One of the first items of business for the Tofte Town Board at its April 14 meeting was approval of minutes. In addition to the regular meeting minutes, there were minutes of the Tofte Design Review Board which had met to consider the design of the “proposed AT&T wireless communication facility” at the Tofte Cemetery. The design review board approved plans and the matter now goes to the Cook County Planning & Zoning Commission at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 for its review and possible approval. The meeting will be held in the Cook County commissioner’s room.
The minutes describe the “wireless communication facility” as a 12×20-foot equipment shelter, which will have “earth tone colors” for both siding and shingles. The fence around the building will also be wood and “earth tone in color.” Access to the facility will be across the Bluefin Bay maintenance/wood lot.
Not in the minutes is a description of the tower itself. At a November 17, 2010 meeting, AT&T’s Ken Nielsen said AT&T hopes to install a 130 – 140-foot “stealth” tower. It is small enough that no aviation warning lights or guy wires need to be used.
The design review board noted Nielsen’s presentation at the November 2010 meeting and follow-up discussion at the township’s annual meeting in March 2011. Supervisor Paul James said there was no opposition to the tower at either of those meetings.
Design Review Board members Paul James, Allan “DC” Olsen, Jim King and Tammy Rude, absent board member Scott Berry, voted to approve the design and forward that approval to Cook County Planning & Zoning.
Clerk Barb Gervais said soil borings for the tower were scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 20.
The tower would generate $800 per month for the township for the next 30 years under the proposed lease agreement.
Bluefin, Surfside tax assessment reviews
Most of the Taxation Board of Adjustment meeting held before the regular April 14 meeting was used to discuss concerns of Dennis Rysdahl, owner of Bluefin Bay and Surfside Resort. Rysdahl first sought a reduction to the taxes assessed to the Bluefin Bay company for the land on which the Tofte Lake Walk passes. Rysdahl said the land adds value to the restaurant and the Bluefin condo owners, but he questioned if the value was proper. He suggested halving the amount assessed.
Supervisor Jim King said the lake walk and therefore the land is important to the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum. Supervisor Paul James noted that there is no way that anything could be built on the land in question. King moved and James seconded a motion to reduce the assessment of the two parcels of land between the fishing museum and Bluefin Bay. With Supervisor Olsen abstaining because of possible conflict, the parcels were reduced from $51,200 to $17,000 for the lot with the historic boat house on it and from $75,000 to $25,000 for the lake walk parcel.
Supervisor James explained the decision by stating, “I am adamant about this. It’s public land. It’s been used by this town, by guests of this town, for years. For a private landowner to be taxed this highly is not right.”
Rysdahl also asked the township to reevaluate the assessment of Surfside Resort’s check-in office and laundry/utility building. He said because the real estate market has been slow, his bank required a new appraisal, which was done by F.I. Salter. He said that appraisal came back low and the appraiser told him the county should consider the price of the lots in its assessment. It was agreed that the township board of adjustment and County Assessor Mary Black should visit the Surfside facility to discuss this further. A meeting was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. The board of adjustment will reconvene on May 2 at 3:00 p.m. at the Tofte Town Hall to reach a decision.
Survey for Tofte Homestead Road
The board reviewed two bids for survey work on the Tofte Homestead Road in preparation for upcoming road improvements. The bid from Surveyor Jeff Brett was selected as it was lower than the other bid and Brett has the wetland certification that would be needed for the job.
Tofte’s 1% project
Supervisor Olsen reported on a meeting he attended with the county commissioners and ORB Management. He said the county has no problem with releasing funds for the Birch Grove Community Center project, however, since ORB is overseeing the county’s 1% projects the “easiest and cleanest” way to handle the upcoming work is for Tofte to have a contract with ORB Management. Olsen said there would be no charge to the township for the contract, but noted that the contract was “16 pages long.” He recommended that the township have its attorney review the contract but suggested approving the contract, contingent on the attorney’s okay. A motion passed to that effect.
Olsen said the Center for Changing Landscapes, which has been working with Birch Grove on the proposed improvements, would be at Birch Grove in the coming week. He said the work on the Birch Grove kitchen will likely begin in June and should be complete by July 4.
In other business:
The town passed a motion supporting renewal of the 3.2-percent alcohol license for Sawbill Outfitters.
Supervisor Olsen, the township’s liaison with the Birch Grove Community Center, said there are problems with the cement sidewalks installed last year. He will contact the contractor to see if the concerns about cracking can be addressed.
The board acknowledged receipt of a letter from the US Postal Service in response to the town’s request to make the position of Tofte postmaster Paul Hansen permanent. Hansen has served as postmaster since the retirement of Priscilla Reveir in January 2009. Although he works fulltime, he does not have benefits because his status is still considered temporary. The Postal Service reply informed the township that it was still unable to hire Hansen permanently because the post office is still under a hiring freeze. The town board said it will periodically make the request again. Supervisor Olsen said, “He does an excellent job for us.”
The town board passed motions reappointing Rich Nelson as Tofte fire chief, Louise Trachta as EMS Chief, and Paul James as Tofte board chair.
The board agreed to hold a cleanup day at the Tofte Park again this year. They will decide on the date at the May meeting. Work that needs to be done to the Tofte Park dock was also discussed.
Fire Chief Rich Nelson gave a report on fire department training, such as the April 9 controlled burn in Lutsen, regular monthly training which included practice with the new Tofte ladder truck, the upcoming Emergency Services Conference in Grand Marais with a mock plane crash, and a visit from the Mesabi Range Technical College Fire Program burn trailer on May 1. In addition, Tofte will take part in traditional West End “May Day” training on May 7.
Chief Nelson and the town board expressed appreciation to EMS Director Louise Trachta and firefighter David Monson for traveling to Spring Grove, MN to pick up the new-used ladder truck.
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