September 12th, 2023
Minutes of September 12, 2023, Monthly Meeting
The September 12, 2023, monthly meeting of Fairfield Township was called to order at 5:00 PM by Chairman Phil Yetzer. Other board members present were Supervisor Les McCoy, Supervisor Molly Swaggert, Treasurer Kathy Hachey and Clerk Marianne Auge. Also present were Doug Kussart and William Schrader.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
The agenda was reviewed. Phil made a motion to move 8A to 3A on the agenda, and Les 2nd the motion and it carried. Les made a motion to approve the agenda with the corrections and Molly 2nd the motion and it carried.
Doug Kussart and William Schrader were at the meeting to talk about Pickerel Trail that goes off Lodge Pole Lane. Doug said the Emily Gun Club can get to their property off of County Road 1 but they want to use Pickerel Trail for a short cut to their property. Doug said Pickerel Trail is a private drive and the residents that live on it maintain the road. Doug said he got an easement from Potlatch and Leo Frazier for his road. Phil asked if they had checked with a title company to see what it says about the road. Les said Pickerel Trail off Lodge Pole Lane to the north is not classified as a township Road. Pickerel Trail from Bonnie Lakes Road to Lodge Pole Lane, which is .119 miles long is a township road. Doug and William would like the township to write a letter stating that Pickerel Trail is not a township road and Fairfield Township does not maintain it. Phil said the township cannot grant access to a private road. Phil said the attorneys will have to figure it out. Phil said the minutes are posted on the Township web site once they are approved so they can get the minutes from the web site.
The bills were read. Les made a motion to pay the bills and Molly 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously.
The August 8, 2023, minutes were read. Phil made a motion to approve the minutes and Les 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously.
The treasurer’s report was read. Les made a motion to place it for audit and Molly 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously.
Zed Schweitzer called the clerk, Molly, and Phil to ask permission for his church group to trap shoot at the Fairfield gravel pit. The clerk said she called the MN. Association of Township to ask if the township would have any liability for an event like trap shooting. MAT said we would need to get a copy of the church’s liability insurance and a letter stating the township would not be responsible for any accidents during the shoot. Phil made a motion to allow Zed’s church group to use the gravel pit for trap shooting pending receipt of the insurance and a letter stating we would not be responsible for any accidents during the trap shoot. Les 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously.
Les said he found a 2018 Bobcat with 1500 hours on it for approximately $39,500.00. We would need to get forks, grapple, and rear-view camera. The cost for everything would be about $47,700.00. Phil made a motion to allow Les to spend up to $48,000.00 for a bobcat and Molly 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously.
Les said the snowplow truck we bought is having the DOT inspection done and then we can pick it up. Les said we will have to find another snowplow driver as Craig is moving south.
The clerk read the agreement from the county regarding Voting Operations, Technology & Election Resources account. Per state funding for election administration the county would receive $15,600.59 annually. $3,900.00 would be allocated to the precincts in Crow Wing County and each precinct would receive an average of $76.89. The county asked that we sign an agreement allocating all funds to the county until annual funding allocated to the County exceeds $50,00.00. Phil made a motion to accept the agreement from Crow Wing County and Les 2nd the motion and it was carried unanimously.
Old Business: Water testing. The postcard is done, and the clerk will take it to Brainerd to be printed and will get the address labels from the county so the postcards can be sent. The date
for picking up the kits and training for water collection will be held Oct. 11,2023 between 5:30 and 6:30. The samples are due back to the Town Hall on Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, between noon and 3:00 PM.
Cemetery Brochure: Kathy will have Tim Kostal look at it and will bring it to the October meeting for approval.
Go North-Nothing new.
Social Media Policy: Kathy said we need a facilitator named for the page. Molly agreed to be the facilitator for the web page.
Roads: Culverts on Bonnie Lakes Road still need to be replaced. Les said no one has contacted him regarding Moritz Road.
Correspondence was read. Phil made a motion to order the Minnesota Labor Law Posters for the next 2 years and Molly 2nd the motion and it was carried unanimously.
Les made a motion to adjourn and Molly 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marianne Auge, clerk