Schroeder Township supervisors held their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 9, and, among other things, set their meeting schedule for the coming year and nominated election judges and the absentee ballot board for 2018.
Once again township meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month and start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
The following election judges were approved, “But they might not all serve,” said Schroeder Township clerk Doug Schwecke.
Nominated election judges include LaVonne Anderson, Jan Dillon, Judy Gregg, Carol Tveekrem and Carla Mensen. They can also serve as on the absentee ballot board.
A motion was made by supervisor Tina McKeever and seconded by Bruce Martinson to name Schroeder Town Hall as the 2018 polling and meeting place. Supervisors set the Feb. 13 regular meeting of the Board of Audit. The township election will be held March 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with Board of Canvass and regular annual township meeting to follow.
Cook County Commissioner Ginny Storlie gave an update on the latest commissioners’ meeting. Storlie said Russ Klegstad, the Cook County highway maintenance supervisor had retired and his position was being advertised. She also said the county was trying to work out an agreement with Lake County to hire— on a part-time basis—the Lake County highway engineer. The county has been unable to find a full-time replacement for Dave Betts, who left last summer to take a job elsewhere.
In light of the concern from the public about the budget setting process, Storlie said five people, one from each commissioner district, would be sought to sit on the county’s budget committee this year.
“Meetings will start in March,” said Storlie. “This will take a lot of commitment from the people who step up to the plate and help us.”
Jim King and Randy Voeks came before the board with an update about W.E. Connect.
“As you know there have been major changes with W.E. Connect,” said King. “We are no longer connected with Birch Grove Foundation, Birch Grove School, or the facility in any way.”
However, said King, despite the changes, W.E. Connect was financially solvent and had a five-member board. They also have space to work from in the Tofte fishing museum, King said.
“We are here not asking for financial support,” said Voeks. “We are here asking you for direction.”
As a group, said, King, W.E. Connect would like to explore ways to serve the needs of the West End community.
Some ideas bandied about included lining up volunteers to assist in giving rides or delivering meals to those who can’t get out of their homes. Or, bringing services found in Grand Marais to the West End.
Voeks and King proposed two public meetings be held to hear and discuss ways W.E. Connect could serve the three townships. King said his group could also send out mailers to ask people what they might want to see from W.E. Connect, and Tina McKeever noted the word could be spread about upcoming meetings via the township’s website.
As of now, there is no date for a first meeting, but Voeks said he would hope it could happen sometime in February, with one to follow in March or April. A Saturday afternoon might be the best time to hold a meeting, said Voeks.
The Schroeder Township board passed a motion to co-sponsor a W.E. Connect event to solicit information from the public. Look for an announcement on the Schroeder website for the time and date of that meeting.
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