Silver Creek Township approves mower, road apron funding and mailing for annual meeting

Chair Mike Helman called the Silver Creek Township Board of Supervisors to order at 7:00 p.m. Jan. 20 at Silver Creek Township Hall. The three-member board — Helman, Vice Chair Brandon Geyen and Supervisor Andy Christensen — unanimously approved an amended agenda and the Jan. 6, 2026 minutes.

Front and center were several fiscal and operational approvals. Vice Chair Brandon Geyen moved to approve disbursements totaling $24,119.35; Supervisor Andy Christensen seconded and the board carried the motion 3-0. An audit-of-claims check confirmed that checks 19745, 19750, 19755 and 19762 matched the approved disbursement list.

The board approved purchasing a desktop computer to replace the clerk/treasurer laptop and to keep the current laptop as a backup, authorizing $831.03 plus IT assistance for file transfers (motion by Chair Mike Helman; second by Geyen; 3-0). The board also approved a quote to purchase a Schulte XH1500 Series 5 mower for $47,825.44, following a maintenance presentation of vendor quotes (motion by Geyen; second by Christensen; 3-0).

On roadwork planning, maintenance staff recommended soliciting bids for the Baker Avenue rebuild now so contractor quotes will be available before the end of February. The board also approved coordination with Wright County to add aprons on gravel township roads when County Road 39 is resurfaced and authorized up to $16,000 for those aprons to help retain gravel on township routes (motion by Christensen; second by Geyen; 3-0).

Personnel and administrative items included scheduling applicant interviews for the Clerk/Treasurer position to begin Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, with Chair Helman and Supervisor Christensen on the interview panel. The board set the board of audit for Feb. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Silver Creek Township Hall and approved posting an updated driveway permit application on the township website under the current ordinance and fee schedule (motion by Geyen; second by Christensen; 3-0).

The minutes record that West Central Sanitation responded to an attorney letter and refunded the township for fuel surcharges that were not listed in the contract; the minutes do not clearly state the refund amount. For small facilities needs, the board approved up to $300 to buy two chair-moving dollies to protect the township hall floor and approved spending up to $750 with Monticello Printing for postcards and mailing fees to notify residents about the annual meeting (motions carried 3-0).

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. after unanimous vote. No public comments were recorded during the open forum.