There was a good turnout for Lynden Township’s annual meeting last Tuesday with 40 residents attending.

 

Incumbent Anne Ackerman retained her position as township supervisor with 77 votes. Challenger Dennis Niemi, former supervisor, received 50. Jenny Schmidt was reelected clerk unopposed.

 

Deputy Treasurer Dan Torgersen read the treasurer’s report. The annual audit was completed Feb. 25 and all balanced accurately. End of the year account balances were $549,343, total revenue was $416,766, and total expenditures were $517,751. 

 

Ackerman explained expenditures were up primarily due to asphalt road projects, and general expenses increased due to building permit accounting changes and double library donations.

 

More money was also spent on calcium chloride, grading, mowing and tree trimming.

 

The proposed levy of $351,340, which was approved by voters, includes $190,000 for road and bridge, $90,000 for general government, $12,784 for the Annandale Fire Dept. and $58,556 for the Clearwater Fire Dept. 

 

Jeff Repke and John Krob from the Annandale Fire Dept. reported the department responded to 214 calls in 2015, 13 of which were in Lynden Township. Chief Ryan Pridgeon and Nick Eldred from the Clearwater Fire Dept. reported their department had responded to 245 calls, 59 of which were in Lynden Township. 

 

Supervisor Jerry Finch gave an update on the Plum Creek Water Quality Project, explaining it was tested throughout last summer and will be tested again throughout this summer.

 

As road manager, Finch also updated residents on roads and bridges, stating they will continue to follow the engineer’s five-year asphalt road maintenance recommendation. Currently traffic counts show no new asphalt is warranted.

 

Voters also approved the Citizen-Tribune as the official newspaper, Couri & Ruppe, P.L.L.P. as attorney, Annandale and Sherburne State Banks for fund depositories, and Allied Waste Services for recycling. $2,000 was approved for the 2017 annual support for the Clearwater Public Library.

 

The date of the next Lynden Township annual meeting was set for March 14, 2017.