Citizens at the March 2012 Lutsen Annual Meeting jockey for a place to sit before the meeting begins. The majority of citizens in attendance at that meeting supported expansion of the fire hall/town hall. The project is moving ahead with the selection of contractor Max Wahlers to complete the renovation.
Much routine business was conducted at the April 17 Lutsen Town Board meeting, but the board also discussed what is probably the most pressing issue—the expansion and renovation of the Lutsen Fire Hall/Town Hall.
Contractor Max Wahlers of Grand Marais was the low bidder on the proposed new fire-hall/community center addition to the current facility. Wahlers’ bid was $498,000. Contractor Peter Borson of Schroeder had the second lowest bid at $519,000.
Supervisor Joe Buttweiler said the township would seek a 20-year loan for $350,000 from the county, and hopefully the loan would be at 1 percent interest.
If the rate were 1 percent, said Goettl, “We will pay the county $19,395 a year for 20 years.”
So far the township has $150,000 in its building fund and will have $20,000 more from this year’s building fund and $50,000 in its truck fund to use for the addition and renovation of the current facilities.
Because no supervisor can attend the county board’s Tuesday, April 24 meeting, a packet of information explaining the project will be sent with Martinson to that meeting and a supervisor and Goettl will appear at the county board’s May 8 meeting, where they will explain the project and then ask for the loan.
Once the money is secured Buttweiler said Wahlers would have between 150 and 180 days to complete the project or pay a $100 fine per day until the work is done.
Buttweiler said when the financing is in place a building permit will be secured and then they will move to a construction phase.
Bump Blomberg with Caribou Cabin Service received the lawn-mowing contract for the fire hall/community grounds, ballfield, and the park. Blomberg’s low bid was $285 compared to Larry McNealy’s bid of $325 per mowing. The board also received one other bid for $400 per time. Most of the mowing will take place in June, said McNealy, who has had the contract the last several years. The supervisors thanked McNealy for the good job he has been doing and McNealy said he would watch to make sure the grounds were kept up to the standards he has been following.
Township posting and positions set
In addition to opening and discussing bid awards, the township conducted its annual organizational duties. By general consensus Supervisor Marland Hansen was nominated and accepted the position of board chair of the Lutsen Town Board at the meeting. New Supervisor Ginny Storlie accepted the vice-chair position for the coming year.
The board selected the Cook County News-Herald as the official township newspaper and adopted a schedule of regular meeting dates. The board designated the town hall and the Clearview Post Office bulletin boards as places they will post special meetings.
Compensation for supervisors and township employees will stay the same as last year. Supervisors will be paid $85 for regular and special meetings. The clerk, deputy clerk, and the treasurer will be paid $85 for regular and special meetings and $20 per hour for hourly work. Hourly maintenance workers for the township will be paid $15 per hour.
The fire chief and emergency medical services director will be paid $85 for regular and special meetings and receive $150 per month. The compensation for the assistant fire chief is $100 per month and the meeting rate is the same as the fire chief and other township employees.
The board adopted a resolution to reimburse township employees for travel at the current rate for federal employees (55.5 cents per mile).
Fire Chief Paul Goettl said that other than some of his crew engaged in training with the Tofte Fire Department, “everything has been slow.”
Commissioner reports on West End issues
Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson filled the board in on a number of things. He said the numbers for the Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association were down 7.4 percent in March from last March. When asked why, Martinson said, “It’s all weather dependent,” and cited the lack of snow and early spring that hurt the ski industry.
Martinson reported that the Ulland Brothers construction company out of Duluth would complete the construction on the upper part of the Ski Hill Road. The winning bid was $662,225.
Martinson said Lutsen Mountains Corporation will pay $135,000 for work outside of the right-of-way and for some new lighting that will be installed near Papa Charlie’s. Work will begin when the state lifts the road bands.
The next Lutsen Town meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at the town hall at 116 Caribou Trail.
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