---

Chisago Lake Township met for the annual meeting March 11.  The meeting began shortly after the polls closed.  Fifteen people attended the meeting.  

Results of the election were: 27 votes were cast in total with seven absentee.  Supervisor Wayne Houle won (unopposed) with 27 votes and treasurer Judy Straub won (unopposed) with 27 votes.

Township resident John Nelson was elected moderator for the annual meeting.  

The meeting began with a financial report from treasurer Judy Straub.  Straub said the balance as of January 1, 2024 was $3,035,584.27.  

Receipts totalled $2,415,509.14 with disbursements of $2,380,949.52 leaving a remaining balance on December 31, 2024 at $3,070,143.89.

Straub also noted other balances as of Dec. 31 include: checking $1,836,737.48, savings $822,514.77, CD’s $320,891.64, EE bonds $90,000.  The township keeps $2,790,138 at Security State Bank of Marine, and $190,005.89 at First State Bank of Wyoming.

Clerk Jeanette Peterson then presented the road report for absent maintenance supervisor Matt Wikelius.  

Peterson told the audience the township maintains 40 miles of blacktopped roads and 40 miles of gravel roads.  

In 2024 limestone was added to Panola Dr., Kipling Ave., 340th St., 345th St., 346th St., and 350th St.

Neuman Trl., Court, Circle and 253rd St. were reclaimed and repaved in 2024.

Walmark Lake Dr. was micropaved.

All streets in Vibo Meadows were crack sealed. 

Lake Ln. was scrub sealed.

Tree trimming was done along Nathan Ln., 279th St., and 240th St.

The township replaced the 2003 Caterpillar motor grader with a new one in 2024.

Plans for 2025 include: more tree trimming, a possible reclaim and repave of North Lakes Ln., 347th St., Northbrook Ave., 346th Ct., 344th St., Novak Ave., Leah Ln., Leah Ct., 275th St. and 276th Street.

In the clerk’s report, Peterson told the audience 342 building permits were issued.  Fifteen were for new homes, 185 were for additions, 44 were for accessory, 44 for mechanical and the remaining were for septic.

Peterson then presented the proposed 2026 Levy.  The general fund went up a thousand to $90,000. The road and bridge fund went up 40,000 to $480,000.  The fire contract remained the same at $205,000.  Blacktop Repair fund went up 40,000 to  a levy of $840,000.  Thru-road blacktop remained at $85,000.  Dead end blacktop funds stay at $40,000 for the levy.  Equipment fund also remained the same at $50,000.  The library operating fund remained at $15,000 and capital project fund also remained the same at $5,000. Final proposed 2026 levy is $1,810,000 which translates to a 4.7 percent increase over what is being taxed for this year.  

The levy was approved unanimously.

The council then heard from Steve Sicheneder. Sicheneder was representing the Chisago Age Well group.  Sicheneder gave a brief history of the senior service group highlighting some of the more recent events.  The group held a summer expo in October that had over 300 attendees. It also hosted three Dine and Discover events that were well attended.  Sicheneder said the group is all volunteer based and their budget is $12,000 yearly.  He was there asking the township for a donation which the township has given the past years.  

In the ever-popular gopher bounty topic, the audience was told payout bounty is $2 for striped and $3 for pocket gophers. The township has payed out $168 already this year as opposed to $57 for the entire year last year.

The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

---