Alice Pickering
Linwood Area ReporterThrough October 31, the Linwood Fire Department has responded to 169 emergency calls for help, Fire Chief Rich Gabrick said last week.
Gabrick reported 22 fire department calls in October. Nine were responses to fires and 13 were for medical emergencies.
Linwood Town Board supervisors last week authorized up to $700 for the purchase of a new copier for the fire department. The request came from Gabrick. The new copier will replace department equipment on its last legs.
Gabrick also announced the department has applied for a DNR grant to help purchase breathing apparatus units for the department. The annual department dance has been scheduled Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004.
Gabrick told the town board that burning permits are again available. Gabrick said the department has begun work on an ordinance to handle hazardous waste specific to the clean-up of methamphetamine labs.
Town reports
Office personnel are working to get financial information in a format that matches what the state auditor requires and also makes information more understandable to residents. The software program adopted several years ago is an accounting program more suitable to large businesses, with many features that the township does not need, but lacking some it does need to meet audit requirements.
According to Town Clerk Judy Hanna, it was never a program for townships. It is based on an accrual system and not the cash basis by which the township operates. CTASK is a city and town software program recommended by the Minnesota Association of Townships because it suits the specific needs for audit purposes. Spreadsheets created have multiple uses.
After completing requirements for the 2002 audit, staff members began in early January making necessary adjustments for 2003. Besides meeting state requirements for annual audits, the financial information for departments will be in a format easily understandable by residents at annual meetings.
Attorney Gerald Randall was authorized to continue the legal process necessary for clean-up of the McBride property. Over the years requests and warnings to clean up the site have stopped short of final legal action to allow the township to clear the site.
Board members approved the appointment of Ande Armstrong as a township representative of the Linwood Community and School Forest Committee. There were updates about efforts to keep hunters out of the forest area. The group now meets on the first Monday of the month.
Other business
In other business, the board:
ïLearned the parks department has changed its meetings from the fourth Wednesday to the fourth Monday of the month.
ïLearned that a check of township drainage area revealed no abandoned well.
ïLearned the price for salt and sand for roads this winter will be $21 and $27 a ton, for sand and salt, respectively. The final price for tonnage to be determined by the percentage mix of the two ingredients.
ïLearned there was no road and bridge meeting.
ïEstablished the hierarchy for who makes the call about when to begin plowing snow; Dave Tryon, Mike Budde, Mel Pfaffendorf, and Rudi McCurdy.
ïAuthorized advertising for rink attendants in local newspapers.
ïApproved payment of township bills in the amount of $23,890.40.
Top of Page
