A discussion of an increase in burglaries in the area and approval of a motion to table action on an agreement with the Tri-County Humane Society were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Palmer Township Board Monday night.

 

Supervisor Steve Demeules took the chair for the short session, as Chairman Mike Ganz was unable to attend the final meeting of 2015.

 

The sheriff’s report listed 85 calls for service in Palmer Township in November, which included 23 traffic stops resulting in four citations being issued.

 

 Capt. Robert Stanger told the board that five burglaries had taken place in the immediate area last month, including a case in which a burglar made off with 10 long guns, a laptop computer, jewelry and other items.  Other cases had been reported in Big Lake Township and in Zimmerman, Stanger said.

 

 A suspect has been identified, Stanger reported, and that individual is currently in custody in Benton County.

 

Briggs Lake Chain Association President Wayne Smith told the board that the “ground truthing” project conducted by the BLCA will be ending.  More than 100 lake-area properties were examined after the aerial survey conducted several years ago, and 78 per cent of those owners made improvements to septic and rainwater run-off as a result.  Smith called the effort “the most successful project the BLCA has ever had.”

 

Brushing of roadways has been mainly completed, the board was informed, and the Palmer Park is ready for winter.  Treasurer Roger Johnson told the board that the Palmer Day Committee has made a donation of $500 to Palmer Township in appreciation of the township’s efforts on behalf of the one-day festival last September.  The committee will make a further donation for equipment or repairs when conditions warrant, Johnson said.

 

The board agreed to table further discussion on a request from the Tri-County Humane Society for an animal control agreement until the January meeting.

 

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Johnson stated during the meeting that the heavy bandage on his right hand was the result of a wood-working accident in his shop at home, where he was building a new wooden stable for a manger scene that he had rescued from the recycle pile during the annual Clean-Up Day event in Palmer this spring.

 

Given the result, Johnson said he may allow the artifact to resume its journey to the landfill at Clean-Up Day next spring.