The Fall Lake Township meeting last week had roads as one of the top topics under discussion.
Mike DeVos had requested to be on the agenda to request a long-term township road improvement plan. He said he had looked over the Braun Intertec roadway report and asked if there were any plans to address the concerns long-term.
Seliskar said the board does plan to move ahead, but keeping within the township’s means to improve our roads. No timeline has been set. He said gravel is put on roads, and grading and brushing is done.
DeVos asked if there was a plan to set aside additional funds for all township roads.
“Not really,” said Seliskar. “We have increased our levy over the past years to help out.”
DeVos mentioned several trouble areas.
“Unless we plan for a dedicated road improvement plan and dedicated funds for it, I don’t see the roads improving in the long-term,” said DeVos.
“Actually, we do have dedicated funds for our roads,” said Supervisor Eric Hart. “As of this year, we have already spent $109,922.45 on our township roads.”
Hart then gave figures of the amount of funds spent on Sunset Road. In 2023 it was $17,880.00 and in 2020 it was $18,000.55.
“This year alone we have spent $47,727.75 on Sunset Road,” said Hart. “There is a large chunk of our money that is part of our budget that goes towards Sunset, but we have 19 plus miles of that we do have to maintain.”
DeVos said the two worst spots were worked on last year, but they still remain the two worst spots that don’t have proper drainage. He requested a five or 10-year plan to tackle these problem areas, and have this addressed at the annual meeting.
Hart explained that every year the board has a budget meeting to discuss how much money to put into the road fund and what are the top priorities. That’s when the levy is increased.
DeVos pushed for a formal plan to address township roads.
Another resident said a lot of money was spent on the new entrance on Sunset Road, and asked why the rest of the road wasn’t fixed. Hart said the township paid a small amount for the engineering for the entrance. The rest of the money came from a state grant.
“I talked to the county engineer,” said Lake County commissioner Joe Baltich. “He couldn’t believe we got the new entrance, but it was because of the safety issue.”
Seliskar suggested hiring a consultant firm to assess the road issues on Sunset Road. Supervisor Adam Masloski added that such a report is expensive, and the mechanisms for getting money for that are to raise people’s taxes or a special assessment to property owners on the road.
The topic of the $22,000 spent on the application of chloride was brought up. In the case of the Cloquet Line, continued application is part of that road project plan. Chloride was also applied to Sunset Road.
Some residents spoke up and said they didn’t like the chloride because it’s a chemical that goes into the water. Others spoke up and said they didn’t like the dust. Residents on Voyageur Road said they would like chloride to keep the dust down.
Nancy McReady said, “We choose where we live. I have lived off the Cloquet Line and Shady Lane for 52 years, and it was in the last five years that we finally had a major project done on the Cloquet Line with obtaining grants.”
Seliskar said Clyde Peterson had finished brushing on Sunset, Cloquet Line and Shady Lane. He will also do Garden Lake Road.
A list of summer road projects was given to Jeff Schulze. A culvert will be replaced on Sunset and gravel will be hauled on the two bad areas before chloride in applied.
A resident on North Pine Road said a culvert has deteriorated.
Seliskar said there is beaver problems on Shady Lane, and he was going to have Schulze ditch around the big culvert on the Cloquet Line. There is another beaver issue on Snowbank Road. Traps have been set in both areas.
Community center project Discussion turned to the Community Center group update. Commissioner Baltich, who is on the committee, said they have $25,000 from HRA – Housing Regional Authority and they have put in for matching funds from IRRRB. The money will be used for a feasibility study. The committee has a meeting with Bollig Engineering for a question-and-answer session.
Hart explained the reasoning for a community center was for emergencies in the case of a big fire, big winds or the Silver Rapids bridge going out. It could serve as a staging area or temporary housing. He said the township doesn’t current have anything like that.
In the citizens’ comment period, Deb Bradt questioned the need for a new community center and expressed concerns about the long-term cost of a community center even though an emergency grant may be obtained for build the facility.
Transfer site update
Transfer site attendant Dean Barrett reported the site has been very busy.
“The site is open three days a week now,” said Barrett. “On Monday there were thirty vehicles coming through, and on Wednesday there were 50 vehicles. Recycling is going well.”
Supervisor Craig Seliskar said he ordered more bags for the transfer site. An application has been submitted to the DNR to designate the transfer site as a burn site.
Baltich said the toilets on Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 2 will be cleaned. This was met with cheers from the residents in attendance.
Baltich said there will be a change for counties for ambulance services of Greater Minnesota. There will be more funds from the state for ambulance runs that go out and the person refuses the service. The ambulance goes back to town empty. Baltich said Senator Grant Hauschild worked very hard on this.
“As far as funds from our lodging tax,” said Baltich, “I found out we were paid $120,000 in December. Plus, $11,700 for the extra will come for 55731 taxpayers’ contribution. For a total of $131,700.”
To Baltich’s surprise, he said a new tractor will be kept in the township for mowing of county roads. It will also have a snowblower attachment.
In correspondence:
• Received a letter from FEMA regarding Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning, a program to help communities identify, assess and reduce their flood risk.
• Received a Happy Municipal Clerks Week note from MSA, thanking clerks for all they do.
• Received information from Minnesota Association of Townships about townships being able to apply for an Amazon Business Prime membership to be use for township purchases.
• Received ECR’s quarterly report listing all the programs they have, and also thanking the township for supporting ECR programs.
• Received an invite to the Ely/Winton Historical Society annual meeting, along with several copies of Milt Stenlund’s booklet on Section 30 – The Mine and the Community. They are available at the town hall at no charge.
• Received an invitation from RAMS for a summertime BBQ celebration on June 30.
• Received the Cooperative Project Agreement between Lake County and Fall Lake Township for the improvement on Sunset Road. The board approved the agreement.
• The bid from Phil Hegfors for work on the Snowbank Road was tabled.
In other business the board:
• Reviewed requests for recreation funds were addressed with $400 approved to Team Borealis and $1,000 to the Prospectors ATV Club.
• Heard from Treasurer Don Stocks who reported Lake County had sent funds to Fall Lake Township in the amount of $27,700. There was no designation as to what the money was for, so Stocks called Lake County. He learned that $22,500 was to go to the Morse/Fall Lake Ambulance Service and the remaining $5,200 was the first half of the township’s recreational funds. It was noted there has been a change in the Lake County auditor/treasurer office and further funds will have a line designation for the funds.
• A resolution was approved to apply to the Minnesota Department of Revenue for a conditional use deed of a parcel of land next to the Fall Lake Town Hall to be used as a parking lot. The township will pay for the title transfer costs.
• Debra Bradt was approved as an election judge, if there is a need.
• Set the next regular township meeting on Wednesday, July 9 at 6 p.m.
• The next Morse/Fall Lake Fire meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 24 at the Morse town hall at 6 p.m.
