Tofte Town supervisors tackled a variety of issues at the meeting on February 14, 2013, from funding for roads and fireworks to cell phone tower construction and elections. Money for road work
Because of changes in state legislation, “county state-aid turnback funds” that have been sitting in the County Town Road Account can now be distributed annually to townships that maintain some of their own roads. Previously, the funds could only be released when townships levied a certain amount for specific road and bridge projects.
The two townships with their own roads are Tofte and Schroeder. Fifty percent of the funds are divided up according to the townships’ population, and the other 50 percent of the funds are divided up according to the number of miles of road each township has.
This year, Tofte, with a population of 252 people and .39 miles of road, will receive $4,675.98 and Schroeder, with a population of 211 and 4.67 miles of road, will receive $10,375.02. The disbursements are not likely to be this large each year because several years’ of funding will not have accumulated.
The townships must use the funds for road construction or reconstruction or for maintenance of gravel roads. Cell tower
Supplies have been delivered and construction of the new Tofte cell tower is expected to be done within 30 days, Board Chair Paul James reported. Getting the components attached and up and running will take longer. Clerk Barb Gervais said property owner Dennis Rysdahl had signed the easement. Supervisor King said one more signature was still needed on the deed. Hockey rink and warming house
Supervisor Alan “D.C.” Olsen will be looking into getting new locks for the bathroom doors of the new warming house. He said kids have been accidentally leaving the doors locked when leaving the bathrooms. Locks that automatically unlock when the handle is turned from the inside would work better.
Olsen also said a rubber mat needs to be installed over the floor inside the warming house to protect the concrete from skates. Paul James suggested that they put fencing up on the south end of the hockey rink to catch pucks that keep flying over the boards. Lots of people had participated in recent boot hockey tournaments, he said. “It was great. It’s really good.” Fourth of July fireworks
The board authorized Clerk Gervais to send letters asking Lutsen and Schroeder to each donate $1,500 toward the cost of the Fourth of July fireworks. The total cost is $6,000, which would leave Tofte paying half. Fire Department
Assistant Fire Chief Tim Norman reported that the Tofte crew helped out with the cabin fire at Solbakken Resort in Lutsen. Rescue Squad Chief Louise Trachta noted that the fire broke out within 12 minutes and on the same day of the year that a previous fire had broken out in that cabin. She said they think it was caused by a hot water heater failure.
“Are you sure you guys got it out last year?” said Skip Lamb. Congratulations to Tofte athletes
Two former Birch Grove Community School students— Kyle Martinson and Will Lamb—made it to the state Alpine ski meet, and their team came in fifth.
“Congratulations to our boys’ Alpine ski team!” said Paul James.
Skip Lamb, Will’s grandfather, said a lot of kids fell on the course that day. It was “brutal,” he said.
Kyle is the son of West End Commissioner Bruce Martinson. Shelter for boat at museum
The board voted to pay $6,000 out of the capital fund – a budgeted expenditure – for a shelter for the boat named the Viking to be on display outside the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum in Tofte. North House Folk School is building the shelter. The boat is currently in Two Harbors. Greetings from Hawaii
Treasurer Mary Jane Higgins sent her monthly report from Hawaii. She sent greetings from Oahu. Elections and annual meeting
The elections and annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at Birch Grove Community Center, with elections from 5-8 p.m. and the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Incumbent Supervisor Jim King is running for reelection.
Tofte Treasurer Mary Jane Huggins said she is ready to step down. The owner of Tall Tale Yarn Shop in Tofte, Huggins said the shop is keeping her too busy. Another Huggins—Mary Jane’s husband, Bill Huggins— has decided to run for the position. Huggins previously served as Tofte supervisor and was a member of the school board of School District 166.
The next regular Tofte monthly meeting will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at the Tofte Town Hall.
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