March 24, 2023 at 11:08 a.m.
Amador Town Board gets OK for 2024 minor budget hike
The budget for the township’s needs is proposed to increase by only $3,000 in 2024. The current year’s property taxes are supporting a budget of $407,000 and next year the supervisors look to collect $410,000.
In categories for budgeting appropriations; “Building and Property” is slated for a dip to $5,000 from $15,000. “Debt Service” had already dropped for 2022 by $2,000 and stayed at that reduced amount of $65,000.
Supervisor Lin Strong explained the projects planned only include township hall lower level windows that need to be rehabbed and one of the main room ceiling lights doesn’t work. Some drainage issues will be addressed at the fire hall rear parking lot.
Budget increases are projected in “Road & Bridge” because the ditches need alot of attention, and “Parks & Recreation” expects increased mowing services costs, and has planned landscaping additions.
Those residents who are in the urbanized area of the township (Almelund) who are hooked up to a wastewater network, will likely be seeing a hike in their sanitary sewer district taxation. The system experienced a shortfall in 2022 of $10,123. Bob Linder reported the quarterly customer fees will see a $30 base increase.
The fire department recently took delivery of 15 new self-contained breathing apparatus units and 30 air bottles. Chief Jason Fredlund said the firefighters are very grateful for the equipment.
Almelund Fire is at 25 members with two on leave right now for personal commitments. The department has service agreements with Sunrise, Shafer and Chisago Lake Townships and all the agreements are in place.
The combined operating costs for 2023 are $139,422 and next year it goes to $139,655. The funding breakdown is: Amador pays 37 percent, Sunrise contributes 45 percent, Shafer nine percent and Chisago Lake about nine percent.
The Chief mentioned the department is hopeful for a grant sought through Sno Barons Club (Hay Days) to acquire a transport sled, which can be used to haul injured persons in winter and switched out to a set of wheels, when there’s no snow on the ground.
Supervisor Strong reported last fall’s Heritage Center AppleFest was “very successful.”
Lions representative Kathy Kaiser announced the Almelund Lions are seeing huge turnout for “Patty Melt Wednesdays” in the summer. There are 31 members in the 40-year old club. The Lions also cook/assist at Apple Fest booths, run the ballfield complex, and hold a Halloween Party for area kids.
The group welcomes all interested people, you don’t have to live in Almelund to get involved. They meet the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in “the old fire hall” in town.
The township clean-up day will be May 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. Watch for a mailer reminder.
And, Supervisor Gene Fisk was re-elected garnering all 15 ballots that were cast. He was unopposed.
The other townships report:
In Sunrise incumbent Carl Peter “Pete” Johnson was re-elected with 18 votes. He was unopposed and there were four write-ins. Incumbent Greg Strom was seated with 25 votes and his seat had two write-ins.
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