2024 Spring Short Courses
March 18 - April 22
View the location schedule below
The Minnesota Association of Townships Invites you to join us for this year's Spring Short Courses. The purpose is to provide a one-day educational program for all township officers. These Short Courses are for Township Board Members and Local Public Officials only.
Registration (on-site only!)
Registration fee is $75.
Register on-site at each location on the morning
of the Short Course beginning at 8:00am.
Payment
Please have your checks prewritten to Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) to help speed up the registration process or tell registration to bill to your township.
Registration Opens: 8:00am
Sessions Begin: 9:00am
Sessions Adjourn: 3:00pm
Location Schedule
*If you choose to stay at the Breezy Point Resort, they have a special guest rate:
On breezypointresort.com:
Click online reservations
Select arrival date
Select number of nights
Select number of adults
Enter Group ID 333327
Click check now
Select room type and proceed with reservation
$125 per night
Bylaw Proposal at the Spring Short Courses
For the first time, MAT will ask the town officers attending the Spring Short Courses to cast a ballot on changes proposed to MAT’s Bylaws. Using the Spring Short Courses as the location for voting provides MAT with the opportunity to receive votes from over 3,000 town officers who regularly attend the event. Town officers may cast their ballot at any Spring Short Course location. The voting process will be accommodated with minimal impact on the educational material that officers have come to expect from the Spring Short Course event.
The Proposed Bylaws and a description of the changes were published in the Winter 2024 edition of the Insider and are posted on our website.The Proposed Bylaws have been modified from the set proposed in Fall 2023. The new Proposal incorporates several suggestions offered by town officers in the discussions held in the past few months. Officers are encouraged to contact MAT with any questions about the Bylaws.
View Bylaws of MAT (DRAFT) (Redline Version)Proposed Bylaws Changes 2024 Presentation (Video)
Clerks/Treasurers
Pledge of Allegiance
Director Announcements
MAT Update
MATIT
MAT Trainer (CTAS Reports)
11:30am
Lunch
Bylaws/Voting
MAT Attorney (Public Comment)
MAT Trainer (Election Judge Wages)
New Officers
Pledge of Allegiance
New Officer Orientation
MAT Attorney (Public Comment)
Bylaws/Voting
MAT Attorney (Municipal Contracting Law)
Director Announcements
MAT Update
Supervisors
Pledge of Allegiance
LTAP
Director Announcements
MAT Update
MATIT
MAT Attorney (Municipal Contracting Law)
11:30am
Lunch
Bylaws/Voting
MAT Trainer (CTAS Reports)
MAT Attorney (Public Comment)
Public Comment at Board Meetings and Managing Disputes
Steve Fenske
This presentation discusses the rules related to public comment in board meetings, the relation this topic has to the First Amendment, the limitations that may be placed on it, the risks the board may have related to public comment, conflicts in public meetings, and best-practice recommendations for town meetings.
Navigating Municipal Contracting Law
Madeline Cash
Join us for an informative session that will empower you with the knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of municipal contracting successfully. This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of municipal contracting law and explores the complexities of public procurement and regulatory compliance.
Why Recycling Road Materials Makes Perfect Sense for Townships
Dan Wegman
Township roads serve as a vital link for farm to market and rural communities transportation needs. Often, especially in springtime, the roadways do not provide adequate performance for Township road users. With limited resources, Township supervisors continuously look for solutions for improving Township road performance. Recycling offers a variety of solutions in meeting the needs of the community. The recycling process allows for reuse of previously paid for roadway material and the additional benefits of introducing new materials for upgrading the structure and future performance of the road. Understanding the proper materials to use in the upgrade and the proper recycling process in the optimum rehabilitation strategies are key to achieving success. This training provides a comprehensive overview of the recycling rehabilitation strategies and the tools that can be utilized to successfully implement them.
Election Judge Wages and CTAS Reports
MAT Trainers
Oath of Office
In order to take your oath of office at the Spring Short Courses:
1. Your township must have held its Board of Canvass and the 7-day contest period expired;
2. Have your Certificate of Election (Copies will be available for your Clerk to fill out)
If your township's Board of Canvass met on the second day after the election (March 14, 2024), you could receive your oath at the following locations: Windom through Alexandria.
If you held your Board of Canvass after the election on March 3-12 or on the day after (March 3-13), you can receive the oath at these locations as well: Mankato through Alexandria.
The oath of office must be administered within 10 days of receiving your certificate of election. (Individual oaths may be administered the final week of the Spring Short Courses if you fall within the 10-day period. Stop by the registration desk to inquire.)
Other Info
Bag Handouts
Each new officer will be given a MATIT safety vest, government manual, current MAT calendar, etc.
Questions?
Visit our contact page
Accommodations
To request disability accommodations or special diet needs (gluten-free, etc.), please contact Jayden Anderson before March 11 at janderson@mntownships.org. FOOD ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ARE CLOSED.
Cancellation
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds will be made only to those who have mailed their unused registration ticket(s) with a written request, postmarked no later than May 3, 2024.