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Chisago Lake Township held its annual meeting March 14. The meeting followed an election which saw Sherry Stirling defeat Donna Prahl for a supervisor position by a vote of 69-39.  Stirling, who was the incumbent, will retain her position  for three years.  The election also saw treasurer Judy Straub re-elected with 102 votes. Straub was running unopposed.

The meeting began with former supervisor Jim Froberg elected as moderator for the meeting.  The meeting began with the treasurer’s report. Straub said the township has a balance of $2,517, 031.06.   Straub said receipts for 2022 totalled $1,749,000.  Straub noted the township holds a little over $2 million at MidwestOne Bank and did mention those funds were insured.  Straub said the township also holds around $79,000 at Security State Bank.

Straub told the audience the township has received $532,313 in ARPA funds and those were being designated for future road projects including the paving of 250th street.

In the road report, maintenance supervisor Matt Wikelius reminded the audience the township maintained 40 miles of blacktop roads and around 30 miles of gravel roads.
Wikelius said Malmberg Road will get limestone in the spring.  Wikelius also said the township has friction sealed Glader, Mindy Court and a few other roads and will continue to do more in the spring.

Wikelius said his department has replaced all intersection road name signs with new nine inch tall easier to read signs.

A resident asked why they use limestone instead of gravel and Wikelius said limestone holds much longer and compacts better when it reaches extreme dry conditions.  Gravel increases the chance of washboarding road surfaces.

Wikelius ended his report saying his department has been saving for years for a new motor grader and will be looking to purchase potentially in 2023.  The current grader is over 18 years old.

In the clerk’s report, clerk Jeannette Peterson said the township has an application for a development but is waiting to see how the developer responds to the road requirements the township sent to them.

Peterson said the township saw four annexations in 2022, two into Lindstrom, one into Center City and one into Chisago City.

Stirling then gave a budget synopsis of the township.  The proposed levy for 2024 will not increase and sits at $1,289,000.  The Levy has remained at that number for the last two years.  The only changes in the budget are the fire contract decreased by $25,000 while the blacktop repair fund increased by $25,000.  Stirling said the township is hoping to pave 250th street between Lofton and Manning.
The proposed levy passed unanimously.

The gopher bounty will remain at $2 for pocket gophers and $1 for striped gophers.  

The audience then heard from Miranda Oliver of the Domestic Violence shelter ran by Family Pathways.  Oliver said Pathways assisted 390 township residents with their services (not all at the domestic violence shelter) in 2022.

The audience then heard from Emily Carlson who was representing the Age Well Coalition.  Carlson gave a rundown of what Age Well does in Chisago County.  

A motion was then passed to approve up to $5,000 for charitable donations. The board votes to contract for services at a later time.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

   

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