The Town of Morse board of supervisors breezed through business at a meeting held on Aug. 12.
The board gave approval to expenses occurred when Newgord Drive was washed out in Ely on July 23.
The township had to quickly hire two private contractors to repair the road and install three new culverts.
Road supervisor Mike Velcheff said the work went smoothly and the road was quickly reopened, at first with temporary repairs until the water levels dropped.
The board approved $5,505 in bills from Schulze Excavating and Peterson Landscaping and Excavation for repairs.
In other business the board:
• Received payment in lieu of tax funds from the federal government for $25,381.40 for federal and $7,657.08 from the state along with township aid of $4,673.00
• Received a letter from the Minnesota Association of Townships on the issue short-term rentals. The board will ask St. Louis County for help on this issue.
• With urging from supervisor Bob Berrini, the township has been pursuing federal funding for responding to fire and first responder calls in the BWCA.
• Will meet on Tuesday at 4 p.m. with Paul Peltier of RAMS on Local Road Improvement funds. Sen. Grant Hauschild and Rep. Roger Skraba responded to a request from Morse to support the township’s application for LRIP funding.
• Heard from St. Louis County on a safety review of the Winton Road. The letter stated the county will conduct a speed study and that only three accidents were reported in the last 10 years.
• Heard from Gerald Tyler that the Ely American Legion Post 248 has applied for a matching grant to purchase a food trailer which would require a $27,000 match. He said the Legion will be seeking donations by the end of the year.
• Berrini reported there is an upcoming meeting of the Ely Area Ambulance Service and that they are looking to purchase a new ambulance.
