With concerns over water levels in the Poplar River, a pipeline from Lake Superior to Lutsen Mountains is now in the works. Lutsen Mountains co-president Tom Rider went before the Tofte Township Board on January 12, 2012 saying that after working for a long time to resolve “water issues” with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), they had come to “a sort of impasse.” They need to find another source of water besides the Poplar River.
The ski area’s snowmaking needs have increased over the years with more hills open for skiing, special features for snowboarding, and skiers expecting a longer ski season. More attention is also being paid to trout habitat in the river.
The ski area isn’t the only entity along the Lutsen Ski Hill Road needing water, Rider said. Both Caribou Highlands and Lutsen Mountains have needed more drinking water, and Superior National at Lutsen golf course needs more water for irrigation.
Building a pipeline up the hill is expected to cost “about $5 million” Rider said, and the entities that need the water are hoping for some public funding. A bill has been introduced in the Minnesota legislature that would allow a special taxing district to bond for the project since part of the cost would need to be funded locally.
Rider said discussions are taking place regarding the creation of a water district. Everyone on either side of the ski hill road would be entitled but not required to tap into the pipeline, which would be publicly owned. As proposed, the pipeline would end at a water treatment facility at Caribou Highlands.
The ski hill is a “keystone” to business success in Cook County, said board chair Paul James, especially to winter business. “I’m all on board,” he said.
It’s a perfect fit, said supervisor Jim King. With the golf course in the process of renovation, everything is coming together at the same time, he said.
The board unanimously passed a motion to send a letter of support to Rider regarding the creation of a water district with taxing authority.
Cell tower
The board passed a motion to proceed with a lease agreement with Minnesota Towers Inc. to put up a communications tower on Tofte Township property. The township will be purchasing a piece of land from the Futterer family on which the tower will be located.
The contract with Minnesota Towers Inc. includes an agreement that the township would not allow other companies to locate towers on any of its land within three miles of this tower. Private landholders could lease land to other tower companies, however.
Salvage yard cleanup
After new fencing and gates approved by the Tofte Design Review Board blew down, Big Joe’s Salvage is once again out of compliance with local regulations, Jim King reported. The Design Review Board has given owner Joe Sanders “a great deal of latitude,” he said.
King said he has been discussing the issue with Assistant County Attorney Molly Hicken, and a court hearing has been set for January 30.
Fire and rescue
With Fire Chief Rich Nelson out sick, Rescue Squad Chief Louise Trachta reported that the new heavy rescue truck was ready for use and just needed to be loaded with equipment.
Clerk Barb Gervais said she would send a note to Schroeder Clerk Carol Tveekrem about continuing to provide rescue squad services for Schroeder Township at the same price they have been paying.
Chief Trachta expressed approval of the rescue squad’s work. “I’ve really commended the group for what they’ve done,” she said.
Land exchange
County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said that the county put two parcels of U.S. Forest Service land just west of Birch Grove Community Center high on a list of parcels the county would like to receive in exchange for its land in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The parcels are 11th and 12th out of a list of 44 potential sites the county is interested in.
Supervisor Paul James asked Jerry Gervais whether he thought there were gravel resources in that area. Gervais said yes, the land behind the community center has gravel. James said it would be needed as a septic site if the township can get an assisted living facility built there.
James reported that the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation gave the township the go-ahead to proceed with a full application for a grant that would help the hopedfor project move forward.
Business retention and expansion
Community volunteer Jim Boyd asked the board to support a business retention and expansion project that would be conducted with the help of the University of Minnesota Extension. He called the project “an extended community discussion” on how to help existing businesses thrive and how to develop new businesses.
Boyd was seeking the support of entities throughout the county, such as the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA), Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Inc., North House Folk School, WTIP Radio, the Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Portage Tribal Council, and the townships of Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder.
Every time he introduces this project at a meeting, Boyd said, people immediately launch into issues that cause difficulty for local businesses and residents trying to make a living up here.
Cook County has a lot of “sharp,” “savvy” business people, Boyd said, many of whom are retired. He suggested that their expertise could be tapped in analyzing economic needs, challenges, opportunities, and possibilities. The project “has to be a countywide community project,” he said, and can’t be headed by a single entity such as the county or the EDA.
“It’s going to be a hard process,” Boyd said. “It will be a lot of hard issues.” As an example, he said the Dragon Boat Festival has not been bringing in the revenue the nonprofit organizations that put it on hope it will bring in even though it draws a lot of people to the community. The nonprofits—North House Folk School, WTIP Radio, and the North Shore Healthcare Foundation—could use help from the business community that is benefitting from it, Boyd said.
The project would not undermine the role of tourism in Cook County, Boyd said. “We do need to diversify the economy,” he added, however. He said he hopes telecommuting jobs will become more prevalent and young families will locate here. “We can’t continue to get more old, gray, and bald,” he said. “It’s just not sustainable.”
“I just see this as a real needed thing in the community,” said board chair Paul James. “We’re just so widespread and so diverse.”
The board passed a motion authorizing Clerk Barb Gervais to write a letter of support for the project.
Run on cemetery plots
Supervisor James reported that with the price of cemetery plots going up from $75 to $250 as of January 1 and a new requirement that those buried in the cemetery have personal or family ties with the township, a lot of people bought cemetery plots before the New Year.
Finding deputies
In response to advice from the Minnesota Association of Townships, Clerk Barb Gervais sought out a deputy to replace her if she should be unable to carry out her duties. Lutsen clerk Silviya Duclos agreed to do it, but only after Gervais insisted that Duclos would only be needed if Gervais died or became incapacitated.
Treasurer Mary Jane Huggins said she convinced Schroeder treasurer Alicia Kangas to fill in as deputy treasurer under the same understanding – “only if I die or go into a coma!”
Speed bumps and Mexico
The board asked Jerry Gervais to remove the speed bump on the Tofte Homestead Road. Gervais was concerned that he might get flack for doing it, but Supervisor James said numerous government officials as well as the township attorney have advised them to get rid of it. If anyone gives him flack, James said to Gervais, he can refer them to Alan “D.C.” Olsen, who he thought would be going on vacation.
Someone asked Olsen if he was going somewhere with hot sandy beaches. “I’ll be like Shirley Bierbaum and go to Two Harbors!” he said. When asked later, he said if he goes, he would go to Mexico.
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