At the Tuesday, July 21 Lutsen Town Meeting, surveyor Jeff Brett gave a report on the work he had done regarding a potential expansion of the Lutsen Cemetery. His crew has surveyed and Cook County Soil & Water has visited the proposed expansion site and it has been determined that approximately 180 grave sites could be added. He noted that part of the reason for the push to expand the cemetery at this time is because excess fill is available from KGM Contractors as Highway 61 roadwork is done in Tofte.
Brett said some of the boulders on the site could be dug out and used to terrace the land. “We could make it a real attractive cemetery,” said Brett.
Brett said that was the “groundwork” and turned to the committee formed by the township to develop a plan for the cemetery’s future. Committee member Tom Fredeen asked the town board to place the question of who should own and manage the cemetery on the agenda for the continuation of the township annual meeting. However, Fredeen noted that town boards could appropriate up to $10,000 for maintaining a cemetery. He asked if that could be used in the interim to pay for Jeff Brett’s survey work and the necessary excavation work.
Supervisor Diane Parker said whether or not the town board supports taking over the cemetery, it couldn’t provide funding immediately since it had not been budgeted for. “We need to have this voted on by the township for 2010.”
Supervisor Joe Buttweiler agreed, adding that he still had questions to be answered. “How is the money collected and disbursed? Do we know where everyone is buried? I can’t see this being transferred at the meeting in August.”
“The land preparation has to happen first, then the land transfer. I think that is the cemetery committee’s intent,” said Fredeen.
Committee member Dick Nelson reiterated that the committee would like citizens to consider moving the cemetery into township control. He said the committee had done a great deal of work, adding, “We’re learning on the fly.”
Nelson said, “What Mrs. McQuatters [former town clerk] inherited years ago was a tattered piece of blueprint. We’ve pieced it together. The goal is get the records on computer. Transfer to the town is probably the best vehicle, but that is down the road.”
The town board expressed support for the cemetery expansion and upgrade in record keeping, but agreed they could do nothing without knowing what Lutsen citizens want to do. Thematter was put on the agenda for the Tuesday, August 18 annual meeting continuation at the Lutsen Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.
Supervisor Buttweiler presented a draft letter of support for the countywide broadband initiative currently underway. He encouraged the town board to accept and send the letter in support of a grant application to the Rural Utilities Service, which met with some resistance from a few community members.
George Nelson asked, “How would this benefit us?”
Buttweiler said the estimated $50 million project would mean highspeed Internet service and improved telephone and satellite television service.
Jeff Brett asked if providing broadband meant restringing wire and Buttweiler said yes. He said fiber optic cable would run to every residence, via poles and underground wire.
“I thought the wave of the future was wireless,” said Brett. “I look at all these poles and wires—I’d rather see them go away.”
Supervisor Marland Hansen said he believed the push to go with broadband is because communication towers and radio bands are “getting jammed up.”
Nelson questioned the high price tag, pointing out the low population of Cook County. “That’s about $10,000 per person!”
Buttweiler agreed that the cost was extremely high. “That’s why it won’t happen without a grant,” he said.
Lutsen Treasurer John Groth asked if the broadband project was contingent on the passage of the 1% sales tax. Buttweiler said the sales tax is being considered as a potential source for grant matching funds, but that the county wants to pursue broadband regardless of whether the 1% sales tax is enacted.
Supervisor Diane Parker asked if the funding being sought was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or “stimulus” money. Buttweiler said that is where the money is coming from, to which Nelson said, “The stimulus money is supposed to be for jobs.”
Buttweiler said there is a potential of 10 – 12 jobs related to the project and he said businesses need highspeed Internet to continue to operate. He said the school districts, the hospital, and the county want broadband. “It’s not just for entertainment,” he said.
Nelson shook his head, “There is no free lunch.”
Supervisor Hansen agreed with Nelson, noting “there are always strings attached to federal money.” However, he said he supported the grant application. “It’s a no-go without the grant.”
The board passed a motion to support the broadband initiative. “Whether you like it or not, the money is going to go somewhere,” said Buttweiler.
Assistant Fire Chief John Groth reported that the finalization of expanded fire department service zones was complete. He presented the town board with a map of the new fire response districts. He said the townships of Tofte and Schroeder stayed the same, but Lutsen’s district had been expanded to Brule and the west side of Pike Lake.
In other business, Groth said the department had a new firefighter, Kasia Schmidt. The department now has 17 members. He said all of the firefighters have now taken incident command training. The department continues to work on its emergency evacuation plan and will be training with staff at Cathedral of the Pines.
The fire department assisted with the July 6 fire in Tofte, providing water to extinguish the blaze that destroyed 80 – 100 cords of firewood at Bluefin Bay Resort.
Supervisor Hansen thanked Buttweiler and “his crew,” which installed the playground at the Lutsen Grand View Park in June. Buttweiler said there is a little more work to be done. Some boulders need to be moved and the playground needs woodchips or pea rock to be put down around the playground site. Parker asked if the town should erect a fence adjacent to the highway, to ensure kids don’t wander up to the highway. The board agreed that was a good idea and Buttweiler said he would research prices.
Lutsen business owner Paul Quinn reminded the town board that it had received a letter from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency about a concern regarding a petroleum spill at Lutsen Mountains. The board recalled that Tom Rider of Lutsen Mountains said he would report on how the matter was taken care of, but he has not returned. Buttweiler said he would try to find out for the next meeting.
Buttweiler reported that the Cairn township/city entrance signs that were to be built by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/ DOT) have been postponed due to lack of funding. George Nelson suggested a less expensive highway improvement plan—he said lupine could be planted along the roadside. Supervisor Bruce Martinson said the town should consult former greenhouse/ garden shop owner Ginny Storlie for recommendations for roadside planting. Storlie noted that lupine only bloom for a few weeks. “I’d suggest a mixture of wildflowers,” she said.
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