Doug Schwecke and Deb Johnson were all smiles after being elected Schroeder Township’s new clerk and supervisor, respectively, at the Tues- day, March 13, 2012 township elections.
Twenty-five people attended the March 13, 2012 Schroeder Township annual meeting, but even more exciting than that was the fact that a record number of people turned out to vote for township offices. The races for township supervisor and clerk weren’t exactly hotly contested, since only one person ran for each open position.
Winning all of the 36 votes that were cast was Deb Johnson for supervisor. She will replace Ross Willson, who is moving to Florida with his wife to help out a friend. Winning 31 votes for clerk was Doug Schwecke. Veteran township volunteers Skip Lamb and Gale Ring each received one write-in vote for clerk.
Carol Tveekrem was honored with a cake and a plaque for her 13 years as township clerk. The election was a victory for her, because she’s been trying to get herself replaced for years. “I want to thank you all for that beautiful cake,” she said. “It’s lovely.” Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever handed Tveekrem the plaque and shook her hand later in the meeting. The plaque reads, “Thank you to Carol Tveekrem for thirteen years of exceptional service as Schroeder Township Clerk.”
At the March 13, 2012 Schroeder Township annual meeting, Clerk Carol Tveekrem was honored for her 13 years of devoted service to the township. She has been hoping for a replacement for several years and believes she will have plenty of other things to fill her time.
A talk with the commissioner
County Commissioner Bruce Martinson spoke early in the meeting because he was heading to the township meetings at Tofte and Lutsen after the Schroeder meeting.
Martinson talked about numerous issues he has been advocating for on behalf of the township, including re-opening the Cliffs Natural Resources loading facility and docks at Taconite Harbor, restoring the homestead property tax credit, and keeping state parks from expanding their campgrounds, RV sites, and cabin rentals and thus creating more competition with private businesses.
The citizens passed a motion opposing state parks competing with private campgrounds and lodging establishments by enhancing and increasing lodging options.
Martinson asked his constituents about concerns they might have. One person opposed state funding for the proposed water pipeline that will bring Lake Superior water to Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course and Lutsen Mountains.
Commissioner Martinson talked with the citizens about a plow truck with sanding and winging equipment that the county highway department is willing to sell for $5,000-$7,000. It was recently damaged in an accident but could be fixed at a minor cost.
Supervisor Bill McKeever recommended that the township buy the truck, mostly for the winging and sanding it could do on township roads. “You can’t buy a used car for $10,000 today,” he said. “That’s roughly $10,000 cheaper than I expected it to go.” Those in attendance discussed the possibility of requesting bids from businesses that had the equipment to do sanding and winging in addition to plowing.
The township residents passed a motion to pursue the purchase of the truck for between $5,000 and $10,000.
As Commissioner Martinson prepared to leave for the other township meetings, he was urged to take some cookies with him. “No one else is going to have goodies like this, I guarantee you!” he said.
Donation requests
Sixteen thousand dollars of donation requests were granted to the following organizations in the amounts they requested: Birch Grove Community Center, $3,500; Schroeder Area Historical Society, $10,000; Superior Timberwolves Sportsmen Club, $1,500; Tofte 4th of July fireworks, $1,000.
This year’s donations are $6,000 higher than last year’s because the Historical Society will be getting $5,000 more than last year and the Timberwolves club will be getting $1,000 more.
Financial reports
The township started 2011 with a balance of $157,010.89 and ended with a balance of $150,441.15.
The Storefront Loan Program has approved seven loans since it started in 1996 with $45,000 from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and $15,000 from the township. It has two loans out currently, to Temperance Traders and Tofte Charters. Its current value is not $87,200.17, a gain of over $27,000 since the program started.
The townspeople approved a 2012 budget the same as last year’s except for the increase in the amount to be spent on donations.
The 2013 tax levy will be decided at the continuation of this annual meeting on Monday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. The township will have a better idea at time how much funding it will receive from the state.
Departmental reports
“There’s absolutely nothing to report,” Bill McKeever said of the Road and Bridge Department. “We’re actually in really good shape. Everything is good!”
Regarding the cemetery, Supervisor Tina McKeever asked people to remove their plastic flowers by October 15 to make winter maintenance easier.
Ross Willson and Tina McKeever reported that if they made certain improvements to the park at Father Baraga’s Cross, the township would still be required to abide by some “stipulations” that could cost money because of an agreement attached to a grant from the 1970s. The township board is discussing their options for improving what they can this coming summer.
The fire department had seven calls in 2011: two household fires, two fires at the Minnesota Power Energy Center coal bunkers, two car accidents, and one mutual aid call to Lutsen. “It was a pretty good year,” reported Fire Chief Phil Bonin.
Fire Chief Bonin talked about the department’s need for a new truck, which is expected to cost $80,000 even if they buy a used one. The department has about $21,000 in its capital replacement fund. A motion was passed approving the township’s application to the county for a loan so a new truck can be purchased. The county is expecting to grant loans under $100,000 to fire departments at 0 percent interest.
Fire Chief Bonin, reporting on behalf of Rescue Chief Louise Trachta, said the Tofte- Schroeder Rescue Squad was called out 24 times to Tofte and 21 times to Schroeder in 2011, in addition to one mutual aid call to Lutsen.
Official newspaper
The Cook County News- Herald was once again selected as the township’s official newspaper where township legal notices will appear.
Citizen concerns
The townspeople passed a motion of support to keep the Schroeder post office open with its current staff. They discussed the possibility of getting professional help to remove the weeds from the “welcome walls.” One citizen said he would like to see the area around the antique store at the old gas station site cleaned up.
Citizens of the Year
The citizens in attendance unanimously named Art and Lavonne Anderson Schroeder’s 2012 citizens of the year.
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