Thirty Fall Lake Township residents filled the town hall for the annual meeting Tuesday night, with many filing in before the polls closed at 8 p.m.
The ballots were separated and votes counted for each candidate for the three-year supervisor term, and then separated again to count the votes for the one-year term.
The Board of Canvas declared Hudson Kingston supervisor for the three-year term, receiving 67 votes. Other candidates in this race were Rod Gruba receiving 47 votes and Bryan Seliskar receiving 30 votes.
Roger Murawski was declared the winner of the one-year supervisor receiving 107 votes. A half dozen write-in votes were cast. The annual business meeting reconvened at 8:30 p.m. with Eric Hart appointed as moderator, his last official role for now at Fall Lake Township. Hart decided not to run and his seat was filled by Kingston.
Treasurer Don Stocks recapped township disbursements and receipts, going through each line item of the proposed budget. The recommendation of the board was for the overall levy to remain the same, at $500,000, with some changes to the general fund and road and bridge fund.
The general fund was reduced from $261,000 to $235,500; the road and bridge fund was increased from $150,000 to $175,000; fire department remained the same as the previous year, at $85,000; PERA was increased by $500, from $4,000 to $4,500.
The levy was approved after some discussion for the changes. Hart explained more funds were needed for road maintenance. The 2027 levy was approved by all.
The Ely Echo was designated the publication for all township legal notices, and Tuesday, March 9, 2027 was set as the next annual meeting date.
Kingston said he was on the Ely library board and said Fall Lake Township’s use of the Ely Public Library was almost seven percent of the Ely area usership. He said the library operates on a tight budget.
A motion was made by Dolores Delaney to increase the donation to the Ely Public Library from $4,000 to $5,000 for 2027. This money comes out of the general fund. The motion was approved by the citizens present.
There was no increase in recreation funds, as Lake County sets the amount Fall Lake receives at $10,400. Commissioner Joe Baltich said if the township had a special project, more funds could be requested by Lake County.
Miscellaneous funds of $2,000 will continue for community celebrations, honor ing individua ls, plaques, flowers, etc. Once this fund is depleted $2,000 will be added to the fund.
Morse/Fall Lake First Responder Coordinator Mike Harri recapped their 157 service calls in 2025. He said the EMS calls were a little less than the previous year. Morse had 71; Fall Lake had 55; one mutual aid calls to Eagles Nest; four mutual aid calls to Stony River; Winton had eight; six mutual aid to Ely; and a total of 12 calls to surrounding unorganized areas.
Harri reported there were a total of 87 fire calls. There were 40 in Morse Township; 32 in Fall Lake; three calls to Winton; a total of three calls to unorganized areas; and nine mutual aid calls.
Hart thanked Harri for doing a great job for the Morse/ Fall Lake Fire Department and First Responders.
With no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 p.m.
