It was a long Fall Lake Township meeting, beginning with a call-in from MSA Engineer Jeff Goetzman giving an update on the Sunset Road project.
Goetzman said the project is substantially completed, with the paving of the turn lane off Kawishiwi Trail still needing to be done.
Christoph Ender asked about the temporary placement of barrels blocking the old entrance to Sunset Road. He wanted to know if there would be something to replace the barrels.
Goetzman said there are no plans for a guardrail, but maybe a berm and as vegetation grows it will deter driving off the road.
Ed Seliskar asked about signage for Sunset Road. Signs have been ordered.
Goetzman said there were additional costs added to the project due to changes in construction. The additional engineering costs are the township’s responsibility, not part of the LRIP funding. Goetzman has started looking at roads for an LRIP application for the 2026 funding cycle. He said the first mile of the Garden Lake Road may be a suitable candidate. Applications are due the end of November.
Clerk Cheri DeBeltz said the IRRRB road improvement funding looks like the completion date has to be done by December 2027. As to the community center update, they are waiting for more information.
DeBeltz is leaving her position as township clerk. She will place an ad in the Ely Echo for the township clerk position, listing the qualifications required.
Cindy Smyka, Fall Lake’s representative on the Ely Area Lodging Tax Board, said the lodging social in September at Veterans on the Lake had seven Fall Lake property owners and six others at the gathering.
She said there were a number of conditions identified as priorities in finding a direction to move forward. The major concern was the accusation of misuse of lodging tax. Smyka contacted 22 Fall Lake business owners who have concerns about how the lodging tax is used. Three conditions were listed that will be addressed in another article.
Commissioner Joe Baltich said there is difficulty in finding Fall Lake information about VRBO rentals. Smyka said it was important to get Granicus to track the rentals in Fall Lake Township. She said she is considering another social gathering at Veterans on the Lake.
Baltich said he was working with the Forest Service on the towboat issue, and he was happy to report that Fall Lake Township has a permanent Lake County staff for snowplowing.
In supervisor reports, Hudson Kingston said he would like to attend a training program offered through RAMS by Northspan on funding and a session on using AI. He will see about attending the November session if it isn’t filled. There is another session scheduled for May.
Supervisor Roger Murawski said he still needs to contact an electrician to change the outside spotlight.
Supervisor Craig Seliskar said the transfer site was doing well, and the brush pile had been pushed up.
Seliskar said St. Louis County didn’t have salt/sand to sell to the township. The time frame was missed to get salt/sand from the City of Ely, whom Lake County goes through.
Seliskar talked to Lake County Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, and the township can get salt from them. The township would have to purchase sand and mix it with the salt to make 80 yards of salt/sand.
Seliskar said the Cloquet Line lift is in progress, and the USDA is addressing the beaver issue on the Cloquet Line.
There was discussion about sending another letter to Lake County regarding the Locust Lake and Ernie Road alignment due to Silver Rapids using the road during their construction. It would make the road safer.
Grading of township roads is in progress to improve the roads for the winter.
In correspondence:
• A letter was received from Northwoods Partners celebrating the 25th year of making Caring Connections in the Fall Lake community, and thanked the township for their support. The board approved giving them $500.
• Received info on the Ely-Winton Historical Society Annual meeting Oct. 22, 5 p.m. at Grand Ely Lodge.
• Received info on the 2026 Breakfast for Heroes from Lake County set for Monday, Oct. 26 at Superior Shores Resort. The board approved $250 to sponsor the event.
• A thank you for support was received from the Ely Little League Board.
• RAMS Annual Dinner will be on Dec. 3 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
• Also from RAMS was a notice of nominations for RAMS Board of Directors with a form of nominees.
• The Minnesota Association of Townships will have its annual conference: The Changing Landscape of Township Government, Dec. 10-12 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa.
• A request for support for a special use permit for the Triangle Trail Association was received. The board will refer them to Lake County.
• A request for the abandonment of a road from Elena Bohman will be informed a petition is required.
• The next Morse/Fall Lake Fire meeting will be held at the Fall Lake Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.
• The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The next regular township meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
