Friday, March 29th, 2024 Church Directory
ANNUAL MEETING. The Big Lake Twp. staff and moderator ran the recent Big Lake Twp. annual meeting. Pictured (left to right): Deputy Clerk Jayme Swenson, Moderator John Norgren, Clerk Brenda Kimberly-Maas, and Treasurer Ken Warneke. (Photo by Kae Yoder.)

BL Twp. holds Annual Meeting

Last week, Big Lake Twp. held their 2023 annual meeting.

Twp. resident John Norgren was elected the moderator and after Norgren was elected, Clerk Brenda Kimberly-Maas called for approval of the minutes from March 8, 2022’s annual meeting and the reconvened meeting of September 14. 

SWPPP

Kimberly-Maas continued the meeting by discussing the Stormwater pollution prevention program, SWPPP, that was required to develop, implement and enforce the discharge of pollutants, protect water quality and satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. It was a mandated plan that was approved in 2021 and will stay in effect through the year 2025. MPCA annual reports were sent in annually to make sure the SWPPP was being used properly, however Kimberly-Maas explained that annual submissions are no longer required. The SWPPP documentation is available for public review at the clerk’s office during regular business hours.

Yearly Report

The population in the township rose to 8,489, and nine new homes were built. Tax rate decreased from the previous year, and Kimberly-Maas went into where those tax dollars went. Improvements were done at the Bailey Station Cemetery, $917,000 was used in overlays, there were road repairs, brushing and trimming of the landscape, and the snow and ice work was over budget last year. The Twp. had park projects, the trail in the park was replaced with new granite that held even in the rain, the playground floor received a new bed of woodchips, and the roofs in the park that were covered in hail damage were replaced. New carpet was placed in the town hall office and the town hall was painted. The township went back to having three voting precincts. The Twp. was thinking about adding a pickle ball court where the northeast parking lot sits, and there was mention of a hearing aid project coming up. Five miles of overlays are planned for this year. 

Treasurer’s Report

Ken Warneke went over the previous year’s expenditures, and brought up the town board acting as board of audit. Spending on snow and ice was over budget even with increased funds, due to the wintery excess. The cemetery improvements caused the spending to be higher than usual, though Warneke expressed that the investment in a new columbarium was a good idea considering how many more people are choosing to be cremated. There was also $7,000 per mile for road maintenance expenses. The book of expenditures is open for inspection and a notice can be found on the bulletin board year round.

2024 Levy Recommendation

Warneke went into the proposed levy for 2024, 2,393,000. It would be a drop of nine percent from the previous year’s levy. There is the anticipation of tax capacity increasing while there may be a tax rate decrease. Warneke recommended that the meeting be recessed and the levy be accepted in September, in hope that there will be more funding from the state. Warneke may have to rework some of the numbers over the summer. The levy was approved by the residents, and they approved recessing until September 13 at 6 p.m.

Open Forum

Ed (last name not stated), a resident who was present at the meeting, asked about road projects coming up. He expressed how when he first bought his home, he was under the impression it would be a cul-de-sac, however the road became wider which increased traffic. He requested that the road be brought up to higher standards. Warneke was empathic and explained that there is a spring and fall road tour, in which all township roads are reviewed. Ed asked about what snow plowing contract the Twp. currently had. The Twp. is currently in year two of a three year contract with a company. He had some ideas for snow plowing that he decided to table for a latter date. No one else had anything to add, so the meeting was adjourned.

Other Business

• The budget included $1000 used for recognition of volunteers or for town staff, it was approved by the residents.

• The 2024 Annual meeting will be held March 12 at 6 p.m.