Silver Creek Township supervisors pause enforcement of driveway ordinance, approve fire contract and maintenance purchase

The Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors met Aug. 20, 2024 and unanimously approved a Monticello Fire contract, temporarily stopped enforcing Township Ordinance 2015-08-18 and removed it from the township website pending revision, and authorized up to $4,000 for the maintenance department to purchase a tack trailer.

Vice Chairman Mike Helman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and the board, with Supervisors Brandon Geyen, Ryan Nelson and Sandy Forsman present (Chairman Chris Newman absent), approved the meeting agenda by a 4-0 vote after a motion from Supervisor Ryan Nelson and a second from Supervisor Brandon Geyen.

Clerk-Treasurer Alana Paumen presented fund balances: General Fund $147,469.20; Contingency $9,646.46; Road & Bridge $519,954.07; Fire Fund $58,281.86; ARPA Fund $13,772.51; Checking $24,687.10. The board audited and approved claims that included check 18932 for $555.15; 18935 for $43,683.60; 18939 for $29.95; and 18947 for $3,182.00. Those claims were included in the approved List of Claims.

In old business, the board recorded that a certified letter was sent to John Haack on Aug. 14, 2024 and that maintenance staff and supervisors completed a road tour on Aug. 20. The board reviewed the Monticello Fire contract and approved it on a motion by Supervisor Ryan Nelson, seconded by Supervisor Brandon Geyen; the motion carried 4-0.

The board discussed a conflict between the township’s existing driveway permitting practice and the language of Township Ordinance 2015-08-18. Vice Chairman Mike Helman moved — with a second from Supervisor Brandon Geyen — to stop enforcing Ordinance 2015-08-18, remove the ordinance text from the township website until it can be redone, and to continue using the existing driveway permit process without charging fees during the revision period. The motion carried 4-0.

Under new business, trustees deferred action on a Wright County Code of Ordinances response form related to solid waste to the Sept. 3, 2024 meeting. The board discussed possible uses for the township’s remaining ARPA funds — including a road project, an office computer, or hall flooring — and asked Supervisor Ryan Nelson to gather cost estimates. The board also discussed budget meeting dates and did not finalize them.

Vice Chairman Helman moved and Supervisor Brandon Geyen seconded a motion to allow the maintenance department to spend up to $4,000 on a tack trailer; that motion carried 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m. on a motion from Supervisor Brandon Geyen, seconded by Supervisor Sandy Forsman.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: Motion by Supervisor Ryan Nelson; second by Supervisor Brandon Geyen — Carried 4-0 (Helman, Geyen, Nelson, Forsman). - Approve minutes (Aug. 6, 2024): Motion by Supervisor Brandon Geyen; second by Supervisor Sandy Forsman — Carried 4-0. - Approve List of Claims: Motion by Supervisor Ryan Nelson; second by Supervisor Brandon Geyen — Carried 4-0. - Approve Monticello Fire contract: Motion by Supervisor Ryan Nelson; second by Supervisor Brandon Geyen — Carried 4-0. - Suspend enforcement/remove Ordinance 2015-08-18 pending redraft: Motion by Vice Chairman Mike Helman; second by Supervisor Brandon Geyen — Carried 4-0. - Authorize maintenance to spend up to $4,000 on tack trailer: Motion by Vice Chairman Mike Helman; second by Supervisor Brandon Geyen — Carried 4-0. - Adjourn: Motion by Supervisor Brandon Geyen; second by Supervisor Sandy Forsman — Carried 4-0.

Next steps and context: The Wright County code response form will be revisited at the Sept. 3, 2024 meeting. Supervisor Ryan Nelson will compile estimates for proposed uses of ARPA funds; the board did not set final budget meeting dates during this session.