New supervisor Sarah Somnis
Tofte supervisors held a busy meeting on April 14, much of reorganizational in nature. Paul James was reelected to the chair position for the coming year while Jeanne Larson will serve as vice chair.
In board liaison appointments James was assigned to work with the park and cemetery committees while Larson kept the fire/rescue departments. New board member Sarah Somnis took over the liaison appointments formerly held by Jim King on the Birch Grove Community School, Birch Grove building and W.E. Connect (formerly called Birch Grove Foundation) committees. She defeated King in the last election and is assuming many of his duties.
Rich Nelson was reappointed Tofte Fire Chief.
“This will make 18 years that I served as the township’s fire chief and it will mark my 36th year in the fire department,” Nelson said. “Every year I say this might be my last year, but I guess I will go one more year despite what my wife tells me.”
Phil Bonin and Kim Jahnke will again serve as co-chiefs of the Rescue Squad.
After reviewing a disability/ accident quote from an insurance company to add rescue squad members who weren’t part of the Tofte Fire Department to the policy for $50 per member per year, the board voted to accept the quote.
New building for Sugarbush Trail Association?
Steve Schug, president of the Sugarbush Trail Association came before the board with a request to allow the association to put up a bigger storage building or add onto the one they now use that sits on township property. The building the club owns now is “bursting at the seams,” he said.
“This is a preliminary request,” said Schug. “We haven’t sought grant funding yet and we don’t even know the size of the building we would need at this point.”
After some discussion it was determined there isn’t enough room to add a bigger building on that site. “And,” said James, “I don’t think with the shape your current building is in, it would be something you would want to add onto.”
James suggested the association—which grooms and cares for 60 kilometers of cross country ski trails—look at pairing with another group like the sheriff ’s department which needs room for equipment in Tofte.
James added that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources had cut funding to snowmobile clubs by 10 percent, so in the future, with money getting tighter, clubs would need to find creative solutions to share buildings and even equipment and work together.
“If there is some economy to share space, we will look into it,” said Schug.
Land swap may benefit township
West End Commissioner Ginny Storlie said that after many years—15 or more— the U.S. Forest Service was nearing completion of a land swap that would give the township 60 acres of land adjoining the 29-acre Birch Grove parcel on the west.
The land swap is for Cook County property trapped in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) that can’t be developed and after the exchange will become part of the park.
“It’s in the hands of a lawyer now,” Storlie said.
The new addition of land, said Supervisor Larson is “good news for the township.”
Ideas for the property have included building an R.V. and camping park or using it to put in more housing, even establishing an apple orchard, she said.
Larson said she was currently working with Andy Hubley of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) to seek funds to form a 25-year master plan for the township and this new land could figure prominently in that plan.
Cost to form a master plan is estimated at $20,000. Larson said Hubley and ARDC would seek grants from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation to pay for the master plan.
Township to restore school/community center grounds
Once again the issue of who to bill for work that needs to be done to restore the ground that was damaged when the outdoor classroom building was removed came up. The outdoor classroom sat near Birch Grove Community School on township property and was used by the school.
James said it made little sense to bill the school for the work because the township is helping the financially strapped school pay its bills now. He also said the person who purchased the building and moved it was under no contractual obligation to fix the ground.
The building was sold for over $40,000 to generate funds for Birch Grove
Community School. The purchaser essentially gifted that money to the school because they have no use for the building and are trying to sell it to recoup their funds.
“They made a verbal agreement to fix the land once the building was removed,” said Larson
“Maybe. But how could we prove that?” said James. “In the future we need to get everything in writing and put it in a contract. We didn’t do that here. Let’s pay for the work and move on.”
The board voted 3-0 and the township will pay to have the grounds restored.
Housing still on hold
Larson gave a brief update about the work to build 12 homes above the Birch Grove Community Center. “The township is still waiting to hear if the legislators are going to pass the tax bill this year,” Larson said.
Legislative language written last year by Senator Tom Bakk and the late Representative David Dill would give the township the right to manage and oversee the housing project. Last year the bill didn’t pass and the township has been stuck in limbo waiting for a decision this year. Larson said all indications are that the legislators will pass the bill this spring.
In other business
. Supervisors voted to keep the Grand Marais State Bank as the town’s official bank depository and the Cook County News-Herald will once again serve as the official newspaper.
. James said the part-time maintenance coordinator position at Birch Grove Community Center had been filled and the new employee was doing a good job.
. Clare and Dan Shirley introduced themselves as the new owners of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. Clare said they had bought the business from her parents Bill and Cindy Hansen. They requested that the town board support the renewal of the 3.2 liquor license for Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. The board agreed to send the county a letter affirming its support for the license.
Leave a Reply