PERA, pickleball, processes, and projects prevail in special Greenwood meeting

By Terry Carlson – August 21, 2024

TOWER—Greenwood Township held a special meeting last Wednesday, August 21, which had been rescheduled from August 14 due to election/post-election activities during that week. Because it was slated as a special meeting, public comment was not on the agenda, which had the effect of shortening the meeting—by about an hour—compared to Greenwood’s signature monthly marathon.

The brevity was also enhanced by a more streamlined agenda which, after the board approved the July 9th minutes, the treasurer’s report, claims, and payroll, led off with a Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) issue that had arisen. The PERA retirement plan covers eligible township employees, and it appears the previous board chose to ignore it for the two years they held the majority. Clerk Debby Spicer reported that the last time Greenwood made a payment to the fund was in March of 2022.

Next up was yet another update on the original request made by the board for Treasurer Jeff Maus to provide access to the clerk for all financial information. Now, nearly 5 months later, clerk Spicer reports that she still hasn’t been given access to all the requested information.

This was followed by a slightly related topic. Former treasurer Pam Rodgers, who had agreed to act as a consultant to help the board navigate the account reconciliation process, happily reported that clerk Spicer is up-to-date on the process and will manage it going forward.

In other business:

  • The pickleball courts have been paved and fenced and is progressing nicely, representative of the Lake Vermilion Pickleball Association representative announced. She then brought up the ticklish topic of when they can expect a payment from the township for their contribution to the project. The board decided that the payment will be forthcoming after the September regular meeting.
  •  The board approved, by a vote of 3-2, the four-page Internal Control Policy.
  • The township’s only applicant for janitorial services, Jerry Sawyer, submitted a written proposal for his services. For $30 an hour, he would do the vacuuming, mopping, dusting, trash removal, window cleaning; vacuuming, mopping, dusting, trash removal, window cleaning; clean and sanitize kitchen cabinet interior; set and monitor mouse traps, adding that other jobs will be considered and agreed on per request.
  • Treasurer Maus, after research whether the township’s landing pad was licensed, advised the board that, as far as he could find, the landing pad has never been licensed. He said MNDOT is reviewing and asked that it be put on the agenda for the next meeting. It was also pointed out that no one in the Eastern Range area with a landing pad for helicopters has such a license. Is it necessary? Stay tuned …