REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
OF THE SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF MORSE HELD ON
April 10, 2024
At 5:00 p.m. on April 10, 2024 at the Morse Town Hall, Chairman Terry Soderberg called a regular meeting of the Supervisors of the Town of Morse to order with the following present: Supervisor Bob Berrini, Supervisor Terry Soderberg, Supervisor Len Cersine, Clerk Nick Wognum, Treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz, Elizabeth Chapman, Gerald Tyler and Butch Pecha.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Clerk Wognum called for nominations for the chairman position.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to nominate Bob Berrini as chair with Soderberg as vice-chair. Motion carried unanimously.
The board reviewed the wages for 2024 and discussed linking wages to inflation from last October.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Berrini to increase monthly and hourly wages by 3.2 percent plus inflation for supervisors, clerk, treasurer, deputy treasurer. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to change election judge wages to $20 per hour. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to increase wages for equipment operators and mechanic by 3.2 percent. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to increase the wages for the Road Supervisor by 3.2 percent. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to official depositories as Wells Fargo, Highland Bank, Frandsen Bank and Ely Area Credit Union. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to set the monthly meetings to the second Tuesday of the month or at the call of the chair, that the official posting place be the bulletin board outside the front door of the town hall and to name the Ely Echo as the official newspaper. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Berrini to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2024 meeting. Motion carried.
Gerald Tyler spoke to the board about his support for small scale nuclear power plants in the state of Minnesota.
Soderberg said he plans to attend Minnesota Association of Townships training.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to approve having Soderberg attend a training session for the Minnesota Association of Townships. Motion carried.
Lekatz presented claims 16700 to 16729 for $42,474.79. The largest claim was for $28,950 for fire and first responders which includes the second quarter payment and the additional monies for the first quarter.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Berrini to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried.
Lekatz presented receipt 96011 for $4.86.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve having the clerk submit bills to DNR for the township’s work related to the Taconite Trail. Motion carried.
Wognum explained that he had preliminarily set up public meetings for the doggie hotel and the wildfire defense grant. He asked for board approval.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to set a public meeting on April 29 at 5 p.m. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve a public meeting on April 30 at 5 p.m. for the wildfire defense grant. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to request the county not change the classification. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve the proposal from Leslie Rosedahl for a new township website. Motion carried.
The board discussed the issue of PFAS found in some wells on West Shagawa Road. Terry spoke with MPCA on the issue and having Bay West do sampling on more wells.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve the application from Shagawalleye LLC for seasonal liquor license approval. Motion carried.
The board reviewed the proposal from Mesabi Bituminous for Somero, Tek and Stebly Road.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to approve blacktopping on Somero, Tek and Stebly roads. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve sending a blanket approval to St. Louis County for thawing culverts. Motion carried.
The board deferred setting a date for road inspection until a later date.
The board reviewed the remaining correspondence and took no action.
Berrini said while the ambulance is doing well, the chance of getting state funding is fading fast and even the governor isn’t pushing for more than $10 million when the need is $120 million statewide. Butch said rocks and cows are coming up short.
Soderberg gave an update on the lodging tax. He said the most recent approved update has to be changed because Stony River doesn’t want to be part of the joint lodging tax board. Soderberg said Lake County is also not willing to pay more than $120,000 for their share but the board said no and that they should get the three percent charged in Fall Lake township. Now it will take an agreement between Fall Lake and Lake County. Fall Lake is also asking to have a seat on Lovin Lake County, their lodging tax board.
The board asked about the lease for the tower on the golf course. Wognum will check into it.
Bob said RAMS will be going to look at some projects on the Range. He said there will be a bus trip to St. Paul as well.
Pecha brought up problems on damage done to the Maijala Road where Leustek has a pit at the end. The agreement had been to provide class five every year to the township in exchange for allowing early hauling.
The next meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on May 15.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Terry Soderberg, Chair Nick Wognum, Clerk