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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Greenwood votes for status quo

Baland, Trancheff returned; Worringer ousts DeLuca

Jodi Summit
Posted 3/12/14

GREENWOOD—Voters here supported the status quo by a 2-1 margin in Tuesday’s hotly-contested township election.

Board chairman Gene Baland tallied a two-to-one lead, outpolling opponent Jeff …

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Greenwood votes for status quo

Baland, Trancheff returned; Worringer ousts DeLuca

Posted

GREENWOOD—Voters here supported the status quo by a 2-1 margin in Tuesday’s hotly-contested township election.

Board chairman Gene Baland tallied a two-to-one lead, outpolling opponent Jeff Maus by a 233 to 109 margin. Clerk Ellen Trancheff, facing her first-ever challenge, also coasted to re-election with a substantial 241 to 108 margin over Fred Smith.

Incumbent Carmen DeLuca, often the lone dissenting voice on the current board, faced two challengers, and came in third with 72 votes behind winner Rick Worringer (157 votes) and challenger John Bassing (117 votes).

The outcome of the election did not quite mirror the composition of the attendees at the annual meeting, which at times proved contentious and boisterous, and lasted until 10:30 p.m.

The approval of the 2015 levy, the main focus of a township’s annual meeting, was postponed until June, at the request of residents who wanted the fiscal decisions made at a time when more township residents are in attendance. Attendance at this year’s meeting was over 60, with at least 56 registered voters in attendance. A motion from the floor to postpone the vote, called on a paper ballot to preserve privacy, passed 36-20. The township will hold an adjourned annual meeting on Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. to vote on the levy. The town board is seeking a levy of $391,535, a substantial reduction from the $477,689 collected last year.

The discontinuation of the township assessor position, now taken over by St. Louis County, represented the biggest savings to the township budget. A $35,000 cut in the amount set aside for capital improvements also contributed. Supervisor Tom Aro explained that the township reserves are now sufficient to cover such expenses.

“We have met our goals of providing a one-year cash reserve/rainy day fund,” said Aro, “and have accumulated half a million dollars in our capital reserve account.”

Questions from some residents proved a bit pointed, and highlighted divisions that have sprung up in the township the past few years.

Jeff Maus questioned the township’s handling of correspondence from the county assessor’s office. An initial letter dated last July, highlighting some issues that came up after the county inspected township assessing records from 2012, was never shared with the board. It only came to light after Supervisor DeLuca received a copy from the county assessor’s office in the fall. The letter had been addressed to Chairman Tom Aro and mailed to the town hall. At that time, Aro was no longer chair.

Several people asked why the letter never reached board members. Aro said he had not received the letter. Baland said he never saw the letter until November, and at that time sat down with assessor Ellen Trancheff to review the report.

“Based on that discussion, after hearing her side of the story,” Baland said, “no further action was taken.”

The township received a second letter, dated Feb. 11, 2014, from the county assessor’s office noting deficiencies found after reviewing assessing records from 2013. Baland said he had spoken with County Auditor Mark Monacelli about the issues raised in the letter. Monicelli said that the township did not need to take any action because Trancheff was no longer the township’s assessor.

“In my book this case is closed,” said Baland. “We don’t need to go any farther….the issues brought forward in these letters would not cause us to do anything but continue with her as assessor. She made some errors, but they don’t go to the proportion that we do anything else.”

Township attorney Scott Neff reminded the audience that personnel issues were not matters that were discussed in open meetings. Meeting moderator Howard Ankrum attempted to get the meeting back to order, but discussion continued.

Lee Peterson explained that he was most concerned about the process.

“I want the correspondence handled as in other townships,” he said. “It should be listed on the agenda and approved.”

Planning and Zoning

Board members did not bring up the issue of retaining local control over planning and zoning. Some residents had requested the board look into moving planning and zoning back to St. Louis County, on account of the costs involved, legal issues and costs, and the fact that these matters had become increasingly complicated. Residents voted 32-15 to ask the town board to consider returning planning and zoning authority to St. Louis County, but the vote is only advisory.

Cook Hospital District

Supervisor Kirsten Reichel spoke in support of the Cook Hospital, without formally endorsing the idea of the township joining the hospital district. She noted it was important for small communities to retain such local businesses to remain vibrant.

The issue, she noted, was the financial impact it would have on area taxpayers, estimated to add $270 in taxes on a $300,000 valued property.

Sharon Smith noted that the cost would be less than a dollar a day.

“We need to have good hospital facilities in our area,” Smith said. “We are all paying more than that in school taxes, and we don’t have children using the school.” Smith noted that Greenwood’s aging population did need a hospital.

No vote or action was taken on the issue. An informational packet was available for residents to take home and read.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included a request for more detailed meeting minutes and better notifications of special and closed meetings; questions about the role of the township’s 911 coordinator; discussion of the Sportsman’s Club invasive species project; the ongoing zoning concerns over Bay View Lodge and noise; retaining the pier at Moccasin Point public boat access; the area lodging tax board; and the joint powers recreation board.

The town board will hold its reorganizational and regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m.