At the December town meeting, the Lutsen Town Board accepted the resignation of Ginny Storlie and voted to appoint Larry McNeally to fill the board vacancy. Clerk Amity Goettl administered the Oath of Office.
The last meeting of the year for the Lutsen Township supervisors included discussion on a variety of topics, ranging from updating the old town hall to fire and EMS department policies.
The township reviewed bids for “sprucing up” the old town hall area on December 16, 2014. After discussion of the various options, the board passed a motion to hire Paul Nordlund of Loon State Construction to replace tile and carpet, paint, add wainscoting to prevent damage from chairs and to lower the ceiling in the old town hall meeting room. The bid for the work totaled $7,390, with some extra costs likely with electrical work needed as the drop ceiling is installed. Nordlund said he anticipates being able to complete the work by February 2015.
EMS and Fire Department questions
Supervisor Andrew Beavers said he had received a lot of feedback on his suggestion on combining the fire department and EMS programs. “It seems like a very touchy subject,” he said.
Beavers said he acknowledged that the two departments are separate entities, but he noted that they have similar rules and regulations that should be clearly defined.
Most important, said Beavers, is setting up a policy so that the EMS department can vote to determine who is chief of that department, as the fire department does.
EMS Chief Fred Schmidt said when he stepped down as fire chief in 2009, he stayed on as EMS Chief. The question of an election had never been raised.
Supervisor Tim Goettl said the township was asking the EMS department to review its policies and document its procedures. “The EMS members can have a meeting to do that and they can also figure out if they want to have an election every three years. Also, possibly they need an assistant, so if something happened to the EMS director, there would be someone ready to step in.”
EMS Chief Schmidt said the EMS members meet the third Monday of each month and they could discuss the matter then and report back to the town board at the February 20 meeting.
“It might take a month, or two or three to get things figured out,” said Supervisor Goettl.
Supervisor Beavers said he would like to see things settled by the annual meeting in March. “As you’ve said, it’s a tight knit group. You work closely together so it’s important that the EMS group is on the same page,” said Beavers.
Later in the meeting, another question was asked by a firefighter who is also a First Responder. Giving a car accident as an example, he asked who determines if a responder is there as a firefighter or as a First Responder. He noted that the incentive pay is different for the two departments.
Treasurer John Groth, who is also a firefighter, said he keeps track and makes sure no one is “double dipping.”
Larry McNeally said, “People may call it ‘double dipping,’ but First Responders have double the training. I’m just ‘fire,’ but if I’m at a scene, I sure want these guys there.”
The incentive programs for the different departments were discussed and Supervisor Beavers asked if this could also be looked at, to ensure that people are treated fairly when they are wearing “both hats.”
Fire Chief Goettl noted that the township was giving the EMS squad a few months to look at its policies. “They can look at this. We can put our heads together and work with them,” he said.
In other fire department business, Chief Goettl reported that there were four calls for his department in the past month. The fire department was called in to standby at the Lutsen Fire Hall during a countywide emergency 911 line outage. Fortunately there were no emergencies during the outage.
Chief Goettl said the fire department would like to know what to do with its 1978 LaFrance fire engine. Goettl said the department replaced the batteries in the truck but it still will not start. The tank doesn’t hold water. He said a fire truck company representative said the fire department would be lucky if it got $5,000 for the truck.
Goettl said the department would like to get rid of the truck and asked the town board how to proceed. The board suggested trying to sell it locally, through Internet provider Boreal Access. If that doesn’t work, the board said, try Craig’s List or a similar option.
Finally, Goettl said there was good attendance at the annual Lutsen Fire Department Fireman’s Ball. About 60 people enjoyed the evening. Supervisor Andrew Beavers said it was a really nice event and Lutsen Resort did a great job.
EMS Chief Fred Schmidt said the last month had been fairly quiet, however overall, at the end of the fourth quarter there had been 55 calls, up from 40 last year. “It keeps going up,” said Schmidt.
In other business
. Town Clerk Amity Goettl said with the resignation of Supervisor Ginny Storlie, who was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the township needs another board member to serve on the Local Board of Appeal. Training is necessary to serve on that board. Supervisor Beavers said he would be willing to attend the required training.
. The board once again discussed its town hall rental policy. Outgoing Supervisor Ginny Storlie said she had received a question about the township’s policy on having wine at a party at the hall. Clerk Goettl said the rental agreement asks renters to clarify whether or not there will be alcohol at the event. If yes, Goettl said they might have to have insurance.
. Supervisor Beavers said he had been contacted by a vendor interested in using the parking area near the bottom of the Caribou Trail to sell vegetables. Beavers said he is looking into the legalities of using that space.
. Beavers also said he had been contacted by a Deeryard Lake homeowner who wondered why Deeryard Lake was not officially part of the Lutsen township. He said he is looking into that as well.
. Commissioner Bruce Martinson, at the Lutsen meeting for the last time in his county commissioner role, reported that the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission were seeking a grant from the Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Progam for the 1.5 mile stretch of bike trail through Lutsen. He asked the town board if it would pass a motion to support the trail. The board passed a unanimous motion to send a letter of support.
. Fire Chief Goettl noted that it was Commissioner Martinson’s last meeting and he said, “I think we should recognize Bruce for his years of service to the county and for putting up with all of us!”
There was a round of applause for the outgoing commissioner.
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