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A full agenda at the May Fall Lake Township meeting Tuesday evening followed after the minutes of last month’s meeting were corrected.
There was a discrepancy in the wage election judges were paid. Clerk Cheri De-Beltz will look back at the 2024 reorganizational meeting minutes. Election judges were paid $15 an hour, but the wage had been increased to $20 an hour.
Supervisor Eric Hart had an extensive report addressing the many road issues on the township’s 19 miles of roads. Supervisors drove all township roads, with the exception of Snowbank Road, which will be inspected on May 8.
Grading is needed on most roads, but the biggest issue is all roads need to have a better crown to allow water to run off them rather than sitting on the road and making potholes. Clean up of pushed up gravel, brushing, and ditching are needed on a majority of township roads. Gravel hauling is needed on a few roads.
Aurora Road, Maple Road, North Pine Road, Point Drive, and Winton Point Road were all in good shape and didn’t require any immediate attention. Pine Road needs the turnaround fixed, and White Iron Beach Road needs a culvert reset. A bad culvert on the Circle Drive loop and will be replaced.
The Cloquet Line needs brushing and cutting of trees at the county line, remove logs in the road, grading and chloride.
The Dam Road needs the most attention with gravel, grading, brushing, possibly installing a culvert and removing a protruding rock.
Hart said the reroute on Sunset Road was moving ahead. The new portion of the road going into Sunset would not have a stop sign, but a stop sign would be in place as traffic comes out of Sunset. This road needs an improved crown, and more brushing, ditching and a culvert once the water slows down.
As to renaming the old portion of Sunset Road, Hart said the property owners would have to contact the Sheriff’s Department for the name desired.
A letter was received from concerned citizens on Sunset Road complaining about the road condition being too dusty. Chloride had been applied last year, but after a rainstorm the road was muddy.
The letter stated other township roads are in better condition, but the supervisors said Sunset Road gets far more traffic, many from the Town of Morse section of the road. Mike DeVos compared the Voyageur Road with Sunset Road, but Voyageur Road has about a dozen property owners on the road.
Hart said a better gravel should be used on Sunset, but the township has only $25,000 budgeted for all 19 miles of township roads. The 2025 budget was set at the 2024 annual meeting, and the 2026 budget was set at the 2025 annual meeting. Sunset citizens need to attend the annual meetings to address their issues.
Supervisor Craig Seliskar has lined up purchasing chloride from Enviro Tech. The board approved the purchase for $15,532. He said he watched Clyde Peterson run his new brush mower and said is works well. The board approved hiring Peterson to brush township roads and areas at the transfer site.
The board also will continue with Lakeside Services for land mowing and added the area around the propane tanks to be cleared.
Another Fall Lake resident asked if the township fixes culverts off township roads. A collapsed culvert is on his driveway off Sellwood Drive, but this would not be an obligation to the township to fix.
A letter was received from Christine McCarthy, Lake County Environmental Services director regarding vacation rental limits in Fall Lake Township. Planning and zoning is revisiting the maximum number of interim use permits for vacation rentals homes permitted.
Based on the data used in 2022, three percent of the 899 homes in Fall Lake Township would allow 27 interim use permits (IUP permits).
Currently there are six permitted vacation rentals in Fall Lake, and the county is offering an opportunity to reconsider Fall Lake board’s position on limiting the number of IUP permits.
Lake County Commissioner Joe Baltich spoke on this issue. He said the IUP permits are for one year, but some are renting for longer terms. Baltich said he is opposed to these rentals, especially because he is a resort owner. The board has until May 9 to respond to McCarthy if they want reduce the number vacation rentals in the township.
A question was asked about having vacation rentals on a private road. Baltich said the county is looking to have a policy on private roads.
Baltich said the county is working on clarifying the use of the additional monies sent to the township for the Ely Area Ambulance Service. He said a policy for the ambulance service is being worked on with the county auditor. The next check will state the money is to go to the Ely Area Ambulance Service.
A separate amount, $6,400, goes to the Joint Powers Ambulance Board to pay for building expenses.
Baltich also spoke on the Lake County HRA Home Rehabilitation Program that will provide up to $10,000 loans to eligible homeowners to help fix plumbing and heating problems, windows, roofs, etc. at their single-family residence. Interested Fall Lake residents can contact Matthew Johnson at 218834-8332 or email him at [email protected]. mn.us Baltich has been in contact with a small engineering company in Two Harbors that would be interesting in helping the proposed Community Center committee. He suggested inviting his contact to a meeting or conduct a meeting by Zoom.
Regarding the purchase of the parking lot area from Lake County, Nate Eide and Matt Huddleston are working on a way to legally obtain the lot for free.
Baltich said Two Harbors had a cleanup day where people disposed of mattresses, construction materials and other items. Fall Lake had a semi trailer at the transfer station years ago for a similar cleanup for the township. Baltich will ask the county if they would be willing to do this again.
Dean Barrett said the transfer site in now open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for the summer. He said Monday was busy, and garbage pick-up is scheduled for Wednesdays.
Barrett asked if the bins could be moved, but Seliskar said leveling the area where they are would be better. Seliskar will order more trash bags for the transfer station.
The township will not be permitting the work Zito will be doing. That is through the county, and Zito will submit a list of roads it will be working on.
Emily Seliskar reported on her attending the Minnesota Association of Township Short Course.
In correspondence:
• Received a notice from RAMS that there is a vacancy on their board.
• Received an invitation from the Minnesota Association of Townships to attend a Braver Angels workshop.
• Received information from Jason DiPiazza the Lake County Highway Engineer about a planned improvement project on Highway 2 between Forest Highway 11 and MN Hwy 1. There will be a road closure planned to occur between July 7 and Sept. 20.
• Received information from Nate Eide, Lake County Land Commissioner, about a Lake County oral timber auction to be on June 4 at the Lake County Highway Department Conference Room.
• Several recreation funds requests were granted. $400 to NER Golf, $400 to Iron Hawks Golf and Fishing and $1,000 to the Ely Events Group for Rock the Park and Ely fireworks.
• Local Board of Appeal will be held on Thursday, May 8 at 1 p.m.
• The next Morse/Fall Lake Fire meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at Morse town hall at 6 p.m.
• The next regular Fall Lake Township meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 6 p.m.
• The Lake County Meeting of the Whole will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m.
