Schroeder supervisors unanimously passed a resolution supporting a bill introduced by Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, which would ensure local control over the utilization of the taconite revenue entrusted to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB).
A recent audit of the agency by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) determined that the current structure of the board in charge of the IRRRB needs to be improved, and may be subject to a challenge under the Minnesota constitution.
In short, the OLA said the IRRRB lacked proper oversight and there was a lack of proper follow-through in tracking grants and loans given out by the agency.
If passed, Bakk’s bill calls for the IRRRB nine-member board of directors to become an advisory to the commissioner and their yearly budget will have to be approved by the Governor, which follows similar rules of other agencies in the state.
Senator Bakk’s bill is currently tucked into the Omnibus Tax bill, which will come up for a vote in the near future.
Board spending policy debated
Board Chair Tina McKeever asked the board if it wanted to adopt a “Policy of Authority to Expend Funds.” Some townships allow board members to expend up to $200 on township business without it first being okayed by the board, she said.
Supervisor Bruce Martinson said the township needed to set and follow such a policy to legally protect the board.
Longtime Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever said he didn’t think the township needed the new policy. He added that the township would not have a Sugar Loaf Road if they had such a policy in place when the road washed out years ago and he immediately went to work to fix it.
“If it washes out again do you want it fixed or do you want to wait around until we have a meeting and then decide to fix it?” Bill McKeever asked incredulously.
“Maybe we should make a list of what types of emergencies wouldn’t be covered under this policy,” said Tina McKeever.
“I think we need this policy,” reiterated Martinson. “We need to be proactive and try to prevent problems. We could have issues with how we spend money come up if we don’t adopt this.”
“I will call a couple of townships outside Cook and Lake County and see how they handle this and bring that information back to the next board meeting,” said Tina McKeever.
County engineer gives West End road report
County Highway Engineer Dave Betts came before the board with an update on the county’s road work planned for the West End for the coming year and also discussed his department’s plans to address road improvements countywide through 2020.
The big West End project this summer is the $2.5 million job that will take place on Sawbill Trail from Britton Peak to the Honeymoon Trail. Culverts will be replaced and the subgrade will be rebuilt before the 8.44- mile stretch is paved.
Northland Constructors of Duluth began work on May 17 and will try to wrap up the job by mid-August.
Betts said the job came in $400,000 under budget, mostly because of the low bituminous prices.
“This is the lowest bituminous prices I have seen since 2002,” said Betts. “This is due to the cheap price of oil.”
Last year bituminous was going for $55 per ton and this year cost $42 per ton, said Betts.
Future projects include widening the Cramer Road from its current 30 feet to 36-40 feet. “Right of ways on the Cramer are non-existent,” said Betts.
Supervisor Bill McKeever asked Betts if there were any plans to increase the tonnage the Cramer Road could handle so it could be used for commercial trucks. “Transportation drives business,” said McKeever.
“I agree but it would cost $6.5 to $8 million to upgrade the road to the Isak Hansen pit [5-7 miles],” said Betts.
As far as the gravel roads, Betts said, “This has been a weird year for frost.” He told supervisors he suspected that an early thaw, then rain and then a hard freeze, caused many of the roads to heave and form potholes.
“My grader operators are out doing the best they can to fix the roads. They take it personally when the roads get this bad. But some of the graders are too heavy and can’t be used until the road bans are off.”
Fire Department water concerns at Minnesota Power
A brief discussion was held about whether or not the township should enter into an agreement with Minnesota Power to lease a maintenance building that will not be needed once Minnesota Power closes the Taconite Harbor Energy Center this fall. The 6- to 7-year old building has a good source of water that local fire trucks could use in an emergency during the winter. The volunteer Schroeder Fire Department may lose their winter source of water when the plant closes down because they fill up there. No decision was made at the meeting because the cost to lease and heat the building was unknown. The matter will be addressed at an upcoming meeting when those figures are known.
In other business
West End County Commissioner Ginny Storlie gave a brief report about county business. Highlighting her report was the recent meeting commissioners held with the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force on the topic of “sexual exploitation of our youth.” Storlie said there are two safe houses in Duluth that take in kids who were being sexually exploited, and talks would continue between Cook and Lake counties to deal with the problem.
The board also discussed several maintenance projects at the town hall, received the fire report, the search and rescue report, the recreation and cemetery reports, and talked about the storefront loan program and plans to improve the township’s roads and bridges.
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