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Silver Creek Township approves gravel-pit lease, sells old pickup and pays trapper after beaver removals
Summary
At its Nov. 26 meeting the Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors approved the Starry Gravel Pit lease, authorized the sale of an old pickup, approved a $200 payment to a trapper who removed beavers, and reviewed culvert scheduling and ongoing audit work. A resident raised a steep proposed tax increase for a small lot during open forum.
The Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors met Nov. 26, 2024, in regular session. Chairman Mike Helman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and the board approved the agenda as amended to add the sale of a township pickup to new business.
The board approved routine business items including the Nov. 7, 2024 meeting minutes and a list of disbursements. The audit-of-claims sheet included payments such as Pera ($1,123.04), Wright County ($150.00), West Central ($5,845.21), Chatham Township ($30.00) and CorTrust ($28.62). Both motions to approve the minutes and the disbursements passed, with Vice Chairman Brandon Geyen making the motions and Supervisor Sandy Forsman seconding; the minutes record both as carried 5-0.
During the open forum, resident Brian Jones told the board that his proposed 2025 property taxes on his “garden lot” had increased nearly 1,000 percent and separately reported a dog running loose near Ellingwood Avenue. The minutes record his concerns but do not show any immediate board action on those items.
Clerk-Treasurer Alana Paumen reported she is working with the township CPA to gather information needed to finish the audit and is making parcel corrections ahead of submitting fire-assessment information this week.
On maintenance and public works, the board was told a contractor may start the 134th culvert replacement on Dec. 3–4. Board members said they will ask the county for an extension to submit invoices so the township can receive grant funding for the project. The maintenance report also noted that snowplowing equipment will be installed and that staff will begin training routes next week; trucks are scheduled for DOT inspections and annual service.
The board handled several new-business items. It approved the Starry Gravel Pit lease on a motion by Vice Chairman Geyen, seconded by Supervisor Forsman (carried 5-0). The board also received and deposited a $353.42 check associated with a hospital board dissolution and discussed the MAT Conference, noting an early-registration deadline of Nov. 27, 2024.
Chairman Helman said the township’s 2013 F-550 will be ready for delivery this week or the next; the board moved to sell the old pickup on Elsenpeter Auction, a motion Helman made and Geyen seconded, recorded as carried 5-0.
The board approved a $200 payment to Jason, the trapper who removed three beavers from 150th Street. Chairman Helman moved the payment and Vice Chairman Geyen seconded; Supervisor Andy Christensen abstained and the motion is recorded as carried 4-0.
The minutes record a motion to adjourn made by Vice Chairman Geyen with a second from Supervisor Andy Christensen; no vote tally is listed in the minutes for the adjournment motion.
The board did not record any formal votes or directives in response to Brian Jones’s tax complaint or the loose-dog report during the meeting. The board also agreed to have its township attorney draft an agreement permitting Chatham Township to store a water truck in Silver Creek’s storage shed.
Votes at a glance: - Agenda approval: motion by Brandon Geyen, second Sandy Forsman — carried 5-0. - Approve Nov. 7 minutes: motion by Brandon Geyen, second Sandy Forsman — carried 5-0. - Approve listed disbursements (audit of claims): carried 5-0 (amounts listed in minutes). - Donation to trapper (Jason) for beaver removals: motion by Mike Helman, second Brandon Geyen — carried 4-0 with Supervisor Andy Christensen abstaining; payment $200. - Starry Gravel Pit lease: motion by Brandon Geyen, second Sandy Forsman — carried 5-0. - Sale of old pickup (Elsenpeter Auction): motion by Mike Helman, second Brandon Geyen — carried 5-0. - Adjourn: motion by Brandon Geyen, second Andy Christensen — vote tally not specified in the minutes.
The board’s next steps noted in the minutes include pursuing the county invoice deadline extension to secure culvert grant funds, completing the township audit with the CPA, drafting a storage agreement for Chatham Township, and preparing fleet and snowplow equipment for winter operations. The minutes do not indicate any immediate follow-up related to the resident’s tax complaint.
