At the Tofte Township January 10 meeting supervisors prepared for the New Year by looking back and updating projects begun, but not completed, in the last year.
One main topic was the ongoing search for government money and a developer/ owner for the construction of senior housing in Tofte. This was discussed at some length in a conference call with Dick Grabko of Community Fundraising Solutions.
Grabko was hired by the township last year to help find a developer and to help the township secure government grants and loans associated with building senior housing.
To date, several builders—the last one from St. Cloud—expressed initial interest only to drop by the wayside for one reason or the other. Grabko said he has found a couple of new developers who might want to take on the project, but it would be springtime before he could get a definitive answer from them.
Grabko also said, “I think the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA [Economic Development Authority] should have an interest in this. We shouldn’t rule them out. Most developments of this size are done by EDAs.”
Tofte Township is trying to have senior housing built so that when seniors can no longer take care of their homes they still have the option of living in the community.
The township purchased 29 acres of land above the Birch Gove Community Center that the housing will be built upon. The township is hoping for a grant of $350,000 from the Iron Range Resources Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) to develop the infrastructure for the housing, and that is also something Grabko is helping with.
In a cost-saving move, the board approved refinancing the bond dedicated to paying for the 29 acres at 3.75 percent interest, down two points from the current rate. Tofte Clerk Barb Gervais said the township would pay the same amount of money per month but will save $16,689 over the life of the bond because of the lower interest rate.
Grabko told the board he will continue to seek prospective developers and will talk to the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA about its plans to possibly partner with the township on building senior housing.
Slowing down speeding traffic in Tofte
Gervais also told the board that the Minnesota Department of Transportation would be setting up a digital/solar traffic sign for Tofte in the next week or so.
The speed zone sign will be like the one posted on Highway 61 into Grand Marais, said Gervais, and will record the speed of cars and keep a count of the cars on Highway 61. Currently the speed limit is 40 mph through the town, but motorists in a hurry often exceed the speed limit.
Paul James, who chairs the township board, asked if the digital sign also recorded license plate numbers and if it did could speeding tickets be sent directly to offenders—at least ones living outside the township, he said to laughter.
“We could pay for a lot of things for the township off those revenues,” James said.
Gervais said that she didn’t think so but that the sign should help people to be more aware of their speed and slow down through the downtown area.
Fire Department festivities
Because Fire Chief Rich Nelson couldn’t attend the meeting, EMS Chief Louise Trachta gave both the rescue squad and fire department reports.
In her rescue squad report Trachta noted that her crews responded to 52 calls last year, 10 percent more than the year before. She also told the board that seven of her crew were currently getting updated medical training in Grand Marais, and that they would be certified for another two years upon completion of that training.
Trachta said there were no calls for the fire department during the last month, but the crews had been putting water on the Birch Grove skating rink as needed.
Regarding flooding the skating rink, Trachta said Fire Chief Nelson wanted to clarify that the fire department had not asked to be paid for providing water for the Birch Grove ice. “Last month the newspaper reported that the fire department had asked to be paid for this service, but in fact Birch Grove volunteered to pay for this service. Richie [Fire Chief Rich Nelson] didn’t want anyone to think the fire department was out trying to make money,” said Trachta.
Trachta also told the board that Lutsen Township is planning a grand opening for its new fire hall in the next 60 days or so, and they are inviting all three fire fighting departments (Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder). Trachta said Lutsen was hoping to get some financial help to stage the party.
Supervisor Jim King made a motion supporting the request made by Lutsen Township and it was passed unanimously with no set dollar amount for the party. “Call and find out how much we should send for the party,” said King to Trachta, adding, “Just make sure it isn’t in the millions.”
In other business:
The board made a motion to hire A1-Fencing from Carlton, Minnesota to install a chain link fence around the hockey rink at a cost of $1,618.73. A worker from the company will come in the next week or two and install the fencing, said Supervisor D.C. Olson.
Three of Tofte’s best—Diane Norman, Julie Rannetsberger and Barb Gervais—were appointed to the absentee ballot board.
Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said that an application for the proposed Tofte cell phone tower has been submitted and that “we are still waiting for the title to clear.”
He said once that happens the proposal would go before the Cook County Planning and Zoning board for review in either March or April.
Jim King said the township’s attorneys told him the title for the proposed cell phone tower should be cleared by the end of January.
The board scheduled a 2014 budget meeting for Thursday, February 7. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. at the town hall.
Loading Comments