Cook County News Herald

Schroeder Township to order new flagpole




After more then a year of discussion, the Schroeder supervisors have decided to purchase a new flagpole to replace the one out front of the community center.

The new commercial grade 20-foot flagpole will have a satin finish and, unflagged, be able to withstand 163 mile per hour winds. “If we get winds blowing that hard we’ll lose the shingles on the roof,” said Schroeder Fire Chief Phil Bonin.

“If we get winds blowing like that you [Phil] will be down holding onto the fire trucks so they won’t blow away,” said Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever.

Cost of the new pole will be $598, but after paying for shipping it will cost the township more.

Supervisor Tina McKeever asked Treasurer Alicia Kangas if there was enough money in the building fund to purchase the flagpole now, or if they would have to wait. Kangas said the township was a little short of funds but money would be coming in soon and then the flagpole could be ordered. The board agreed to order the flagpole, which will come with a rope and clips, as soon as enough money is in the township coffers.

Fire Chief Bonin said his crew had one call last month. “Just a false alarm,” he said, otherwise things have been quiet.

Supervisor Tina McKeever said the supervisors had sent a letter of support as directed by citizens at the March annual meeting for the Lake County ATV ordinance that would allow ATV traffic on the far right sides of Lake County Roads 7 and 8 lying west of the Lake/Cook county line.

Letters of support had also been sent in support of Minnesota Power’s EnergyForward strategy and its decision to maintain operation of two 75 mega-watt coal-fired generators at Taconite Harbor Energy Center (while complying with all EPA and Minnesota State Pollution standards). An additional letter was sent in support of keeping the post office open in Schroeder.

Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson gave an update about the security measures being discussed at the courthouse and when asked about the proposed AT&T cell phone towers in Tofte and Schroeder he answered, “I don’t know for sure, but it looks like they won’t be doing much until late summer.” The cell phone tower in Schroeder is up but not operational while the site in Tofte has been picked out but there are some issues with clearing the title so it can be transferred to Tofte Township, which needs to be worked out.

Due to the snow, not much is happening in the recreation department. Tina McKeever said that Porta lets will be rented for the summer, beginning in May, for the ball park and harbor, and the dock for Dyers Lake will be put in sometime in May, or when the ice goes out, which ever comes first.

Assistant Clerk Gale Ring said she was willing to get 10 (or so) adults to help spray and kill the tansy at the welcome walls and at the old site of the Cross River Café if the township was willing to spring $33 to pay for the weed killer.

Ring and her crew would also remove existing plants and weeds and figure out what to plant that would look nice but not require much maintenance.

“It might be nice to get the police to park a car there to slow down the traffic when we are working,” Ring said.

The supervisors approved the funds to purchase the weed killer and Ring will begin her quest to find helpers. The owner of the land that the Cross River Café was on will also be contacted before the tansy is sprayed there, said Ring.

The supervisors received a letter from the Birch Grove Foundation asking if they would like to see a computer center for the public to be established at the Birch Grove site. No action was taken but supervisors expressed positive interest in the idea.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.