Meeting Minutes:

Helena Township

Board of Supervisors – Meeting Minutes

6/17/2026 | New Prague Fire Hall

CALL TO ORDER. Workshop 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, Deputy Treasurer Patricia Peterson, Clerk Heather Taylor DuCharme, Deputy Clerk Kimberly Carlberg, Road Overseer Jeff Haag, and TJ Deutsch. Treasurer Nathan Hutton was not present.

MEETING DISCUSSION

1. Croatt reviewed dust coating with Haag. Discussion of invoices to send to property owners and dust coating completed.
2. Wermerskirchen advised Haag of a sign to be replaced on Camber when Haag is medically cleared.
3. Haag drove Township to review current road status and provide update. Haag ordered mailbox post for new construction on 255^th. Haag advised Deutsch to watch out for damaged post with missing sign at 255^th and St. Benedict. Haag will order new post and T sign. Haag stated the temporary driveway on 255^th off of Redwing has been removed.
4. Haag advised that Michelle, Steven, and MarDen crack filled. Willow Court and 255^th crack filled and seal coated. Only crack filling/seal coating left are Lucy and Mark.
5. The Board discussed ditch mowing. Deutsch called Haag to get the okay to do the first mow of the season. Haag checked last year’s notes and the timing was right and the quote was approved, so Haag gave Deutsch a green light to mow. Wermerskirchen advised Haag to get Supervisor okay at a meeting in the future prior to okaying mowing. Wermerskirchen saw Deutsch mowing and had him stop until after this meeting. Wermerskirchen advised the Board he contacted MAT attorneys regarding mowing timing and requirements. MAT attorney provided Wermerskirchen with relevant statute which the Board reviewed at the meeting. Supervisors okayed a single pass for spring and likely double pass for fall (TBD at that time). Additional discussion of safety, mowing, cutting, timing, and double/single pass issues. Deutsch did ½ of the Township already at a double pass. He will finish the rest with a single pass this coming weekend. Deutsch advised the Board that he can’t mow as short along Alton because of the stumps. Deutsch also advised the Board he now has a stump grinder if the Township needs stumps removed.
6. Haag advised that work on Bohnsack completed today.
7. Update on trees installed at Raven Stream Park. Steve Rynda quote was for 2” trees, but Minnesota Valley didn’t have them available. Rynda was able to get 3½“ trees at same price as 2”.
8. Wermerskirchen brought up discussion of weed control at Raven Stream Park. He saw a lot of broadleaf when he was there with Rynda to plan tree type and placement. Wermerskirchen advised Rynda okay to spray for weeds. Wermerskirchen acknowledged that he believed he should have had the Board discuss and approve before telling Rynda to spray for weeds and didn’t get a quote. Township already contracted with Quality Green and paid for the season. Taylor DuCharme to provide Haag with Quality Green contact information for Haag to contact regarding whether treatment has been done already. Haag will then also follow up with Rynda regarding cost and necessity.
9. Wermerskirchen provided update from Township Engineer Andrew Vistad. Vistad is working on new 5-year plan update. Vistad will update Board on possible changes to blacktop best practices/spraying after review with his staff. Vistad will email a memo regarding recommendations for abutments and headwalls in Township ditch easements.
10. Taylor DuCharme sent election notice to New Prague Times for publication and posted the same at the publication location.
11. Discussion of Kraemer letter received providing notice of surcharges, including impacts on 2027 projects.
12. Taylor DuCharme provided update from MAT Town Law conference.
13. Discussion of correspondence from Vistad for quote for pond sampling/testing required prior to pond scraping. Vistad requested multiple quotes but only received one for $3,913. On motion by Croatt/Nytes, quote for pond sampling/testing approved as presented; carried unanimously.
14. Taylor DuCharme provided an update regarding Alton.
15. Discussion of election judge training updates from Scott County.
16. Carlberg contacted Jordan Fire regarding incident reports, received one report in response, and provided a status update to Board regarding current outstanding invoices.
17. Carlberg provided an update on website events and postings.
18. Carlberg received information from Google regarding analytics but it still needs review.
19. Discussion of PERA notices received by Carlberg and Haag and PERA status for Peterson and Haag.
20. Croatt provided an update from the recycling event last weekend and SCALE meeting.
21. Discussion of proposed updates/revisions for Township Recommendation Form.
22. Nytes received a call from Jennifer at Alan Supply regarding a check received, but they were calling the wrong township.
23. Wermerskirchen asked Taylor DuCharme about Stocker lot fee. No payment or response receive yet.
24. Discussion of ditch request on WCLD. Vistad viewed the ditches in person while in the area for something else. No report received from Vistad yet. Haag said Tom Johnson told Haag that Vistad told Johnson that the ditches being leveled out shouldn’t negatively impact the road but may cause water intrusion to homes and that Vistad would send a letter to the Board. No letter received yet.
25. No update on Jordan Fire contract status received by Wermerskirchen from Chad Sandey or City of Jordan. Wermerskirchen will reach out.

ADJOURNMENT. At 6:15 p.m. on motion by Croatt/Wermerskirchen, meeting adjourned; carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted                                                                 Approved

Dated:                                                                                                   Dated:                                                                                  

Clerk                                                                                                      Chairperson