EAGLES NEST TWP- ATVs and the park land issue were front and center on the agenda at the Sept. 20 Eagles Nest Town Board meeting.

The ATV traffic issue, which had roared to the top of the township’s agenda last year prior to a statewide ATV convention based in Ely last fall, has appeared to quiet down.

Township residents were concerned about increased ATV traffic on narrow township roads. The township had no control over ATV traffic on county roads, but they did have the ability to ban ATV traffic on a small portion of a township road that was being used to connect established ATV trails to county roads.

“I really haven’t seen too much bad ATV traffic,” said Supervisor Kurt Soderberg.

The town board did hear some concerns about ATV use in one area.

During public input, a resident of that area said ATVs are using the road to access a private driveway that connects to a logging road on county land, and the logging road is torn up so badly that only a high-clearance truck can access it.

The supervisors suggested the landowner post the land as private, and perhaps install a gate.

The board unanimously passed a motion to suspend their prior ordinance which had banned ATV use on Migisi Rd. They said they would still have the option to discuss the issue in the future.

The board voted 4-1, with DeAnn Schatz voting against, to accept ownership of two outlots (five and seven) on Eagles Nest Lake One, and to work with their attorney to formalize the final acceptance of the lots at their October meeting.

The board said they will decide what to do with the lots at a future meeting but discussed leasing the land to the adjacent lot owners. The board showed no interest in turning the land into a park or other public use area. The board took no action on the other outlots, noting they were not adjacent to any other public land.

This issue has been on the township’s agenda since 2017.

Prior to 2012, it appears that the adjacent landowners were paying property taxes on the outlots fronting their property. But in 2012, when St. Louis County took over assessing services in the township, that changed, and the issue came to the township’s attention.

The township formed a Park Land Committee back in 2017 to look at the issue and make recommendations, which were presented to the board back in July.

The committee determined that the township may accept the park land, but that it is not legal to then to simply sell the lots to the adjacent landowners. Leasing the land for a defined period is permitted by law. The committee said they believe the land is of value to the township and should be managed for the benefit of the public. The board noted, at their September meeting, that leasing the land would provide a public benefit via lease fees.

The committee felt the township needed to take some action, and not leave the issue as-is. The complete report is available on the township’s website.

Supervisor Rich Floyd told the board there is some litigation regarding the one or two of the lots in process.

“I am doubtful either would influence our decision,” said Floyd.

Supervisor Frank Sherman said it made sense for the board to make a partial decision, addressing the two outlots that are both publicly accessible from Spruce Street.

Floyd said the township had no interest in putting in a public dock on the outlots, or in building any additional access roads.

Schatz said she felt the idea of accepting only two of the outlots was “still just kicking the can down the road.”

The township also noted there is currently a court case that could impact the township’s actions regarding the other two outlots.

“If that case goes through,” said Schatz, “we are back to ground one.”

The lots are part of an area platted back in 1928. The plat dedicated the acreage closest to the shore of the lake as park land, originally envisioned for public use but over the course of many years often were used by the adjacent landowners, who installed docks and accessory structures near the shoreline.

Ambulance subsidy

Fire Chief Larry McCray presented the board with the two-year subsidy contract from the Tower Area Ambulance Service. He told them the indemnification clause, which had been previously inserted at the request of Greenwood Township, has been removed.

“It just doesn’t apply to the ambulance replacement fund,” he said. “This committee has no part in ambulance operations.”

McCray told the board the contract is asking for a double subsidy payment in 2023, to be used to help fund the purchase of a new rig. The estimated cost is $223,000.

“If all the parties do double payments,” he said, “they should be able to raise enough to cover the cost of a new ambulance in 2023.”

“If we do not approve it, or if other entities do not, we would be short and have to delay the purchase,” McCray said. The township payment for 2022 is $3,390. This is based on $15 per capita.

McCray said Breitung, Vermilion Lake, and Kugler townships have already accepted the new contract.

“We just haven’t heard from Greenwood,” he said.

A non-binding vote to accept the two-year contract passed unanimously, and the board also voted to approve the 2022 payment. The board will take a final vote on the contract next month, giving all the supervisors time to read the document.

The board agreed to advertise for a new fire chief. McCray is running unopposed for an open seat on the town board, and if he is seated, will need to resign as chief.

Supervisor Sherman reported on the ambulance ad-hoc committee, which has been meeting to discuss options to insure the financial viability of the ambulance service. He told the board the consensus seemed to be to create a joint powers board to run the service, which would take ownership from the city of Tower and place the responsibility with participating townships, governmental units, and the city.

“Greenwood is the wild card,” he said. “They are running their own consultant study.”

Other business

In other business, the board:

• Is applying for FEMA grant money to help with the costs of culvert replacement due to flooding earlier this year.

•  Heard an update on the township’s record retention policy and approved plans to shred unneeded and duplicate old records.

• Approved a $500 donation to Northwoods Partners.

• Heard that about half a dozen township roads still need road ambassadors, including Walsh, Swanson Shores, Durham, Deerhaven, and Mud Creek. Road ambassadors help during emergencies to notify road residents of possible dangers and help during evacuations during events like a forest fire.

• Heard that the brush collection, part of the fire prevention efforts, had been a success.

• Heard an update on the township’s record retention policy and approved plans to shred unneeded and duplicate old records.

• Approved a $500 donation to Northwoods Partners.

• Heard that about half a dozen township roads still need road ambassadors, including Walsh, Swanson Shores, Durham, Deerhaven, and Mud Creek. Road ambassadors help during emergencies to notify road residents of possible dangers and help during evacuations during events like a forest fire.

• Heard that the brush collection, part of the fire prevention efforts, had been a success.