Whether or not the county should take over plowing a route that previously brought winter income to private businesses was discussed at the Tofte town board meeting Thursday, December 10, 2009.
County Commissioner Bruce Martinson told the board that the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association (LTTA) and the U.S. Forest Service had requested that the county plow the Forest- Service-owned Onion River Road, which has some Cook County residents living along it. The last couple of years, the LTTA paid Jim Koski to plow the first three miles that lead to a trailhead parking lot. In the wintertime, a lot of skiers use the parking lot as a starting point.
On November 17, the county board voted to dedicate county crews to plow the road, although County Engineer Shae Kosmalski said the road would be second priority over things like school bus routes. The county would not guarantee having the road plowed by 9 a.m. or on weekends as Koski did.
Martinson told Tofte supervisors that Kosmalski has asked the county board to revoke its decision to plow. Martinson said Kosmalski thinks the county should not take business away from a private contractor, and the Forest Service complained that small plows could not wing the snow properly. He asked for the Tofte town board’s opinion on who should do the plowing.
Jerry Gervais said residents along the Onion River Road wait for Koski to plow the road before they go out in the wintertime.
Theonly problem with Koski clearing the road is the lack of sand, Supervisor Paul James said. James, who owns a towing business, said the road gets icy, and Koski does not have sanding equipment on his plow truck. “What isn’t plowed is ditch,” James said. He has never pulled people out of the ditch because of snow – he has pulled them out only because of ice.
Why not have a private contractor plow the road and the county sand it? Gervais said. Supervisor DC Olsen said Lutsen Resort has a sander, and Gervais said Bluefin Bay does, too.
“I don’t think the county should come in and put a private contractor out of business,” said Olsen. James agreed.
On the topic of icy roads, Supervisor Tom Muntean reported that the Cramer Road has been icy and needs sand at the top. Commissioner Martinson said he would talk to the county crew about sanding there. Curt Laboda will make sure it’s sanded if requested, Gervais said.
The road should be sanded for the safety of the school kids who ride the bus, said James.
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