Schroeder Election Judges (L-R) Judy Gregg, Carol Tveekrem and Jan Dillon help a voter sign in during the township election on Tuesday, March 11, 2014.
Schroeder’s annual township meeting usually gets a good turnout. Last year 30 people attended, about one-fifth of the population. This year, however, there was at least 70 people in attendance, maybe more, with Steve Schug elected as moderator.
The hot topic was the annual budget, specifically the requests for “outside” donations, which included requests from the Birch Grove Foundation for $3,500; Birch Grove School, $8,000; Tofte 4th of July celebration, $1,500; and the Schroeder Area Historical Society, $9,000 for a total of $22,000.
Schroeder’s treasurer Alicia Kangas, speaking as a citizen and not in her township role, read a motion that would put a limit on donations at 10 percent of the town’s annual budget, which is usually around $90,000. The motion, which was seconded, would have also capped individual donation requests at $5,000.
“This motion in no way diminishes these organizations,” said Kangas. “It is to protect the township. I am not saying that these aren’t good organizations and that they don’t need support. I’m saying that our donations have gotten a little out of hand the last three years. Not one cent has gone into savings. We are a small population; the town of Schroeder isn’t increasing. What if we lose the taconite credit? Every year we know that there are several legislators on the Range that want to take our taconite credit away. If we lose that, then what?”
Mary VanDoren countered, saying, “We’re not depleting Schroeder funds, we’re giving of our funds. This is coming out of our back pockets. If we want young families to stay here, we have to support the school.”
Schug brought the motion up for a vote and it failed a hand count 29-16.
Schug brought forth each donation request individually and asked for a hand vote, and each request was granted by about a two to one ratio.
The budget for 2015 was tentatively set at $91,400 (plus donations approved by voters) and will be approved at the continuation of the annual meeting in August.
Requests for support of post office, housing
Skip Lamb asked the township to send three letters of support: One to the U.S. Postal Service asking that it change its decision to make Schroeder Post Office a four-hour post office and extend it to at least six hours per day; a second letter of support for the senior housing project in Tofte; and third letter of support for affordable housing.
A discussion ensued about what exactly constituted “affordable housing” but in the end Schug used the example of the Fredenberg lots, which the township sold for, “What? $5,000? $12,000? I know they didn’t sell for very much,” Schug said, adding, “But I think we can all agree they were affordable.”
Lamb’s motion passed by a majority show of hands.
New county administrator welcomed
Coming in on the heels of the big debate about the township’s vote on donations, West End County Commissioner Bruce Martinson introduced new County Administrator Jay Kieft to the folks on hand.
“Democracy is a wonderfully messy process,” Kieft said, adding that he loved seeing all of the people expressing their opinions.
“One of my goals is to strengthen the partnerships in the county, especially with the townships, and act as a conduit to the county board,” Kieft said, adding that he would like to attend some of the township’s monthly meetings.
“You are welcome to come anytime,” said Bill McKeever.
Improvements to Father Baraga Park considered
C.J. Fernandez, a landscape architect who has worked with the town of Tofte and Schroeder in the past, presented four drawings of what the town’s park (Father Baraga’s Cross included) might someday look like. “This will take years to finish, and some ideas may never get done because of a lack of money. This will represent the vision of Schroeder residents. If you don’t want this, these designs will go away, you can burn them if you want to. I will go away. These drawings are just a concept,” Fernandez said.
One woman who lives on the road leading to the cross said she wasn’t given notification that Fernandez would be attending the annual meeting. Fernandez said that was an oversight and more meetings would be held in the future for the public, “But if you want me to go away, I will go away,” he said.
When asked where the money will come from to build park amenities like a shelter and outhouses designed for people with disabilities that cost upwards of $30,000 each to build, Fernandez said he designed a similar project in Beaver Bay that was granted $400,000 to start with (eight years ago) and was granted another $100,000 last year.
“The money is out there. But only if the community can come together on this and wants to contribute ideas. It’s your park,” Fernandez said.
Tina McKeever said one corner of the parking lot is falling into the lake and the township was required to put in toilets under the Americans with Disabilities Act, both items that Fernandez addressed in his drawings.
Several citizens voiced ideas about the drawings and Fernandez said that was what he was looking for. He will come back at a later date and hopefully, get more citizens input.
In other business:
. Roger “Bill” McKeever was reelected to his town board supervisor position with 31 votes and Doug Schwecke was reelected township clerk with 35 votes.
. There weren’t any reports for the cemetery, Road & Bridge or the Fire Department, Supervisor Tina McKeever gave a brief recreation report and said that once the snow left Port-a-lets would be rented for the ball fields and the Harbor Park, and the dock would be put in at Dyers Lake.
. A year-end Tofte-Schroeder Rescue Squad report was filed by EMS Chief Louise Trachta and read by Clerk Schwecke; The Rescue Squad had a record number of calls, 53. Tofte had 27 calls and Schroeder, 26 calls. Trachta thanked her crews for their time and dedication, noting that each call had three of four respondents. Calls included medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, fires, search and rescues, and varied other emergencies.
. In the last act of the night, Tina McKeever was nominated Schroeder Citizen of the Year. Her nomination was seconded and passed unanimously.
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