Last week, Santiago Township Board members broached many topics with the eight or nine people in attendance from the community. After the budget report was presented and approved, other areas were brought up including the sheriff’s report, road updates, fire & rescue, park, and buildings. Items which could potentially affect the township were also discussed.

 

 

There were 58 service calls made to the sheriff’s department since the last meeting.

 

 

There have been issues with improper dumping behind the township hall, so subcontractor Jeff Peterson is handling the details of setting up a sign to warn people that this is not allowed, and people will be prosecuted if they do not comply. A sign color and shape has been determined but the specific language to print has not been finalized.

 

 

Thirty-seven calls were made, thirty-one of which were medical, four of which involved car accidents, and one fire alarm report. Santiago accounts for only seven of the calls (six medical and the fire alarm incident).

 

 

There are four new cement slabs available for picnic tables. They also received permission to buy stationary grills which will be installed in the spring of 2019. There has been no vandalism to report. A quarterly email detailing finance account updates was requested to keep the parks and recreation management in the loop on expenditures and available funds.

 

 

Installing vinyl flooring might be a good idea to avoid the constant maintenance which is required to keep the carpets in the building clean and free from coffee stains. Laying down plastic in specific areas of rooms where social clubs meet was also suggested to reduce spills on carpet. Issue will have to be discussed again when numbers for cost are available.

 

 

Other business revolved around the issue of lost or stray dogs. The current ordinance states officials from Santiago Township will handle any problem concerning lost or stray dogs, but there is actually no one who can keep these animals when they are found. An amendment was proposed to write in the ordinance that the sheriff’s department will begin to handle these types of calls. The idea of contacting a shelter in another city was discussed. The new ordinance will be written by Kathy Woolard, based on Minnesota law and then published for the community to be aware of the changes.

 

Additionally, Santiago Township uses the Becker Fire Dept. so miscellaneous information is sometimes brought to the Santiago Township board depending on the subject. 

 

At this meeting, someone mentioned that the water tender in Santiago Township is over 30 years old and should be replaced soon but it is difficult to find and expensive to buy a new one. 

 

Meanwhile, Becker is planning on getting rid of one of its trucks in the next five to seven years. Santiago might be interested in purchasing it since it would be a smarter buy.

 

At this meeting, Myron Wilson, an independent candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives shared campaign brochures and mentioned key topics he felt were important to the public, including the law which allows for senior citizens to get taxed 9% on their social security payments.

 

The next meeting will be Nov. 14 at township hall.