The township of Lutsen set its 2015 budget at $172,120.63 at the August 19, 2014 meeting, a continuation of the township’s March annual meeting. The 2015 budget is a reduction of more than $15,700 from the 2014 budget of $187,882.36.
“You lowered the tax rate by 9 percent from last year,” said Lutsen Treasurer John Groth, adding that much of that was the result of the volunteer fire department and EMS chiefs keeping their budgets in line, and supervisors doing a good job of not overspending. “We have also gotten a lot of support from the community in donations, which helps a lot,” Groth said.
The breakout for the 2015 budget is: General Administration, $42,850; Fire Administration, $25,975; Fire Department, $30,850; EMS Department, $26,050; and Set Payments, $46,420.36. The only addition from the March proposed budget was an additional $2,700 given to emergency management service (EMS) to purchase more radios and pagers.
Fire department and EMS busy
Fire Chief Paul Goettl said his crew of 17 volunteer firefighters had been on 23 calls over the last quarter. “That’s the most calls ever since I have been on the squad,” he said. Goettl described the most recent call to Minnesota Power. His crew had to wear air packs and fight a dangerous coal fire. “It took awhile to put out, but there were no injuries and no damage for Minnesota Power.”
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Director Fred Schmidt said his crew of first responders made 22 calls for the 3rd quarter. “We’ve been going out a lot. It’s been busy,” he said.
And Schmidt added that his crew is getting bigger. “We have two new first responders, which brings us to 11.”
Lutsen Cemetery receives funds
Gail Thompson came before the board with a request for $2,000 for the cemetery committee. In 2013 the Lutsen Town Board promised the committee $8,500 but only $6,500 of that was spent, said Thompson.
The money, said Thomson, is needed to install a sprinkler system and for general maintenance which included cutting and removing some trees, fixing five graves that caved in (which Mike Rose had already fixed but hasn’t billed for yet), staining and sealing a shed and putting a plaque on the large rock that sits at the entrance of the Lutsen graveyard.
Groth explained that unspent money was put in the town’s surplus fund, and the board could give it to the committee if the cemetery committee gave them a letter for the request that was signed by two of its members.
“From my perspective the townspeople voted to give them the money, so we should give it to them,” said Supervisor Goettl.
After some discussion the board agreed to give the cemetery committee $2,000. This money will be added to the already budgeted $2,000 for this year.
County budget concerns
West End County Commissioner Bruce Martinson came before the board with a report about the county’s proposed budget. Martinson said commissioners had received preliminary requests from county departments and nonprofit organizations that were 27.83 percent over the current county budget.
“That’s alarming. Everyone under the sun is asking for more money. More than I have ever seen,” said Martinson.
He said Birch Grove Community School is asking for $10,000 for school lunches. “They have been getting $4,800. Birch Grove Foundation is getting $9,500 but is now requesting $20,000 to pay for their new director. It just goes on and on, every organization wants more,” said Martinson.
Martinson also said the county was going to see a reduction of $150,000 in PILT payments and would see a reduction of $150,000 in interest payments on their investments.
Martinson added that there are three days of budget hearings with department heads scheduled next week and that would help to clarify and determine the upcoming budget.
In other business:
. The supervisors discussed setting up a time in the fall to remove the carpeting and paint the old part of the town hall.
. Supervisor Goettl said the township needed to post a sign in the Lutsen Grand View Park reminding people not to leave their trash or refuse behind.
* Supervisor Andrew Beavers said that Charles Lamb had removed a large potentially dangerous rock from near the Caribou Road as was requested by the township.
. Fred Schmidt asked if some sort of barrier or rocks could be put in place at the fire hall/ community building to protect the transformer and the well from the plow truck in the winter. Both are located in the town hall parking lot.
“We would need two by the transformer and maybe three by the well,” said Schmidt.
“Yes, we will see that it gets done soon,” said Supervisor Tim Goettl, adding he didn’t know if rocks or posts would be used to complete the project or who would do the project a this time.
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