Staff photo/Rhonda Silence newspaper. Ads may The Lutsen Township August meeting, a continuation of the town’s Annual Meeting in March, need to be decreased was held in the fire hall on Tuesday, August 18. After the meeting, some citizens lingered for slightly in size to fit further discussion of some of the agenda items.
The Lutsen Fire Department moved two of its fire trucks out of the fire hall on Tuesday, August 18 so the August Township meeting, a continuation of the March annual meeting, could be held there. Almost 50 citizens turned out for the meeting, which focused primarily on the future of the Lutsen Cemetery.
Lutsen Clerk Amity Goettl called the meeting to order and as usual for an annual meeting, a township resident was selected to serve as moderator. Thetownship nominated Sam Parker and after the pledge of allegiance was said, Parker asked, “How many people are here to vote on the cemetery issue?”
Nearly every hand in the room was raised, so that agenda item was tackled first. Discussion had just begun when Tom Freden made a motion to add $10,000 to the 2010 town budget for the expansion and improvement to the town cemetery. His motion was seconded by Town Supervisor Marland Hansen, but discussion continued before a call for the vote.
Town Supervisor Diane Parker spoke, not as a supervisor, but as “a citizen and taxpayer.” Parker said she had recently visited the cemetery and she agreed that it needed improvements. “I want the cemetery to be wellkept, a peaceful place for someone to visit and enjoy memories of a departed dear one.”
However, Parker said she had talked to elected officials of the Tofte and Schroeder Townships and had learned that those townships spend far less than $10,000 on their cemeteries. She said the other townships provide a water tank, mow the grass, and maintain the cemetery entrances. “I’m all in favor of budgeting $1,000 – $2,000 a year,” she said. “I think that’s a sensible solution.”
Paul Nelson said he didn’t have a problem with making a contribution to improve the cemetery, but he asked if the ownership of the cemetery had been determined.
Marland Hansen said the land to be used for expansion is being donated by George Nelson, his daughter, Cindy Nelson, and Scott Harrison. Hansen said the hope of the committee is that with $10,000, necessary improvements can be made and then the cemetery will be in an acceptable condition for the township to take over ownership of the cemetery.
Another citizen questioned whether $10,000 would be enough to complete the project. Surveyor Jeff Brett, who has been assisting the cemetery committee with the proposed expansion, said while there may be unforeseen costs, he believed it could be done. He pointed out that the land is being donated. He is donating his time, charging only for his crew’s work staking the site. He said KGM Contractors, the company working on the Lutsen Ski Hill Road, designed a stormwater management plan at no cost and is donating thousands of dollars worth of gravel for fill. KGM is only charging for use of its backhoe and operator for placement of the large boulders that are being used to terrace the new cemetery area.
“Expenses will add up, but everyone is doing all they can to keep costs down. We haven’t hired a landscape architect because we wanted to save money. I think we are getting a pretty good deal on an expansion to 140 cemetery plots,” said Brett.
Freden said there will be an additional expense of $200- $400 for seeding when the excavation work is done. County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said there would be fees for transferring the land and recording deeds.
Brett said, “We’re asking everyone we talk to if they could put on their civic hat and give us their best price.”
Land donor George Nelson said he wished he had donated the land in question years ago, but he said he didn’t believe the land was suitable for a cemetery. He added, “But I didn’t know that KGM would be here; that the Ski Hill Road would be undergoing improvements— without that project happening, it wasn’t worth discussing. It was unusable.”
“KGM has agreed to do the cutting and grubbing to get its trucks in there. They will bulldoze the boulders, stockpile them, and put them back in for a berm. KGM is offering not $10,000 worth of work, but $50,000. Thethree landowners— the cemetery association, myself, and Scott Harrison—worked together on the fill permit. This is a gift. It’s an opportunity to get a decent cemetery for $10,000. I don’t think people realize what a bonus this is,” said Nelson emphatically.
There was brief discussion of what to charge for cemetery plots and how to ensure that Lutsen residents have priority. Cemetery committee member Dick Nelson said that was a detail for the township to decide, but added, “We can’t sell what we don’t have.”
Gary Meinz asked if an agreement was in place to transfer ownership to the township. Marland Hansen said there was not. “We’ve discussed it, but I think the town board wants to see what will happen with the expansion as well.”
A citizen called for a vote and Moderator Parker asked for a show of hands for those in favor of donating $10,000 to the Lutsen Cemetery. A majority of arms was raised in support of the donation and the motion passed.
After the annual meeting adjourned, the town board met for its regular monthly meeting and Supervisor Diane Parker expressed concern about the contribution to the cemetery. She said the state statute governing township contributions to cemeteries states that the township “in its discretion” may provide $10,000 for maintenance of a cemetery. She asked what would happen if the town had a budget shortfall. “It’s not clear to me and with this much money— with this big of a project—I would like the township to get legal advice.”
Clerk Amity Goettl questioned the need to spend more money on the matter. “So the
$10,000 will turn into how much?” she asked.
Sam Parker asked how the funds would be dispersed. “Will the cemetery association bring bills to the township?”
Lutsen treasurer John Groth said no, the $10,000 was a direct donation to the cemetery. “It’s just like the donation the town makes to Birch Grove [Foundation].”
Diane Parker repeated her concern that the language of the state statute was not clear. “I just want to go on record that I wanted to seek legal advice on this matter,” she said.
Lutsen resident Paul
Nordlund spoke up. “I think what is clear is that the citizens of the town voted overwhelmingly to support the donation.”
At the annual meeting, citizens also discussed the 2009 and 2010 township budget. Treasurer Groth said, “The idea of this meeting is to give citizens the chance to look at 2009, to see how we are doing so far and to see what we want to do for 2010.”
Lutsen Fire Chief Paul Goettl explained that a budget increase of $13,000 was due to a decline in the market value of funds in the fireman’s relief association account. The relief association provides a retirement payment for firefighters and is funded by investments, with the township contributing only when necessary to keep the fund balance at the amount required by the state. In years past, the township has contributed approximately $5,000 and for several years it did not have to pay anything. “We are hoping it will come back up in 2010,” said Goettl.
After discussion, a unanimous motion was passed to approve the Lutsen Town levy of $162,373 for 2010, which includes the $10,000 donation to the cemetery association.
Fire Chief Goettl also reminded citizens that the traditional Fire Department Pancake Breakfast will be held at the Fire Hall on Saturday, September 20 beginning at 8:00 a.m.
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