The Township of Tofte is looking for a logo. As the town board gears up to launch a township website, they thought it would be nice to include a logo that reflects what makes Tofte such a special place.
The winning logo will be announced at the Tofte Fourth of July celebration, and its creator will receive an award. The board approved the contest at its May 12 meeting but did not decide what exactly that award would be.
Rules and entry forms can be requested from Town Clerk Barb Gervais at P.O. Box 2293, Tofte, MN 55615, toftemn@boreal.org, or (218)370-0763.
The annual Tofte Fourth of July celebration is a great big event, and more helpers are needed to keep things safe during the fireworks. The law requires that a specified area be cordoned off, and volunteers are needed to help keep people in designated viewing areas. “We really need some more help,” said Supervisor Paul James.
Supervisor Jim King will be in charge of the parade for the second year in a row after the parade’s long history of having no one actually directing things.
On behalf of Tofte, James expressed sincere appreciation to the Township of Schroeder for its $1,000 donation in support of the annual community celebration.
Cemetery tower and plots
The board talked about some legal ambiguity regarding installation of an AT&T communication tower at the cemetery. The board took no action at this point, since the Planning & Zoning Commission had not yet dealt with the company’s request for variances and a conditional use permit.
At press time, Planning & Zoning announced that AT&T had withdrawn its request to install the tower.
The board discussed the possibility of requiring headstones to be put in place within one year of burial. Jerry Gervais said figuring out which spaces are available is difficult when existing plots have not been marked.
At the June meeting, the board plans to discuss setting up a task force to work on how to screen applicants who want to purchase plots there. They talked about whether they should require people who purchase lots (or groups of lots for families) to be current or former residents of Tofte.
1 percent projects
County Commissioner Bruce Martinson talked to the board about developments in the recreational projects to be funded from the county’s 1 percent sales and use tax. He said County Attorney Tim Scannell told him the county cannot legally favor local contractors on the projects.
The board discussed the proposed plan to move numerous outdoor recreational amenities outside the current Community Center in Grand Marais – skate park, playground, hockey rink, and the tennis courts that were newly refurbished last summer — to make room for the proposed new facility. King said the courts the Community Center Steering Committee is proposing to build elsewhere would have a 50-year life instead of the 20-year life the current ones have. James said it looks like the current tennis courts may only have a one-year life.
Birch Grove Community Center
The board issued a verbal invitation to all Lutsen, Schroeder, and Tofte residents to a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9 at Birch Grove Community Center to discuss the improvements that will be made there with 1 percent tax revenue.
The board also approved the final bond payment on the building.
Discussion with hospital administrator
West End resident and North Shore Hospital board member Tom Spence introduced Hospital Administrator Kimber Wraalstad to the board. “She’s very committed to rural health,” he said.
Wraalstad talked about improvements in equipment and services that are now in place at the hospital, including the hiring of two paramedics. “It’s already been really helpful to use when we’ve needed emergency transports and a helicopter was not available,” she said.
Wraalstad talked about ongoing funding challenges at the Care Center. James said the township would be glad to work with the hospital on finding ways to provide the kinds of services that would allow older residents to remain in the community. Spence said he believes the hospital and West End communities should try to develop services that complement each other.
A study of the Care Center is going to be done, and when that happens, Spence said, the hospital should talk to the Tofte town board about what services are needed and what services are possible.
Fire Department
Supervisor King reported that sand, gravel, grit, and debris had filled in around the fire hydrant in the town park so that it is not drawing water nearly as fast as it should. In the absence of Supervisor D.C. Olsen, King and James passed a motion authorizing the fire department to get estimates on hiring a Duluth firm to fix the problem with a highpowered vacuum.
“We need to have it fixed as soon as possible,” said King. “I really don’t want to see this thing drag on for a couple of months.”
James and King also passed a motion to put the old ladder truck up for sale for $5,000, with the proceeds to go into the township general fund.
Park maintenance
Jeremy Somnis discussed with the board the last of the work that needed to be done to repair the dock in the town park. He also handed over his bill, which was higher than expected, but James said that when they approved the job they knew it involved some “unknowns.” It was either fix it or get rid of it, he said.
The board discussed summer landscaping needs in the park. John Nelson has spent the last 12 years or so beautifying the park, James said, and it’s getting to be quite nice now. The board talked with Nelson and Jerry Gervais about planting grass seed. Gervais said the weather has been too cold and wet for grass seed to germinate. James agreed, saying it won’t germinate until the air temperature gets up to 50 degrees. Nelson said, “It might never get to 50 degrees there!”
The board scheduled park cleanup day for June 4, and volunteers are needed. They hope to provide burgers and such again this year. Gervais agreed to post notices for his wife Barb, the town clerk. James said Barb has Jerry well trained, because he’s seen Jerry all over the place with a stapler in his back pocket. Jerry said, “Sometimes it goes off in there, too!”
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