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Garfield Town Board Meeting - Annual
Apr 12, 2012

Draft - Unapproved

Garfield Town Board – Annual Meeting                                     

April 12, 2012

Present:         Chairman:     Ed Gullickson

                        Clerk:              Sue Knutson

Residents/Citizens:  15

Meeting called to orderby Chairman, Ed Gullickson, at 7:00 pm.

Minutes of last annual meeting:  Motion made by Dave Nelson/Marilyn Buckingham to approve annual town minutes as submitted.  Carried-unanimously.

Annual Statement:  2011 Annual Statement (attached) was explained and discussed. 

Motion made by Carolyn Lumsden/Don Mork to approve the 2011 Annual Statement as submitted.  Carried-unanimously.

Gopher Bounty: County has previously paid back to the Towns $1.50 per pocket gophers and $0.50 per strip gopher tails.  County is no longer paying back the Towns for gopher tails.  The Town has decided to still pay $1.50 to Garfield residents for pocket gopher tails that have been trapped in the Town of Garfield.  The amount of $1.50 is the same as the surrounding towns.

Kevin Christenson commented that the State was going to change the language to reinstate the bounty on gophers.

Road Work:  The Town has purchased some new equipment (excavator, trailer, bulldozer) instead of leasing/renting the equipment.  The Town purchased the equipment for approximately $63,000.  138thwas reconstructed and will be blacktopped this year.  65thAvenue, west of Highway 65 for a half mile, will be blacktopped this year. 

Vivian Hillebrandt commented on the blacktopping that was done on 70thAvenue west of Highway 65 stating that the road is cracked by her house.

Park:  The park is doing well and being maintained. 

Marilyn Buckingham asked whether the Town has decided if the Town was going to add more parking.  Gullickson stated that the Town has previously decided that the Town was/is going to add additional parking at the front of the park.  Gullickson stated that the additional parking was approved on the placement of the additional parking.  Buckingham denies this.  Gullickson stated that the decision has been made and that the additional parking will be done this year.

Water Testing:  Gullickson applied for a $5,000 grant from the State to test well water.  Each water test is $50 and will be done by County Health Inspector through the State lab.  The County and Town will have a copy of each test.  The testing will set benchmarks for each well in the Town and will not have wells corrected.

Buckingham asked about what if something was wrong with the well if the Town would have the owner improve the well.  Gullickson stated no and that it would be left to the owner to do with the results themselves.

Bob Traynor has had his well tested.

Website:  Our webmaster, Jerry Ryan, passed away last year.  The Town’s website has been down since then.  Now the Town has hired someone to help with the procedures and the Town will soon be able to update information on the website. 

Town Hall Open House:  The Town will be having a open house for the 125thAnniversary of the Town on August 18.  The Town has the first original journal for the Town.

Vivian Hillebrandt has some old information on taxes and stuff of her property.

DOG Fire Association:   Kevin Christenson, fire chief, submitted information on the amount runs for 2011 between the two departments (Wanderoos and Dresser).  Total runs were 229 (92 fire funs, 137 medical runs).  Christenson reminded residents to follow the procedures in order to burn.  Burning permits are perpetual but would like to remind residents again to follow the procedures.  Garfield is having their Mother’s Day pancake breakfast again this year.  Dresser is holding a spaghetti dinner again this year.  The Fire Department is always looking for new volunteers.

Gullickson stated that DOG Fire is the largest fire department in Polk County.

George Stroebel commented on the fine job the fire department has done.

Adjourn:  Motion made by Dave Nelson/Wayne Sachi to adjourn meeting, 8:28 pm.  Carried-unanimously.

Submitted by:  Sue Knutson, Clerk



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