Meeting Minutes:

Helena Township

Board of Supervisors – Meeting Minutes

7/2/2026 | New Prague Fire Hall

 

CALL TO ORDER. Regular meeting was called to order by Chairperson Wermerskirchen at 5 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

PRESENT. Chairperson John Wermerskirchen, Supervisor Edward Nytes, Supervisor DeAnn Croatt, Treasurer Nathan Hutton, Deputy Treasurer Patricia Peterson, Clerk Heather Taylor DuCharme, Deputy Clerk Kimberly Carlberg, Road Overseer Jeff Haag, Jason Stocker, and Holly Stocker.

 

MEETING DISCUSSION

 

 

RECEIPTS
Date	Amount	Payor	Purpose/Reason
6/10/2026	$366.66	State of MN	ORI
6/29/2026	$142.40	Rasmussen	Dust Coating
6/30/2026	$160.35	First Bank & Trust	Interest - Sweep
6/30/2026	$20.55	First Bank & Trust	Interest
6/30/2026	$21.20	Riverland Bank	Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIMS
Check#	Amount	Payee	Reason/Purpose
7255 & 7256	$7,049.77	Art Johnson Trucking Inc.	Gravel/Grading/Ditch
7257	$427.60	Couri & Ruppe PLLP	Legal Fees
7272	$168.90	Earl F Anderson – Safety Signs	Road Signs/Materials
7258	$320.40	Envirotech Services	Dust Coating
ACH	$299.42	First Bank & Trust	Township Expenses
7259	$175.75	Hakanson Anderson	Engineering Expenses
7260	$1,576.46	Kraemer Mining & Materials, Inc.	Gravel
7261	$1,916.00	Minnesota Association of Townships Insurance Trust	Insurance
7262	$6,510.00	Steve Rynda Construction and Landscape LLC	Park Maintenance
7263	$99.00	Suel Printing Company	Legal Publication
7264	$2,591.16	TJ Deutsch	Ditch Mowing
ACH	$2,738.66	PERA	Pension
7265-7271	$5,022.80	Board Members/Employees	Salary/Meeting Fees/Mileage

 

 

 

 

1. Review of proposed June meeting minutes. On motion by Croatt/Nytes, minutes accepted and approved as presented; carried unanimously.

 

2. Stockers attended the meeting to discuss the lot fee. They objected to paying the lot fee because they were not told of the lot fee prior to the mylar signing. Wermerskirchen advised the Stockers that in part due to the rush at the time of the permit request and mylar the fee was missed but that steps were being taken to avoid such issues in the future. On motion by Wermerskirchen/Croatt, fee waived due to notice and collection being untimely; carried unanimously.

 

3. Hutton presented Treasurer Report for review and discussion as well as correspondence from PERA. On motion by Nytes/Croatt, Treasurer’s Report accepted and approved as presented; carried unanimously.

 

4. Review and discussion of claims. After review of claims and on motion by Croatt/Wermerskirchen, all claims were approved as presented for payment, including checks 7255-7272 and two ACH/EFT totaling $28,895.92; carried unanimously. Roll call vote: Wermerskirchen – yes; Croatt – yes; Nytes – yes. Hutton requested Supervisors approve a transfer from savings to checking for the total $28,895.92 amount of claims and on motion by Nytes/Croatt, transfer of $28,895.92 from savings to checking was approved; carried unanimously.

 

5. Wermerskirchen asked Hutton to compile information regarding the last few years gravel and grading costs. Hutton provided an overview during the meeting.

 

6. Haag provided an update regarding:

 

1. Update on sign replacement and repair.
2. Dead tree debris removal on Redwing and Drexel at 245^th Haag is still on medical restrictions, so Wermerskirchen will do the branch clean up. There was discussion of needing conflict of interest waivers/forms, but Wermerskirchen will not add the time to his claim based on the minimal time expected to be required. There was also discussion of workers compensation coverage.
3. Weed control at Raven Stream Park. Haag called Quality Green and confirmed that they are spraying as instructed by the Township. The Township changed from multiple applications every year to one application for preemergent weeds only. Discussion of additional treatments and costs associated with additional treatments tabled.

 

7. Croatt contacted by resident on Bohnsack regarding sumac in ROW. Croatt believes sumac is on resident’s neighbor’s property outside of ROW. Haag will drive out, review, and provide update at next meeting.

 

8. Taylor DuCharme provided updates on the following:

 

1. Website and ADA compliance requirements, including 2027 deadlines and photo descriptions.
2. 2027 road improvement project public hearing scheduling and posting (9/3/2026 at 6:30 p.m.). Supervisors instructed Taylor DuCharme to advise engineer to provide presentation materials for review prior to August workshop for review at workshop.
3. Review of concept plan provided by City of New Prague.
4. Hakanson Anderson provided a memo regarding the WCLD ditch fill in request by WCLD residents. On motion by Croatt/Nytes, memo recommendations accepted as provided by engineer; carried unanimously.
5. Jordan Fire emails for meeting last week contained objectionable statements by City of Jordan employee, which Croatt responded to with professionalism and decorum.

 

9. Carlberg provided updates regarding the following:

 

1. Dust coating payment received from resident. Invoices update.
2. No update on website analytics yet – still needs additional review before an update will be ready.
3. Website and posting location postings.
4. Website updates and photos. Wermerskirchen instructed Carlberg to include pictures from recent Bohnsack Way project and have them available to include at annual meeting.
5. Jordan Fire payments and invoices update. RV fire invoice mailed to RV owner’s address in Minneapolis returned with no forwarding information available. No attempts to contact RV owner have been successful. On motion by Croatt/Nytes, invoice written off and collection efforts discontinued; carried unanimously.

 

10. Cedar Lake Township contacted Croatt regarding resolution and certificate of indebtedness issues they are having regarding a project CLT is planning. Couri & Ruppe advised CLT that CLT needs to contact a separate bonding attorney and municipal advisor because C&R no longer provides those services. CLT contacted some professionals and the costs quoted were high. CLT talked with Croatt about self-preparing the required documents. Helena Township discussed that whoever CLT uses for lending may be able to assist CLT with bonding paperwork issues.

 

11. Wermerskirchen asked Taylor DuCharme how quickly she forwards emails she receives to the Board for review. Taylor DuCharme advised the Board that she checks emails daily and forwards emails as soon as she is able to do so, which often is the same day or within a day of receipt.

 

12. Croatt (and Nytes) provided an update from the C&R Legal seminar, including regarding annexation agreements and employee handbooks. Taylor DuCharme contacted Croatt regarding employee handbooks after the MAT legal seminar and Croatt asked her to obtain a quote from C&R for cost. At C&R legal seminar, Ruppe stated a lower amount. On motion by Croatt/Nytes, Taylor DuCharme instructed to contact C&R to have employee handbook created for $850; carried unanimously.

 

13. Supervisors discussed upcoming non-Township meetings. MAT District 4 Meeting is scheduled for 8/5/2026; Carlberg will post for possible quorum. Alton Avenue upcoming meeting 7/9/2026; only Croatt and Taylor DuCharme will attend; no posting needed. Scott County Fair breakfast is 7/22/2026 at 7:30 a.m.; no quorum of supervisors will attend.

 

14. Croatt provided an update from a Township Tuesday presentation about nuisance properties and legally allowable responses.

 

15. Wermerskirchen talked to Sheriff Hennen about fireworks permits and notice to the Township. Hennen did not know that the Township wasn’t being notified of approved permits. Hennen will have his office forward the Township information when permits are approved so Supervisors can appropriately respond to residence complaints and contacts.

 

16. Wermerskirchen provided an update from the recent Jordan Rural Fire meeting.

 

17. Crack filling and seal coating on Stevens was brought up. Crack filling on Stevens, Mark, Lucy, and Koepper has been completed.

 

18. Discussion of timeline for obtaining snowplow quotes and reviewing at meeting; calendared for August/September.

 

19. Wermerskirchen made a point to commend the Board for the great work it does and to say that he is proud to be par of the Helena Township Board. There was discussion following the remarks about employee reviews.

 

ADJOURNMENT. At 6:38 p.m. on motion by Croatt/Nytes, meeting continued to 7/15/2026 workshop; carried unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted                                                                 Approved

 

Dated:                                                                                                   Dated:                                                                                  

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Clerk                                                                                                      Chairperson