Lutsen Supervisor candidate Tim Goettl
There were a few finishing touches to be done on the newly renovated Lutsen Town Hall, so Lutsen supervisors convened the Tuesday, January 15, 2013 meeting one last time in the town’s old meeting space. Along with usual monthly business, the town board talked about parking and considered rental prices and policies for the new town hall space.
Treasurer John Groth gave an update on fire and town hall renovation expenses. The original bid from Max Construction was $498,402. There was a change order of $6,157 and a number of additional costs, such as design, architectural, legal fees, septic work, office furniture and appliances totaling $57,691.55. The total construction cost as the township prepares to move into its new space is $537,022.60. Groth and Fire Chief Paul Goettl said there is an estimated $30,000 more to be spent, for a total of $567,022.60. “The town approved up to $600,000, so we are within the budgeted amount,” said Groth.
The township received a $1,000 credit for flaws in the concrete floor. The color is not what the town board expected and there are some cracks. The board discussed whether or not they should tile over the floor. It was noted that the estimate to tile the floor is approximately $5,000. Tim Goettl, who has filed to run for supervisor, said, “Why not wait? Once you get tables and chairs in, put some runners down, you will see how the color looks.”
Treasurer Groth agreed, “At the August continuation of the annual meeting, we could ask the town if they want to see it tiled or whatever.” The board agreed to wait.
Parking for the renovated fire hall was discussed and it was noted that with more space for people, more space for vehicles is needed. Treasurer Groth said a citizen had asked if the ball field fence could be removed and parking extended to the east. The cost to extend the parking lot would be $21,000 for an area 80’x90.’ To add an additional space of 24’x50’ for overflow would be $27,000. It was agreed to discuss this at the upcoming annual meeting.
Supervisor Ginny Storlie shared a draft rental policy, but said she had heard from current users of the hall, asking if their rate could stay the same. The board agreed to give the group that currently meets at the hall the same rate for a year, to be reconsidered after that. Otherwise, the town board is considering charging $50 for a group of 25-50 people or $100 for 51- 100 people.
Fire Chief Goettl said the fire hall and town hall would be used for the first time on February 2 – 3, by about 20 firefighters who will be attending National Fire Association Training at the hall.
The next town meeting will be held in the new space on February 19 at 7 p.m. Prior to the regular monthly meeting, the town board will hold its annual board of audit at 5:30 p.m. and then a budget meeting at 6 p.m.
A winery and brewing company in Lutsen? and her business partner, Chuck Corliss, plan to build a winery and brewery on the 14 acres that they own on 202 Ski Hill Road. Schroeder said the proposed building has been designed by an architect in four sections, which would include a tasting room to display and sell products; a barrel room to age the wine, which could also be used for small events; a production facility for the winery and an area housing a brewery.
Schroeder said the plan is to start selling wine made elsewhere while the wine her company makes is aging. Schroeder said they would likely get grapes from California, but the plan is to have 50 percent of the North Shore wines made from Minnesota products such as raspberries, blueberries, honey, etc.
The idea of the combination winery and brewery came about when Schroeder and Corliss learned that two local brewers— Carlson and Kartes—were interested in starting a small brewery.
Schroeder told the town board that the establishment would not be a liquor store or bar, but would be offering wine tasting as well as on and off sales of their products. The business will also offer olive oils and culinary gifts that complement their other products.
Schroeder said the partners are considering local music events, a picnic area and possibly a small cross country ski trail for evening skiing to help support the business. “We believe the concept we are proposing would enhance the tourism offering of Lutsen and Cook County,” said Schroeder. “We come here today to ask for a resolution of support from Lutsen Township so we can take the next steps in the process with Cook County to license our new business.”
Supervisor Joe Buttweiler said the county would like the township’s opinion before it makes its decision. Supervisor Ginny Storlie asked if the land had already been purchased and if the neighbors had been contacted.
Schroeder said yes, she and Corliss had purchased the property and had talked to adjacent property owners. She said, “There were no concerns. Neighbors told us they were interested in the ‘boutique’ of it.’”
Tim Goettl asked, “You say this would not be a liquor store, so what would you sell?”
Schroeder said, “We’re thinking of it more as a souvenir type of sale.”
Buttweiler made a motion to send a resolution of support and the motion passed unanimously. Supervisor Marland Hansen said, “It sounds really interesting.”
. EMS Chief Fred Schmidt said First Responders had four calls to date. He said two First Responders are taking refresher training. Schmidt said there are only six First Responders in Lutsen right now, so he hopes someone will sign up. “We need more people,” he said.
. Supervisor Ginny Storlie noted that Myra Schmidt retired as an EMT after serving the township for 22 years. “It went over our heads,” said Storlie regretfully. “We thought it would be in a few months, so we didn’t get a chance to thank Myra, so I would like to do that now.”
Her colleagues agreed and also expressed their appreciation. They asked Clerk Silviya Duclos to send a note of thanks to Myra Schmidt.
Storlie also said she thought the township— and perhaps Tofte and Schroeder—should do something to say thank you to the West End fire and EMS workers. “In light of our new community center building, I’d like to have a little get-together, with coffee and treats, so people can meet our emergency folks. We’d like to get to meet them when it is not an emergency.”
The board agreed and will schedule an event sometime this summer.
. Fire Chief Goettl said the fire department responded to one call in the last month, to an unattended fire. He said the fire department answered 15 calls last year and the average number of calls is 20. “We must be doing something right,” he said.
. The town board approved three citizens— Mary Thornwall, Nancy Hansen and Joan Hall—to serve as election judges in the March 12, 2013 township election.
. The board accepted three donations– $1,000 to First Responders from Kenneth and Janice Shold; $100 for the fire department from Donald and Wildie Swanson; and $50 from Clerk Silviya Duclos.
. Treasurer Groth shared a final report on the 2012 budget. The budgeted amount for 2012 was $168,695.00 and the actual amount spent was $149,459.48. Groth said the 2012 tax levy for Lutsen was $168,659.00. The 2013 tax levy was $194,484.36.
“Under budget,” said Supervisor Marland Hansen, “If only the federal government could do that!”
. Groth also reported that the total of all township funds—including the township’s checking account, building fund savings and fire truck fund—was $241,953.56 as of January 15, 2013.
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