Schroeder Supervisor Tina McKeever was reelected to chair the Schroeder Town Board on April 14, 2015 and for the first time the township named a vice chair, with newly elected Supervisor Bruce Martinson named to that position. Martinson will fill in for McKeever in case she is sick or unable to attend a meeting.
Ski team donation deferred
John Oberholtzer came before the board with a donation request for the Lutsen junior ski team. Oberholtzer told the board the ski team was in transition now that previous coaches Rick Backstrom and Charles Lamb are coaching the high school team. He asked the township to donate $1,000, noting that Lutsen had recently given $1,500.
With the change in leadership, Oberholtzer said the new parents who have taken over have learned there are unexpected costs in running the program, which is free to the children. With about 50 kids ages 4-13 on the team and 20-25 of those kids from the West End, Oberholtzer felt that this program would be something Schroeder would want to help support.
“Skiing builds a lot of confidence in these kids,” said Oberholtzer. “It’s also a lifetime sport, something they can do long after they are out of school.”
“It’s a wonderful program,” said Tina McKeever. “But I don’t think we can make this donation without bringing it to the town’s people for their approval at the annual meeting.”
Both Bill McKeever and Martinson agreed, and the decision was made to bring the matter in front of the townspeople at the continuation of the annual meeting to be held in August. They asked Oberholtzer to come to that meeting and make a presentation, which he agreed to do.
Questions on contributions to Birch Grove School
Because the topic had turned to township donations, Treasurer Alicia Kangas said she had some questions for the Birch Grove School Board, which recently requested that each township donate $20,000 to the school for the next five years.
“Why are they asking for this money? Do they need money to buy computers? Pencils? What will the money be used for? They are asking the townships to each donate $20,000 per year but they haven’t shown us a budget.
“Their school population has dropped approximately 50 percent and they need more money? Originally they wanted to keep the school so the kids wouldn’t have to be bussed to Grand Marais. Now they are bussing in kids from Finland and Silver Bay.
“I also don’t believe it’s legal for the town board to promise to make a donation for five years. Please get some answers for me,” said Kangas.
Schroeder resident Charlie Muggley agreed, “They haven’t outlined what their budget problems are. They haven’t fired anyone, haven’t laid anyone off, and haven’t cut any programs. Do they really need the money or do they just want the money? I don’t have a bone to pick with the school, but I don’t think there is a school out there that ever has enough money.”
Tina McKeever said she would bring these questions up with Birch Grove. She also said she was meeting next month with township officials from Tofte and Lutsen and a representative of the Minnesota Association of Townships to go over what townships can—and can’t—give as donations.
McKeever also said the township needs to have a formula for giving like the one the county is now in the process of formulating, and she asked West End County Commissioner Ginny Storlie to bring that document back to the township once it is complete so they can glean some ideas from it.
In other Schroeder matters
. Martinson said he is working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to install permanent binoculars at the Taconite Harbor boat ramp. The DNR, said Martinson, will help brush out the selected site and MnDOT will place a sign on Highway 61 to help motorists find the boat launch. Martinson said there would be no cost to the township.
. Fire Chief Phil Bonin said his crew had one call and one stand-by for a brush fire, otherwise it was pretty quiet.
Bonin, who is also Co-EMS chief, said the rescue squad was also pretty quiet. He said the squad had to replace a defective 25- to 30-year-old air compressor they used to fill flat tires.
Tina McKeever suggested Bonin bring back prices of a new one to the board’s next meeting. Bill McKeever said he thought one could be purchased for about $400.
. There was some discussion and then a decision to form a committee that would assess township roads and bring that information back to the board and to the county highway department. Schroeder resident Rick Anderson said he would lead the committee.
Once formed the committee will count culverts, note the conditions of the gravel or tar, and make a determination about whether the ditches needed to be trenched and brushed. Commissioner Storlie said she thought this was an excellent idea because County Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad is currently in the process of mapping and marking the conditions of all of the roads that fall under the jurisdiction of the county.
. A request from a private individual to get a loan from the Schroeder Development Community Fund (formerly called the Schroeder Storefront Loan Fund) was put on hold until the board can get an answer from the Iron Range Resources Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) about whether the money can be loaned to a person who won’t use the money to start or maintain a business. The money is being requested to help pay back a student loan.
The IRRRB granted $45,000 to the township in 1995 to start the program.
“We want to make sure we are following the IRRRB’s guidelines,” said Kangas.
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