Supervisor Lynn Rose was unpleasantly surprised back in May when visiting Grandview Park to find that the park outhouse had not been locked over the winter. It would not have been a problem, except that someone saw the unlocked door as an opportunity to do some mischief. Checking the outhouse to make sure everything was in order, Rose found someone had been leaving garbage there throughout the winter. The clean up cost for the township was $560.
During the July meeting, Rose informed the other supervisors that the outhouse had again been misused. Breaking the lock on the toilet paper dispenser, a person made off with four rolls of toilet paper.
The supervisors all expressed frustration that the free service was repeatedly being misused. Remedies ranged from buying another paper dispenser and increasing surveillance to shutting down the outhouse. However, noting the likelihood that these problems were due to only a couple individuals, the supervisors agreed to keep the outhouse open.
“I’m for putting faith in humanity just one more time,” Supervisor Andrew Beavers put in, and suggested that they leave the outhouse open another year with more signage, including a warning that the exterior of the outhouse is being monitored. The other supervisors agreed.
A few changes for Lutsen Fire Department
Fire Chief Larry McNeally has been working to improve the fire department in a number of ways, from dealing with old equipment that has collected over the years to updating Lutsen Fire Department’s rules and regulations.
The supervisors were quick to agree during their June meeting that McNeally knew best how to dispose of old and outdated equipment and made a motion giving him the authority to get rid of it.
McNeally also brought an updated version of Lutsen Fire Department’s rules and regulations to the July meeting based on revisions that were suggested in June. There had been a couple of changes the supervisors did not agree with, including lowering the minimum recruitment age to 18 and enabling the department to hire firefighters who also served departments in other townships or who did not reside in Lutsen.
Regarding the first revision, Supervisor Rose pointed out that 18 was not a stable age and investing in that age group would not be a wise use of funds. “It is a lot of money to train them. It is a lot of money to equip them. And they are not usually permanent residents,” said Rose. “I feel 18 is too young simply because 18-year-olds come and go.”
The supervisors also agreed that, while hiring firefighters from outside Lutsen or who were already working with another department had its benefits, there were too many complications to make it worthwhile.
Changes that the supervisors approved involved clarifying the chain of command and the process for electing officers and determining whether firearms should be permitted during meetings or on emergency runs. The supervisors noted that to carry a gun is a right, but that they should remain concealed.
After reviewing a draft with the proposed changes prior to the July meeting, the supervisors unanimously approved the revised draft of the department’s rules and regulations. McNeally said the next step would be to run it by the rest of the firefighters.
In other business
. McNeally had noted several months ago that some electrical work needed to be done on the fire hall. During their June meeting, the supervisors unanimously approved a motion to allow McNeally to authorize the electrical work should he be satisfied with the bid he is expecting to receive from electrician John Woerheide.
. The supervisors also approved a motion to change the cleaning schedule for the town hall to twice a month and before public events. There had been a few complaints about the cleanliness of the town hall. However, supervisors agreed that upping the cleaning frequency to once a week would cause problems for the budget and was unnecessary. It is hoped that keeping cleanings to every other week with the addition of cleanings before public events as well will be sufficient.
. Treasurer and Assistant Fire Chief John Groth informed supervisors of a new Minnesota statute permitting both first responders and firefighters to receive benefits from the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). This required a small change since first responders had not previously been eligible for PERA and the departments have one member who only serves on the EMS. In recognition of the new statute, the board approved a motion to include the first responder on the PERA plan.
. The supervisors had discussed over the last few meetings whether or not the town hall was in need of another paint job. The supervisors agreed that the project could wait another year or two and they would revisit it at a future meeting.
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