Above: Changing of the guard. Newly elected Supervisor Sarah Somnis and outgoing Supervisor Jim King graciously wished each other well after the election. Right: Augie Schauland casts his ballot in the Tofte township election.
Heavy fog and light drizzle did not keep voters from the polls and citizens from the Tofte Township annual meeting at the Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte on March 8, 2016. The community center gym was noisy as friends and neighbors visited, waiting for the polls to close and the meeting to begin.
Paul James was elected to serve as moderator and the meeting got under way with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. After reviewing the minutes of the last annual meeting and reviewing financial reports from the township board of audit, the audience heard an update on the Birch Grove building, which is owned by the town of Tofte.
Supervisor Jim King gave the report. “We’ve had quite a good year,” said King, pointing to the lights overhead. “One thing you can see is that you can see better. We’ve got new LED lighting!”
King said the township recently had tuck-pointing done on the building to prevent damage to the brick exterior; had new window treatments installed on all windows; had overseen the removal of the school’s outdoor classroom and the landscaping of that area; fixed sewer lines to the ice rink warming house; and completed fencing around the ice rink just before freeze-up.
Housing project on hold
Housing has been the topic of many town board meetings and the annual meeting was no exception. Supervisor Paul James gave an update on the housing project, noting that at the 2015 annual meeting, the community said it wanted a housing project that wasn’t restricted to senior citizens.
James said the town board had followed that directive and gained approval for the change from a major project funder, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). The township met with Senator Tom Bakk and IRRRB officials and based on that meeting were confident that the legislation needed to proceed with the housing project would easily pass during the last legislative session.
Excavation work was done, permits were obtained and bids were let. The township worked with Dynamic Homes and construction of housing units began. However, James said, legislation ultimately did not pass and the project is on hold until it does.
James said supervisors are still confident that the legislation will pass, but added “If you want to be productive and help get this moved along, contact Senator Bakk and anyone else you can think of who could help. Once we get the legislation and are in the State Bonding bill, we can get moving again.”
Questions were asked about where the housing units would be located (behind the community center building); how many units were being built (six duplexes for a total of 12 units); what the rent would be (approximately $1,000) and if necessary permits had been obtained (yes).
James was also asked the status of the Dynamic Homes construction— were houses partially built? James said yes, when the board realized there would be a hold-up while the town waited on the legislation, Dynamic Homes was contacted and construction was halted with existing units held there. James said there has been no invoice or discussion of storage fees, but said the town board recognizes that might occur when the project gets back on track. However, he said, “Like all of this project, that is something that will be negotiated.”
Emergency services report
Tofte Fire Chief Rich Nelson gave a fire department report. Nelson said the department now has 13 members. The department responded to 18 calls in the last year, to six vehicle crashes, one vehicle fire and one structure fire. He said equipment is holding up well and added, “We have a lot of good, dedicated guys and gals; all are doing a great job.”
EMS Chief Kim Jahnke, who shares that position with Phil Bonin of Schroeder, said the joint Tofte/Schroeder squad responded to 51 calls over the last year. The squad gained one new member over the summer so now numbers 10.
Jahnke said, “I’d like to thank my crew for responding quickly and professionally.”
Somnis elected supervisor
Election judges Diane Norman, Jane Johnson and Susie Meyer gave election results to James. He said 85 ballots were cast. Barb Gervais was reelected to the clerk position with 85 votes. Acting Treasurer Nancy Iverson was elected to fill that position with 84 votes.
In the contested race for supervisor, incumbent Jim King received 29 votes. Sarah Somnis was elected to the town board with 57 votes.
After the announcement, Bill Hansen said, “I’d like to publically thank Jim King for all his work. Being on the town board is not always a fun job and he’s done a good job.”
Somnis echoed his sentiment and King congratulated her. King looked around the room at the many younger township residents in attendance. “I’m pleased to see signs of the younger generation here. This is a nice little town—let’s keep it going,” he said.
In other business
. James said the township continues to work with the Gitchi-Gami State Trail Association on a route for the bicycle trail through the township. He said about $800,000 has been earmarked for the route, but added that may not go far as the association is considering construction of a highway underpass for the trail.
. James also said the township is considering applying for funding for a pavilion at the Tofte Town Park with a two-sided fireplace with seating. The township is also working with the Nelson family to create some sort of memorial plaque in recognition of former supervisor, firefighter and township volunteer John Nelson, who spent so much time at the park. He said the park will not be renamed, but Nelson will be honored for his work there.
. As he did at Lutsen and Schroeder, County Administrator Jeff Cadwell made a brief appearance.
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