Baldwin meets peacefully for once

Posted at 7:38 AM on March 10, 2010 by Curtis Gilbert (3 Comments)
Filed under: Baldwin Township

About 75 Baldwin Township residents showed up for the shortest and most civil annual meeting in recent memory Tuesday night. (MPR Photo/Curtis Gilbert)

"No fireworks," Baldwin Township Board member Jay Swanson marveled as the gavel fell.

Baldwin's annual meeting, infamous for chaos and acrimony, was a swift, orderly and civil affair this year. The 75 residents who showed up approved the township's $784,000 budget on a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting lasted less than two hours. Last year it dragged on for more than three and devolved into a shouting match at several points.

"This was wonderful. This was exactly what this township needed," Swanson said.

Unlike cities where the city council determines the budget, township residents set their own taxes in an annual meeting.

Baldwin's 2011 tax levy will be 3 percent less than this year's. It's the second year in a row the township voted to decrease its budget.

Much of the savings will come from zeroing out the township's contribution to the retirement fund for its volunteer firefighters. Baldwin supervisors recently discovered they had overfunded the account by more than $150,000.

Baldwin also decreased its road and bridge budget by $5,000 to $385,000.

"We have to make do with what we've got," Baldwin maintenance supervisor Terry Carlile said. "I'm satisfied with how [the budget] turned out."

Baldwin also held elections for the township Board today.

Jim Oliver was elected to a second term, beating back challenger Dean McDevitt on a vote of 188 to 103.

Tom Rush won the seat vacated by retiring board member Bryan Lawrence in a four-way race. Rush received 124 votes. Carlile came in second place with 77.

All vote totals are unofficial.

The only issue that received significant debate in the meeting was whether to install signs with house numbers in front of every house in the township.

The Fire Department says the signs would aid in navigating the township's labyrinth of cul de sacs during emergency calls.

"This is the only township I know of that doesn't have these signs," said developer and Baldwin resident Dylan Howard, who has built homes in many other townships in Sherburne County.

The signs would cost an estimated $47,000 for materials and labor, and there could be additional costs for maintaining them.

At one point it was suggested that individual property owners should be required to maintain their own signs, if the township installs them.

"And what's the penalty if you don't do it?" one resident asked.

"You die!" another called out as the room erupted in laughter.

Residents voted against raising taxes to pay for the signs, but Board Chair Jeff Holm says the board may look into spending unused funds from other accounts to pay for them.

Like Swanson, Holm was delighted by the positive tone of the meeting.

"I think there's been a turnover here in Baldwin," he said.

He also urged the residents continue that conversation here on Ground Level.

"We encourage you to go on there, post feedback and keep the discussion going," he said.

That's what the form below is for.

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Comments (3)

Great meeting, everyone. No black eyes or hurt feelings--not even any nasty words!

Thanks to Betsy Wergin for moderating and keeping us on track with her usual diplomacy and knowledge of Roberts Rules of Order. I also appreciated the clear, concise, informative reports from Supervisor Holm and the equally informative and interesting fire department report by Chief Rademacher. The questions and comments from the audience were thoughtful and well meaning.

The civil tone, positive mood, and occasional touches of humor made this a worthwhile way to spend my Tuesday evening and will encourage me to come again next year.

Finally, thanks to Bryan Lawrence for his many years serving the township as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Your dedication and hard work are much appreciated, Bryan!

Posted by Sue Hix | March 10, 2010 12:51 PM

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I agree with Sue Hix. I had to leave early from the meeting. The meeting was civil. Even on issues that were debated there was respect on both sides. This Township is finally moving in the right direction and I am proud to be a part of this Township. Thank you Betsy, for your positive personal experience you related in regards to the fire department. I don't think people realize how much dedication and time is involved in being a firefighter. They are not on the department for the money their satisfaction is the community service and the difference they can make in someones life.

Posted by Jim Oliver | March 24, 2010 9:39 PM

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I enjoyed the annual meeting this year. I look forward to the Healthy Community Partnership (HCP) Core Team hosting a couple of visioning sessions this summer at the town hall as part of our HCP program. Keep following the Ground Level blog here on MPR to stay informed on what is going on in Baldwin Township.

Feel free to use this blog to tell us what is on your mind. Did you attend the annual meeting this? If so, what did you think of it? Would attend the visioning sessions this summer?

Posted by Jeff Holm | March 31, 2010 5:32 PM

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