Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Linwood Town Board supervisors on April 11 approved the 2007 budget to bring it into line with the 2007 tax levy of $1.2 million approved by residents at the annual meeting.

Although this is $108,000 lower than the amount originally recommended by the town board, auditor David Stene told supervisors that the township should still be in good financial shape. The vote was 5-0.

Stene told the board this will reduce reserves for road and bridge and also bring down to about 33 percent the reserve in the capital improvement fund.

He said the capital improvement fund should have about $150,000 at the end of 2007 and the building reserve fund will have about $120,000. Philip Osterhus, a newly-elected supervisor, said this was either the results of ìgreat planning or luck.î

The board also followed Steneís recommendation to amend the 2006 budget. The fire relief fund must reflect $20,000 expenditure to balance the $20,000 fire relief revenue. This was also approved unanimously.

Fire truck bid

Based on the fire department truck committee, the board voted unanimously to award the bid to build the new township tanker truck to General Safety, a local company in Wyoming. The bid for the truck is $199,030.

Committee members toured two companies and observed the two methods of construction. About $27,000 separated the two bids, but Fire Chief Joe Dolphy said the recommendation was based on more than just the difference in the bids.

The unit is a tandem axle truck, with 3000 gallon capacity. It replaces a truck with the same capacity. Dolphy said the ISO testing in 2005, one of the important criteria, was how fast the department can get water to the scene of a fire.

By ordering early this year, the department should be able to get a 2006 chassis which will keep the total cost of the unit down. Scrubbers in the 2007 models require an additional $10,000 to $15,000 up-front and a considerable annual maintenance expense.

The heavier chassis will cost a little more, but will better serve the needs of the department. It comes with a 370 horsepower Cummins diesel engine, more horsepower than the existing truck.

The chassis must be paid for up-front, about $93,000. With the three-to-four month delivery, the department should have it by late summer. Balance for the truck is due on delivery, anticipated by the end of January 2007. There is enough money in reserves to pay for the chassis now.

In other items related to fire protection, Dolphy reported 19 emergency responses in March. Six were for fires and the rest were medical emergencies.

Fire department personnel, 25 in all, recently participated in a week-end training session to renew certification as emergency medical technicians and first-responders.

The town board approved an increase in fire relief benefits for firefighters, increasing it from $1800 to $1900 for each year of active service in the fire department.

Based on an inventory which is improved and updated in detail, Dolphy anticipates an increase in insurance premiums to cover the equipment. Estimated value of the equipment is $227,000.

Other reports

Attorney Gerald Randall clarified for the board the legitimate uses of park dedication fees. While they cannot be used for routine maintenance, they may be used for permanent improvements and beautification projects within the parks.

The board approved the following professional services for 2006: Attorney, Randall; Auditor, David Stene; Building Inspector, Dave Thompson; Engineer, Craig Jochum of Hakanson-Anderson; Health Authority, Dave Thompson; Road Foreman, Frank Kvidera; Tree Inspector, Dave Thompson; and Weed Inspector, Melvin Pfaffendorf. A Sunrise River Water Management Organization representative must yet be selected. The vote was 4-1, with Supervisor Philip Osterhus voting against.

The board referred a proposal to establish a tree board in the township to help residents deal with oak wilt disease. This might be to inform residents of matching funds available to help combat this disease. Supervisors also want more information about the results of the trenching done to control the disease.

The Kunde Company has worked with the township and can provide site visits. The DNR provides some matching funds to help residents control this disease, usually a 50-50 proposition.

Supervisors approved up to $5000 from the receipts from the cable franchise fund to provide up-front money to ensure improvements for Family Fun Day. Vicki Savage is chair this year.

She and the nine others on the committee want to ensure solid attractions for the September event. Savage said some events and participants require deposits. Any funds raised from the event would go back into the general fund. There is to be a monthly status report.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïBy a vote of 4-0, approved the re-drawing of property lines on two lots in Lyons Den. Dave Tryon abstained from the vote as he is affiliated with a company involved in the development.

ïBy unanimous vote, approved office fees for 2006.

ïAuthorized a partial pay estimate in the amount of $6,312.53, for road work and paving completed on Cora Road, Icarus St. and North Linwood Drive.

ïAuthorized a payment of paving completed in the town hall parking lot in the amount of $6425.

ïApproved an interim use permit to add an antenna to the communications tower near the intersection of Lexington Ave. and Viking Blvd.

ïScheduled the road review for 3 p.m., May 5. The public is welcome to participate.

ïAuthorized the purchase of 500 Crime Watch handbooks for a developing Neighborhood Crime Watch program and to be available at Linwood Family Fun Day. The cost is $.88 apiece.

ïLearned aluminum benches are being stolen from the parks because the value of the metal has increased.

ïAuthorized Clerk Judy Hanna to sign the annual township contract with the Youth Service Bureau.

ïReferred a request from several township youth for an expanded and enlarged skateboard park to the park board. It was suggested they bring plans/sketches.

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