On the second Tuesday of March every year, citizens of Minnesota townships gather to elect new representatives and to consider township business. On March 8, 2011, the communities of Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder will do just that. Only one township— Lutsen—has a contested race for the township board. And one township—Schroeder— needs a candidate for treasurer. Interviews with all of the candidates follow.
Lutsen supervisor candidates
Q.
What biographical information would you like to provide?
Marland Hansen:
I was born and raised in Lutsen. I graduated from Cook County High School and then from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. I have worked as a high school teacher, building contractor, bookkeeper, in real estate, as a real estate appraiser and as assistant county assessor. I am married and have two sons and two grandsons.
Lela Goettl:
I live in Lutsen with my husband and three kids. I just received my bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bemidji State University. I have been working as a substitute teacher at Silver Bay and Cook County Schools.
Lutsen Supervisor
Q.
What is, or what do you think would be, the most rewarding thing about serving on the Lutsen town board?
Hansen: Quite a few things, but the most rewarding is keeping things on an even keel, like our town park, the fire department, First Responders. It’s rewarding to keep a good feeling within the township.
Goettl: I’m sure it would be getting more involved in the community.
Q.
Lutsen Township is studying its space needs—for the fire department and the town hall. Do you think the township should support an expansion/renovation of the township building?
Hansen: Right now we’re looking into this; the fire department wants this. The fire department wants space for about five trucks. We have space for four. I see the need for space for four, plus space for town meetings. What we have is basically office space. When we built it, it was all we could afford. We need space not just for town meetings, but also for the people who live in the township who need meeting space.
Goettl: I support it. Schroeder and Tofte have newer facilities. Lutsen is falling behind. The fire department needs it and we need more meeting space. For instance, at last week’s meeting, we ran out of chairs and it wasn’t even a big meeting. The township doesn’t have a place for community events.
Tofte Supervisor
Q.
What biographical information would you like to provide?
Allan “DC” Olsen: I
went to Cook County High School and then on to UMD, graduating in 1973. I was in the Air Force and the Air National Guard for 22½ years. I flew for a private airline in Alaska before moving back to Cook County. I am currently semi-retired. I work as town supervisor as well as computer network administrator at Birch Grove Community Center and I do a little bit of computer work for Lutsen Resort.
Q.
What do you think is the most rewarding thing about serving on the Tofte town board?
Olsen: Just seeing the progress we are making while keeping taxes down. Our taxes may be even lower this year. Keeping our community center and getting the cell phone tower will mean a lot.
Q.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Tofte right now? Olsen: Probably the biggest issue right now is with the Cemetery Road [Tofte Homestead Road]. Our other roads at the town park and Birch Grove are okay, but the Cemetery Road really needs some work—maybe $30,000 or so. We’re budgeting now for 2012, but we’d like to see the road improvements this summer. That’s probably the biggest issue. Who knows what it will be in three more years?
Schroeder Supervisor
Q.
What biographical information would you like to provide? Bill McKeever: I was born in Two Harbors, went to school in Beaver Bay and Tofte and graduated from Cook County High School. I’ve been working in Cook County ever since, operating McKeever Well Drilling for 49 years. I’ve been on the town board “forever.” The first township meetings were held in my house, back when we formed as Taconite Harbor. It was important to do that to receive taconite tax relief. Later we expanded to become Schroeder Township.
Q.
What do you think is the most rewarding thing about serving on the Schroeder town board?
McKeever: I get self-satisfaction from keeping things going. I am a strong believer in grassroots government. I am skeptical about government grants—there are often too many strings attached. I think the people who are paying the money, the taxes, should have a say in what happens in the township. Of course, there are sometimes people who don’t agree with you and you wind up with enemies, but overall it is a very satisfying role.
Q.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Schroeder right now?
McKeever: Keeping it in the black. We have nothing major planned, but we are still faced with possible loss of revenue. We need to just try to keep things going.
Lutsen Treasurer
Q.
What biographical information would you like to provide? John Groth: I’ve lived here since 2002 when I moved to Lutsen to be the postmaster. I started at the post office in the 1970s. I’ve been Lutsen Treasurer for seven years and have also served on the fire department since 2002 and as a First Responder since 2003. I am married to Valerie and we have one son, Zack.
Q.
Just what does the treasurer do for the township of Lutsen?
Groth: The treasurer keeps a set of books for the township, using CTAS software. The supervisors approve expenditures— I provide data for the supervisors to make informed and up-to-date decisions. The clerk and I work together to watch over the funds of the township. During my time as treasurer, I have helped bring in over $350,000 in grants and donations to the township to replace fire department and First Responder equipment and to offset taxpayer dollars.
Q.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing Lutsen right now?
Groth: Right now I think the biggest issue is the lack of space for the fire department, First Responders, and the township. All you need to do is come to a meeting or event. We are standing room only. There is no room for training or to use as a community meeting space.
Tofte Treasurer
Mary Jane Huggins: The News-Herald was unable to reach incumbent Tofte Treasurer Mary Jane Huggins before going to press, however Huggins did file for re-election. Huggins has lived in Tofte for 30 years. She operates the Tall Tale Yarn and Basket Shop and also works part-time for the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association. She told the News-Herald during the filing period that she was running again because she wants to give something back to the community. “I enjoy working with our board of supervisors and our town clerk,” said Huggins. “They do a great job.”
Schroeder Treasurer
Mary VanDoren has served as Schroeder treasurer for 12 years. She did not file for re-election and has announced that she would rather not continue. “I wish someone would step forward to take on the position, but if no one does, I will do it.”
Get out and vote!
Tuesday, March 8
Polls open at the respective town halls at 5:00 p.m. Polls close at 8:00 p.m. and the town meetings immediately follow.
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