Danna MacKenzie of the Cook County Broadband Initiative (CCBI) attended the May 12, 2009 Schroeder Township meeting to explain the significance of potential broadband internet service to Cook County. She said defining why the service is needed is difficult. “It’s a little like when Boreal Access, the local internet provider, started,” she said. “We couldn’t explain how reliant we would become on e-mail, but we knew everyone would want this technology someday. That is where we are with broadband.”
She said the idea of creating a broadband network for the county began over a year ago with discussion of how a 1% sales tax could benefit the county and its visitors. Cook County received a grant from the Blandin Foundation to conduct market analysis and to build a model of what a broadband network would look like—and cost. That information is not yet available, but MacKenzie said the county is “ahead of the game” now that there may be economic stimulus funding available to bring broadband to rural areas. MacKenzie said the CCBI is now working on grant applications for that stimulus money.
MacKenzie said Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. is working with CCBI, which she said is appropriate because the project needed a sponsor that could serve the entire county.
Schroeder supervisor Cathy Johnson said she had talked to Qwest, asking if it had plans to expand its DSL internet service. She said she learned it was unlikely since the company would need to install remote terminals every two to three miles at a cost of $100,000 per terminal. MacKenzie said part of the study includes looking at what current providers, like Qwest, are doing. She said CCBI is not ready to release costs yet, but noted that the project won’t be feasible unless the cost to consumers is reasonable.
Schroeder citizens like Tina McKeever shared anecdotes of the difficulty they have had obtaining internet service. McKeever said she had to have highs-speed internet for her job to even consider moving to Schroeder. She is at the “very end” of a high-speed line from Tofte and has faced challenges receiving consistent service. MacKenzie asked citizens to contact her with their problems with obtaining internet service and how they would benefit from high-speed internet service.
Supervisor Ross Willson said it is important to support the broadband initiative, reiterating what MacKenzie said about future use of broadband. “We don’t even know the uses we will need. Thisis a system for 50 years from now,” he said.
Willson made a motion to draft a letter of support for the Broadband Initiative grant application. Johnson seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Residents wishing to add their own note of support may send an e-mail to MacKenzie at Danna. MacKenzie@co.cook.mn.us.
Support for ATVs on Cramer
As part of his report, Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked the town board how it felt about the proposed Cook County ordinance regarding Class 1 ATV use on county roads. He said he had heard from members of the Tofte Timberwolves Sportsmen’s Club that they would like the ordinance expanded to allow all-terrain vehicle (ATV) traffic on the inner ditch bank and shoulder of the paved portion of the Cramer Road. Theproposed ordinance only opens the road shoulders on gravel roads.
“As long as gravel is allowed, why not the paved?” asked supervisor Bill McKeever. He said riding the ditch bottom or outer ditch bank puts ATVs on private property. “I’d rather see them on the road.”
After only brief discussion, supervisors passed a unanimous motion supporting ATV use on the far right side of the paved portion of the Cramer Road to reach the gravel part of the road and adjoining forest roads. “As long as they follow the rules of the road,” said Supervisor Johnson.
Sewer District questions
The board read a letter from constituent Tom Spence, who questioned the need for the Tofte-Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District (TSSSD). Spence wrote that when the district was formed in July 1999, he was one of its biggest proponents. He said he felt a sanitary sewer system to serve both townships was a “noble goal.” However, he wrote that everyone now realizes a sewer system is just not feasible, as it would be far too costly to citizens. Spence said the district has evolved to be a “middle man,” seeking grants for septic system inspections and aid in building infrastructure. He pointed to the sewer district donation to the Birch Grove Community Center septic system as an example of how Tofte has benefited from the sewer district. He questioned how Schroeder benefits from being in the sewer district and asked the town board to consider disbanding the sewer district or allowing Schroeder to get out of the district.
McKeever recalled his opposition at the formation of the sewer district. “We said the geology of the area made a ‘big pipe’ system not feasible. And, I said once we get started with this, we won’t be able to get out.”
Rick Anderson, the Schroeder representative on TSSSD, said it is possible to get out of the district, but that it would not be easy. “The first step is for Schroeder to submit a letter asking to get out of the district. You’ll have to explain how all the conditions—failing septics, environmentally sensitive areas, and so on—have been taken care of.” Anderson acknowledged that Spence might be right, that Tofte and Schroeder are going in “different directions.” He said, “But I believe that the core of Schroeder won’t grow without some sort of sewer system. There is no way to build along Highway 61 without some kind of septic line.”
“If you get out of the sewer district, it will be tough to get back in,” added Anderson. “If septics do fail and we decide to try to get a municipal system, it will be a lot more expensive.”
Anderson said the debt from the 1999 engineering work for the potential shared sanitary sewer system would be paid off in August 2009. He said citizens of the sewer district would be invited to a meeting in June 2009 to discuss the future of the TSSSD.
In other business, supervisors reappointed Supervisor Bill McKeever as board chair for 2009. They also assigned areas of responsibility, with McKeever accepting oversight of roads; Johnson, recreation; and Ross Willson, cemetery.
Assistant Clerk Gail Ring reported that a portable toilet had been ordered for the Schroeder harbor area. Ring said the township had ordered one portable toilet, to save money.
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