set for April 15th at 9 am at the Town Hall.

 

COMMENTS/QUESTIONS:

 

Supervisor Demeules made a motion to approve claims #24297- #24317, plus Conexus, Metro Sales, Card Member Services, and Frontier for a total of $203,555.16. Supervisor Wipper seconded.

 

Chairman Ganz made a motion to adjourn.  Supervisor Wipper seconded and the motion was carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

 

Amy Bragelman, Palmer Township Clerk Approved as reviewed January 13, 2025