Town of Cooks Valley

Regular Town Board Meeting

January 23, 2017

Chairman Darrel Fehr called the meeting to order on January 23, 2017 at 7:30 pm.   The supervisors present were:  David Clements and Matt Borofka.  Other officers present were: Victoria Trinko-clerk and Judith A. Prince-treasurer.    See attached attendance sheet.
Recitation of Pledge of Allegiance by delegation present.
Certification of proper posting for the scheduled town board meeting: The notice for the January town board meeting was duly posted on January 19, 2017 in the 3 designated places within the Town of Cooks Valley. 
Public Comment:  There was no public comment.
Discussion and possible action on budget categories:  no action was taken
Approval of the December 12, 2016 regular monthly town board meeting:  David Clements made a motion to accept the December 12, 2016 regular monthly town board meeting.  Matt Borofka seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-0.
Reading by Treasurer of December financial report:  The ending checkbook balance $40,927.99 as of December 31, 2016.  The total assets of the Town of Cooks Valley were $204,941.31. 
Reading and Approval of the December Bills:  Darrel Fehr made a motion to approve the check vouchers #4256 to #4277 for payment of the December bills.  Matt Borofka seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-0.
Building permits:  There were no applications for a building permit.
Discussion and possible action of pertaining to the plan commission: There was no action taken.  PurFrac has indicated their intention to submit a non-metallic mining permit application this week.
Discussion and possible action on the solicitation of bids for the Town of Cooks Valley:  Matt Borofka made a motion to designate authority to Chairman Darrel Fehr to solicit bids for the Town of Cooks Valley.  David Clements seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0 with Chairman Darrel Fehr abstaining.
Discussion and possible approval of operators application:  Darrel Fehr made a motion to approve the operators applications of Jean Petska, Seth Mikl, and Eugene Harnisch for the Bloomer Rod & Gun Club.  Matt Borofka seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on replacement of missing or damaged fire signs:  Chairman Darrel Fehr contacted the Chippewa County Highway Dept. about fire signs.  The cost of a new sign is $30.00 and the cost of a refurbished sign is $15.00.  The Ambulance Dept. will do a survey in the Town of Cooks Valley to evaluate the condition of fire signs and will install new signs.  The town board requested the town clerk place this information on the town website.  Matt Borofka made a motion designating the property owner will be responsible for the cost of replacement of damaged or missing fire signs.  David Clements seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-0.
Chairman’s report: – Fire Dept.   In 2016, there was one structure fire, one chimney fire, one vehicle fire, one grass fire, ten other fire calls, three fire alarms, three M.A., four CO2, nine other, and 32 assists for a total of 65 calls in the Town of Cooks Valley.  Mine Report:  Darrel Fehr received a copy of correspondence between Dan Masterpole, Land Conservation and Forest Management Director, and Paul McLean, Vice-President/Preferred Sands.  The correspondence formally acknowledged that on January 12, 2017, Chippewa County received from Preferred Sands of Minnesota, financial assurance in the amount of $2.91 million, s required for reclamation of the Bloomer (LaGesse) mine.  This completes the process that was initiated by Chippewa County on March 22, 2016, to assure that the amount of financial assurance equal, as closely as possible, the cost of the County to hire a contractor to complete either final reclamation or progressive reclamation, according to the approved reclamation plan.
Unit meeting of the WTA- Chippewa County will be on Tuesday Jan. 24, 2017.
Dissemination of Information-Clerk’s report:  no report
Future agenda items and business:
Pledge of allegiance, Discussion and possible action on budget categories, Building permits, on concerns pertaining to the Plan commission, minutes of the January 23, 2017 meeting,   Chairman’s report, Dissemination of information, future agenda items and business.  Next regular board meeting will be February 13, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.  There will be a primary election on February 21, 2017.
Adjourn:  Darrel Fehr made a motion to adjourn at 7:55 pm.  Matt Borofka seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-0.            
Typed:          January 28, 2017                                                   Respectfully Submitted,
Approved:  February 13, 2017                                                   Victoria Trinko-town clerk