Minutes of the Town of French Reorganization Meeting
March 18, 2025
1. Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM.
2. Melissa Kjendle took the Oath of Office as Supervisor.
3. Jim Varichak was chosen as Chairman and Alan Reini was chosen as Vice Chair.
4. The monthly Board meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month @ 7:00 pm.
5. The official Township’s official newspaper will be the Mesaba Tribune.
6. The compensation was set for Town Board officers and all Employees.
Supervisors: $200/month plus $50/additional meetings less than 4 hours**
Clerk: $800/month plus $50/additional meetings less than 4 hours**
Treasurer: $700/month plus $50/additional meetings less than 4 hours**
Deputy Clerk: $25/hr
Election Judges: $20/hr
** Additional meetings 4 hours or more will be compensated at $100/meeting
7. The mileage rate reimbursement for Township business will be at the current IRS rate.
8. Eligible Election Judges for the Next Year:
Diane Sandberg, Shirley Sandberg, Nancy Knezovich, Talia Sandys, Janean Johnson
9. Park State Bank will remain the Township’s depository. Talia Sandys and Allan Reini will be added to the Township signatories with Park State Bank.
10. Designate Supervisor’s Duties/Division of Responsibilities for Township Committees. See attached spreadsheet.
11. Committee Reports:
Events Committee: Judy Kelly Allot $5000/year from General Fund.
Jim Varichak announced that a matching grant was awarded for $30,000 for the pickleball courts.
After discussion, a motion was made, seconded and carried to sign the proposals from Mesabi Bituminous for $28,500 and Century Fence for $14,907 to construct the bituminous paving and fencing of the new pickleball court. Jim was told by the pickleball group that they had $30,000 funding at this time.
A motion was made, seconded and carried to sign a resolution to apply to the MNDNR for a grant to assist in the funding of the new pickleball court.
Beautification Committee: Allot $200/year from General Fund.
Recreation Committee: Sheri Erickson and Stacy Detterman will be coordinators.
Columbarium Committee: Rachel Bjur and Alyssa Jerulle Allot $5000/year from General Fund for site
improvements.
Meeting adjourned at 6:51 PM.