Senior housing will eventually be built by the Tofte township in this clearing. The township hopes the homes will be in place and ready for rent by October 1, 2015.
On a greening wooded hillside not far above the Birch Grove Community Center work has begun to lay out the lots for Tofte Senior Housing.
Red tape and wooden stakes surround the property where the six duplexes will sit. A well has been dug and a rough road pushed in. But much more needs to be done before Dynamic Homes puts up the duplexes, Jeanne Larson said to her fellow Tofte Supervisors Jim King and Paul James at the May 14, 2015 meeting.
Senior housing won’t be available in July as first hoped, said Larson, “But we expect them to be ready for occupancy by October 1.”
Larson said that all of the amended bid documents were complete for the 12-unit housing project; bids for the groundwork let; and preconstruction land use permits should be in place soon.
The board recently learned that the homes to be constructed by Dynamic Homes won’t come with appliances and they can’t be put on cement slabs as first hoped, which will boost the cost to renters, but how much isn’t known at this time. “We still have a target of renting the homes at somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000 per month,” Larson said.
Amenities such as an outdoor fitness and exercise area, vehicle garages and garbage and recycle areas are also now being looked at.
Three oil and propane companies have said they will submit bids and Dave Rude, a West End electrician, has said he will present a bid on the electrical work to the board on May 26. Specifications for the appliances have also been obtained, and Larson said she has received recommendations for color schemes for those appliances.
During the third week of May the board selected fonts and text to use in advertising on the township’s website, Facebook page and on post cards that will be sent to every mailbox in the county.
“We’re really getting into the details now,” said Larson.
“You’ve been doing a great job,” said Town Board Chair Paul James.
“Our goal is to have the houses ready for occupancy by October 1, 2015,” said Larson. “We hope to take applications by August 1,” she said.
The target goal for rent is still around $1,000 per month, Larson reiterated, but said that until all of the numbers come in for the amenities and ground work, septic, sewer and electrical hookup etc., it’s too early to know what that fee will be.
Board payment and bids
The board adopted a resolution to establish a policy for the compensation and reimbursement for town officers. Township officers, clerks, treasurers will receive $75 per meeting and $20 per hour to attend meetings outside of the township.
If a meeting is more than 30 miles away meals can be reimbursed at a rate of breakfast $10, lunch $12, and supper $15. Mileage will also be covered at the federal government rate (about 59 cents per mile) if an official uses his or her own vehicle.
With the town hall, fire hall and tower and the search and rescue building on Sawbill all needing staining, the board decided to advertise for bids to find a painter who could give each structure two coats of semi transparent oil. Supervisor King and John Nelson will select the type of stain that will be used in the job, but the contractor will purchase the stain. James said the last time the building was stained was 15 years ago when it was built.
John Nelson was awarded the mowing contract (at last year’s rate) for the Town Park and cemetery while Paul James son Joe was awarded the contract to mow the Birch Grove grounds, also at last year’s rate. James recused himself from the discussion and vote when his son was discussed.
Birch Grove planning
James said he met with township officials from Lutsen and Schroeder and with the new Birch Grove director in an effort to determine just what kind of financing the school would need from the community.
“We will meet with her again and come back to the townships at the reconvening of the annual meeting in August and tell the people what we have learned. This way people can vote to give the school exactly what they need. We plan on doing this every year.
“While we want to help the school, we all have fiduciary concerns for the citizens,” James said.
Tofte Park planning
James said he had been thinking about Tofte planning. “I was drinking a cup of coffee and thinking about the park. I hope we don’t lose the uniqueness, the individuality and quaintness of the park. We need to be careful about how we design it. We want people to use it but I hope we don’t put a truck stop in so everyone comes down and looks at the lake,” he said.
King said the township had to be careful. “To an architect, money is no object. We have to be realistic about what goes there.”
“The town doesn’t want to get saddled with ongoing maintenance costs,” added Clerk Barb Gervais.
In other business
. Electrician Dave Rude’s quote of $2,500 to put in a parking lot light at the town hall was unanimously accepted. Rude will put in a 20-foot pole and mount a light on it in a very dark corner of the parking lot.
. Dori Betts has told the township she will return to help organize the Tofte 4th of July events, said Clerk Gervais. “There won’t be a dunk tank this year but there will once again be minnow races and this year we will have bingo,” said Gervais.
Minnesota Power sent a $500 donation and Schroeder Township sent a $1,500 contribution to the Tofte 4th of July fireworks celebration.
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