BREITUNG TWP- COVID-19 strikes again.The Breitung Community Picnic, held as part of the Fourth of July festivities, has been canceled.
The Breitung Township Board voted to cancel the picnic at their May 26 meeting. The board also voted to not offer any help to The Old Settlers Association for their summer reunion. The township is an important partner in that event, helping with setup and cleanup as well as helping get the large booyah kettles in place. The Old Settlers committee announced on May 27 that the annual picnic is being canceled, due to safety concerns. This is the first time in the picnic’s 100-year history that it has been canceled, as far as the committee members know.
Seasonal campers have already moved into McKinley Park Campground, while short-term renters will have to wait until after June 1. A camper sent a letter to the board asking for them to offer wireless internet at the campground, and Chairman Tim Tomsich said he would look into it. Tomsich will also be working with campground manager Susie Chiabotti to purchase additional picnic tables for the campground, including handicap-accessible tables.
Supervisor Greg Dostert said he was looking into getting a baseball team together for the summer but hasn’t had much luck recruiting players. Nevertheless, the board passed a motion to hire Green Again Lawn and Landscape of Hibbing to apply Weed and Feed to the baseball field, soccer field and wayside rest and apply Total Kill to the volleyball court, hockey rink, and baseball diamond for $1,600.
The board decided to keep the township building closed to the public until July 31 but will allow certain public meetings, like the town board and fire department, when necessary, following social distancing protocols.
While summer fun is taking a back seat to COVID-19, summer roadwork and maintenance is still on track. New maintenance director-in-training Tom Gorsma went over some of the work planned for the summer including lowering a culvert near Birch and South Sts., raising a manhole on South St., grading roads, sanitary sewer castings on Mineview St., removing sanitary sewer casting on the bike trail at the baseball field, fixing a water leak, changing a hydrant at the intersection of Birch and South Sts., and leveling the alleyway between Main St. and Poplar St.
The board heard from Supervisor Chuck Tekautz that Lenci Construction still has a few miscellaneous unfinished projects around the building, and it’s been tough trying to get them here.
In other business, the board:
• Decided to leave the dog/cat license as an annual registration, instead of changing to a lifetime registration.
• Heard that there was some confusion about clean-up days, because Tower and Soudan agreed to pick up different items but published a shared ad. The Soudan Canister is now charging for brush drop off, which might mean a change for next year’s clean-up days.
• Heard that the Soudan Canister will accept household hazardous waste on Wednesday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Heard that Cody Vail was hired as a new part-time Breitung Police officer and accepted him for the Public Employees Retirement Association.
• Will hire two or three maintenance workers for miscellaneous painting and brush removal projects.
• Approved the purchase of a tablet or computer for Gorsma at a cost of up to $1,000.
• Postponed a decision on window treatments.
The next township meetings are Wednesday, June 10 at noon and Tuesday, June 23 at noon.