MORSE TWP – Government of the people was front and center Tuesday night as the annual township meeting was held here and around the state. However, besides the supervisors, treasurer and fire chief, just two other people bothered to show up.
Once a year, rural residents who attend the grass-roots gatherings (there are 1,780 other such townships in Minnesota), are able to sound off on setting their own tax levy and budget, and other issues, while electing supervisors.
The two townships near Ely, Morse Township and Fall Lake (in nearby Lake County), held uncontested elections. Len Cersine won another three-year term in Morse, and incumbent Craig Seliskar was expected to continue to serve as a supervisor in Fall Lake.
Last year, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, both Fall Lake and Morse restricted attendance for their annual meetings, while nearby Eagles Nest Township held their annual meeting virtually.
Meanwhile, back at Morse Town Hall, just 38 ballots were cast all day for the incumbent supervisor. Cersine received 100- percent support. The vote was certified, the annual meeting was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and Supervisor Terry Soderberg was again selected as moderator for the meeting.
Town treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz gave her report that showed a beginning balance of $296,436, receipts of $672,507, disbursements of $501,170, and an ending balance of $467,821 for 2021.
“A great portion of that amount was to be used for purchase of land for over $126,000,” she said.
Supervisor Bob Berrini added, “Just to let the people know, we are getting reimbursed for that and getting 168 acres for nothing. You can’t beat that.”
Morse Township board members again recommended no change to the tax levy increase for the proposed 2023 budget. “It doesn’t change a lot from year to year,” Soderberg said. The proposed general fund for next year of $212,700 was unanimously approved. “That’s for personnel, the building, fire department, first responders, insurance, joint power and recreation fund,” he said.
The total levy of $365,730 (the same amount as last year), including $181,036 for the general fund and $184,693 for roads and bridges, was unanimously approved.
Berrini noted that the road and bridge fund could see an increase in spending this year with the increase of gas prices. “Who knows what the price will be by the time we get our graders out this spring,” he said.
Fire chief Ted Krueger presented an annual report for the Morse-Fall Lake Fire Department.
There were 80 total calls to Morse Township last year, including eight structure fires, two vehicle fires, one chimney fire, 10 downed power lines, 14 wildland fires, five accidents with injuries, 13 medical and rescues, and 13 reports of smoke in the area.
In Fall Lake Township, 27 calls included one structure fire, one downed power line, one wildland fire, two accidents with injuries, seven medical and rescue calls, four reports of smoke and two water emergencies.
Winton had one structure fire, two accidents with injuries, one downed powerline report, one water emergency and one smoke in area report.
The Morse-Fall Lake First Responders received 152 calls for service, including 108 general medical calls, 15 motor vehicle accidents, 36 rescues, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, six lift assists, and eight water emergencies. First responders had a total of 60 days of wildfire medical standby for the Behzik, Delta and Greenwood fires.