DUST CONTROL This year Calcium Chloride applications will be conducted
on township roads as requested by the property owner. This year the cost
for 400 feet by a maximum width of 20 foot application is $210. The
cost has increased by $10.00 since last year. The township will again
pay 1/2 the cost, or $105 per the 400 foot by 20 foot wide application.
Depending on weather conditions and contractor availability plans are to
have the Calcium Chloride applied before Memorial Day. If you wish to
have Calcium Chloride applied on the road in front of your property
please contact Jim at 218 426-3634. Deadline for payment is May 15th.
ROAD CONDITIONS With warmer weather approaching we are
monitoring the roads for soft spots, frost boils, and culvert water
overflow. We will be putting warning flags at these locations. We may
not be aware of a developing road condition even with frequent
checking. In the event you encounter a potential road problem please
call Jim at 218 426-3634 to report the condition.
BROADBAND Efforts are continuing to obtain more funding to provide broadband service to our township. At this point it is estimated that we have 60% broadband coverage or pending coverage. The remaining approximately 40% is going to be difficult and costly because of the distance between properties needing coverage.
Workman Township/Lakeview Cemetery Updates Last year work was completed
to transfer the manual records to computer. Our next step was
transferring the computer records to our website. During the next
several weeks we should have this completed. Our website will show lots
and plots available, lots and plots sold, and the locations of all
interned individuals. This project entailed a lot of detail and steps
but should be a vast upgrade from the hard copy records.
Golf anyone? On Sunday, June 26 Lakeview Cemetery will sponsor a golf
tournament at the Minnesota National Golf Course starting at 1 pm .This
is a four-person best ball and is a fun filled game that everyone can
enjoy whether you are a golfer or not. We hope to make this an annual
event with remaining funds from the tournament earmarked for cemetery
improvements. More information on this event will be published later.
Veteran Memorial at Lakeview Cemetery. Several months ago we applied
for a matching grant from the State of Minnesota to place a veterans
monument at Lakeview Cemetery. The project cost is approximately
$12,000 with one half in matching funds from the state. While we have
not received approval from the state we have been contacting different
organizations to raise the matching $6,000. We feel that
having a veteran monument at our cemetery will be a way to honor all the
veterans in our township area. Anyone wishing to donate toward the
monument may contact cemetery supervisor Marv Ketola at 218 390-6300 or
board chairman Jim Berg at 218 426-3634.
Weed Control Recently the State of Minnesota sent out a non-matching
grant program to reduce the weeds in the township. Our township applied
and we should know in approximately 60 days if we received the grant.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Townships. This program was
designed by the federal government with oversight by the state
government to give assistance to townships because of the pandemic. We
have received two payments, one for $10,899.16 and one for $356.92. We
will also be receiving these amounts next year. There are requirements
on the use of the funds and reporting forms that must be completed but
nothing as difficult at the Covid -19 program of last year.
Taxable Market & Net Tax Capacity 2021/2022 Kirk Peysar, Aitkin County Auditor
sent us the following: Workman Township's total taxable market
valuation is $68,337,615, the net tax capacity is $681,824. The total
taxable market valuation increased nearly $4,000,000 over the previous
year. The net tax capacity increase over last year is nearly $40,000.
For the year the township will use only 14% of our net tax capacity.
Recently the township received a phone call from a gentleman having the last name of Workman. He was attempting to get information about his family surname and the process of our township being named Workman. Some of our oldest records have been reviewed, but no information was found. If anyone has information concerning how our township was named and information on the individual we would appreciate receiving the information.
New Homes: This winter there are two new homes being built in our township. We welcome the growth. Over the last year at least four new homes have been built
in our township. These are very attractive and add much to our
community. We welcome these families to our township
Monthly Meeting Location Change: While our township has conducted our monthly and annual meetings at the Palisade Community Center/Firehall for approximately two years, a decision has been made by the board to relocate the meetings to the Minnesota National Golf Course Club House. This is in our township and is centrally located. We will be charged the same amount as we were charged by the City of Palisade.
