SOUDAN - The Breitung Town Board will propose a 2023 levy of $656,000 at the annual meeting on March 8. Last year the town board had asked for a $646,000 levy but voters had also approved a one-time $10,000 increase for improvements at the hockey rink.
Matt Tuchel, who is running for the open seat on the town board and also is a volunteer on the township’s recreation committee, said there is still a need for that additional funding.
“We need to get new hockey boards no matter what,” he said.
The township is applying for a DNR grant to purchase new boards (walls) for the hockey rink and other recreation improvements, but the application isn’t due until the end of March, and they will not know if the grant request is successful until later this year.
Tuchel said if the grant request isn’t approved, the township will need to look at some less costly options that it can fund itself.
“There was only $19,000 in the recreation fund at the end of 2021,” Tuchel noted.
The town board did not see any major changes in any other part of its budget from 2022, which set the general fund at $145,057 (22 percent), road/bridge at $260,967 (40 percent), fire at $77,955 (12 percent), recreation at $38,056 (6 percent), and police at $133,965 (20 percent).
Supervisor Chuck Tekautz noted the township should expect to pay more for fuel (gasoline, diesel, and heating) this year and next.
There was some discussion on reducing the amount of the levy for police, but Chairman Tim Tomsich said since the contract with the city of Tower is only for a single year, at this point, they should continue at the same level, and then can move that into other funds if a 2023 contract is approved.
The annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8 following the close of polls at 8 p.m. Polls will be open from 1 – 8 p.m. where voters will elect one supervisor and one clerk.
The board heard an update on upcoming projects. Wastewater Supervisor Matt Tuchel said the reconstruction of the Mesabi Trail between Tower and Soudan, and of the township bike trail between Soudan Store and McKinley Park, will be folded into a larger project that includes replacement of forced sewer mains in Tower and at McKinley Park. The $1.4 million project will be bid out this spring for work to begin in June.
Tuchel also told the board they are seeing decreased water temperatures and some water line freezes. He said they measured a water temperature in the upper 20s on Third Ave. and right around freezing on Second Ave., and heard that a residential water line in Tower had also frozen.
The board approved the purchase of a new laptop for the fire department for $1,995, which includes set up and transfer of data. This will replace a laptop purchased back in 2011.
The board also approved the purchase of six new sets of turnout gear. The department is now at 22 members, and new members are currently using borrowed gear from the Tower Fire Department. Tuchel said it will take at least four months to receive the new gear. The fire department is currently hosting a firefighter training class.
Treasurer Jorgine Gornick said there is enough in the fire department fund to cover the purchase cost of around $30,000, and the township expects to receive grant money to cover about half that cost.
Other business
In other business the town board:
• Heard that the maintenance department had been out plowing snow almost every day the past month.
• Heard that reservations are already filling up at McKinley Park Campground.
• Will submit project requests to Rep. Pete Stauber for the relocation of the Thompson Farm Road to allow the township to access more gravel at the adjacent township-owned gravel pit; for the trail connection between McKinley Park and Hoodoo Point; and for the purchase of police body cameras.
• Passed a motion to support a TEDA grant application to the Northland Foundation for Main Street business revitalization projects.
• Accepted donations from John Morin for conveyer belting for the skating rink, and for police body cameras from Doug Erickson, Terry and Dianna Sunsdahl, and Trudy Hendricks.
• Held their annual board of audit. The board had no questions and did not ask to review any additional information besides what was presented. The township started the year with a balance of $336,630 and ended the year with a balance of $382,279.
• Will hold their next regular board meeting and annual reorganization meeting on Thursday, March 31 at noon.