Tina McKeever: I have worked for the same company out of the Twin Cities for 19 years. I graduated with a degree in information management/business from the University of North Dakota. I am married with two children that attend Birch Grove Community School. I have also recently taken on the bookkeeping at Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte.
The townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder are all gathering on Tuesday, March 9, to vote for town board representatives, to set the township levy, and to discuss matters of importance to the community. It’s grassroots government at its best and citizens of the towns are encouraged to take part.
Theelection polls open for all of the townships at the same time, 5:00 p.m. and remain open until immediately before the annual meetings are convened at 8:00 p.m. In Lutsen and Schroeder the election booths and annual meetings are at the town halls—at 116 Caribou Trail in Lutsen and 124 Cramer Road in Schroeder. The town of Tofte is not holding its annual meeting at the town hall, but at the Birch Grove Community Center, 9 Good Neighbor Road.
All of the townships have openings for one supervisor and the town clerk. The incumbent supervisor and clerk of both Lutsen and Tofte are running for re-election, both unopposed.
In Schroeder, no one has come forward to run for town clerk. Incumbent Clerk Carol Tveekrem has said she would like to step down. Deputy Gayle Ring has been a great help to Tveekrem, however she has emphatically stated that she is not able to take on the clerk duties at this time, due to family medical concerns. Tveekrem encourages someone in the township to consider serving as clerk. “In a pinch, I will continue, but I’d really rather not,” said Tveekrem.
Lutsen clerk candidate Amity Goettl: I am a member of the Lutsen First Responders and Fire Department. I have a daughter who is in kindergarten. With my husband, I am the owner of Clearview General Store and Clearview Liquor Store. I have been the Lutsen clerk since December 2007.
However, Schroeder does have two last-minute write-in candidates for the supervisor seat currently held by Cathy Johnson. Johnson agreed only to fulfill the term of the late Larry Gregg. No one filed to run for the seat in the official filing period of December 29 – January 12, 2010, but since then Tina McKeever and Lloyd Geillinger have announced that they would serve if elected via write-in.
The Cook County News-Herald
contacted all of the declared candidates and asked a few questions. Their answers follow below. Q. What biographical information would you like to share with
News-Herald
readers?
Schroeder supervisor candidates:
Lutsen supervisor candidate: Joe Buttweiler: I have lived in Lutsen for five years. I am married to Kris and we have a two-year-old boy who keeps us busy. I have been a town supervisor for the past three years.
Lloyd Geillinger:
(no picture available) I worked nine years in interstate commerce, transporting food across the nation, two years in interstate commerce on the North Shore and Canada, six years in the resort industry/security services and store operations in Cook County.
I have children and grandchildren residing in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud area. Q. Just what does the town clerk do for the township of Lutsen?
Amity Goettl, Lutsen:
The clerk’s responsibilities include: payroll, managing all insurances, contractors, bids, basic office duties, managing the elections, meeting preparation, minutes, etc., checking emails, coordination between supervisors, coordination with fire department and first responders.
Tofte clerk candidate: Barb Gervais: I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, lived in the Twin Cities 27 years, moved to Tofte in 2003. I am married to Jerry Gervais, a life long resident of Tofte. I have one son who lives in Denver. I worked 31 years in the investment industry for RBC Wealth Management (formerly Dain Bosworth), 26 years in Minneapolis and five years in Duluth. I left the investment industry to accept a position as deputy auditor for Lake County in 2008 in efforts to find work closer to home. I feel very fortunate to live in a place as beautiful as Tofte.
Barb Gervais, Tofte:
A quick summary of duties of the Tofte clerk include being responsible for the following: records all funds received and disbursed by the town using the State’s CTAS accounting program including the filing of year-end financial reports to the State Auditor’s office. Receives all statements for payment against the town and in turn prepares a claim to be reviewed and approved for payment by the board at each monthly meeting. Records minutes of all town meetings and properly posts notices of meetings. Conducts all town elections. Acts as a liaison
for the town to the county, state and other municipal and corporate organizations as well as individuals
in which the town conducts business.
Questions for supervisor candidates
Q. What do you think would be the most rewarding thing about serving on the
town board?
Joe Buttweiler, Lutsen:
The most rewarding part thus far has been working to increase the amount of use our town park gets. I look forward to working with the West End Garden Club in 2010 to begin construction of a project(s), which will add greater benefits to the property.
Tofte supervisor candidate Jim King: I was born and educated in MN, at the University of MN, 1965. I spent my 38-year career with a non-profit organization and served on local, regional, and national assignments. My work experience included program delivery, fund raising, endowment development, human resource administration, and local council consulting. We bought property in Tofte in 1982, and I have been a full time resident since retiring in 2003. Our two daughters are educators and our four grandchildren are all in university.
Jim King, Tofte:
I grew up in a small town of 1,200, one of the most important things in my life. My work experience in rural North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Montana helped me realize that smaller communities have a “personality” and provide life experiences that cannot be duplicated in metro areas. Someone once told me that you need a church, school, post office, and fire department to be a real town. Add to that our Lakewalk, Fourth of July celebration, recreational opportunities, friendly businesses, natural scenery, and attitude, and we have an enviable community. want to continue to be a part of it. Extra questions for the write-in candidates
Q. How would the town benefit from your serving on the board?
Lloyd Geillinger, Schroeder:
By four things: a promise of no hidden agendas and no pre-favoritism of any kind; a promise of a common sense approach to all issues; a promise of all cards up on the table at all times for all citizens of Schroeder so they can see what’s going on and have the ability to understand it whatever it may be and a promise to listen to all, not just a few, and to follow the law.
Tina McKeever, Schroeder:
By having a younger perspective on the social and economic issues that are facing our residents of Schroeder.
Q. Why did you decide to run for supervisor position?
Lloyd Geillinger, Schroeder:
Because I believe there should be a fair and balanced mix of citizens on any town board. I believe by me running, that this will be created.
Tina McKeever, Schroeder:
Several people had asked if I would consider running and after giving it some thought I figured it was time for the younger generation to become involved and serve the community.
One last question for all candidates
Q. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the township right now?
Joe Buttweiler, Lutsen supervisor candidate:
The current obligations of the township are to oversee our volunteer Fire and EMS departments. In addition, we own and maintain property for recreation purposes at the town hall and Grand View Park site. A third responsibility of the township is to represent our citizens in matters, which effect the development and operations in and around our township. I think this is by and large the greatest challenge.
Amity Goettl, Lutsen clerk candidate:
Lack of meeting and garage space, as well as the need for a building better designed for community use.
Lloyd Geillinger, Schroeder supervisor candidate:
Some of our emergency services have been put at risk now, other services may be at risk in the near future, this is not excusable. Services for our citizens must be secured, answers must be found. Jump-the-gun answers or ideas are not going to solve problems.
Tina McKeever, Schroeder supervisor candidate:
I believe the most challenging issue would be how to retain permanent residences and expand livable wage jobs not only in Schroeder but also in the entire county.
Barb Gervais, Tofte clerk candidate:
I think the biggest issue facing Tofte is finding avenues to grow non-primary industries as a way to diversify the local economy as well as having the capability to make use of new knowledge and technology to ensure having every advantage to succeed for those who desire to live here.
Jim King, Tofte supervisor candidate:
Finding the right balance between development and wilderness, tourism with local identity, taxes with services. We are more than a “wide spot in the road,” but how wide do we want to be?
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