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Harmony reigns at Greenwood?

Township to maintain tax levy at $150,000

Jodi Summit
Posted 3/16/23

GREENWOOD TWP- About two dozen Greenwood residents attended a rather quiet and business-like annual meeting on Tuesday. In a move back to a less contentious time, all the votes on motions were by a …

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Harmony reigns at Greenwood?

Township to maintain tax levy at $150,000

Posted

GREENWOOD TWP- About two dozen Greenwood residents attended a rather quiet and business-like annual meeting on Tuesday. In a move back to a less contentious time, all the votes on motions were by a simple hand-raise, and almost all the motions were unanimous, with a few individual no votes sprinkled in. No paper ballots on votes were requested. Jeff Maus was elected as moderator.
The vote to set the 2024 township levy at $150,000 was unanimous. While township spending is anticipated to be a little over $332,000, the township still has ample reserves, and the township’s budget calculations showed an anticipated fund balance of a little over $503,000 at the end of 2024.
“I love the fact our taxes are where they are at,” said Mike Ralston. “I love paying no taxes, but we don’t get anything for it.”
All agreed the levy was a bargain, and others piped in with what the township did have to offer.
“We provide 911-numbers, a precinct for voting, maintenance for the recreation area, a tennis court, and fire department,” said John Bassing. “We also provide drinking water.” The township maintains an outdoor spigot where residents who have lake-water systems can access clean and safe drinking water. Marilyn Mueller said the township also maintains a paved recreation trail.
“Townships are the last unit of government where we have local control,” said Dave Koski. “If we start losing control, Duluth makes those decisions. The fire department is huge and keeps our insurance costs lower. We have a nice building to meet in, and maybe we don’t utilize it enough. We have a helicopter landing area. It’s a bargain.”
“Our average township tax rate is the lowest in St. Louis County,” said John Bassing, who had prepared the budget report, and looking at the township’s net tax capacity, divided by the levy, we are one of the 10 lowest in the state, not the lowest 10-percent, but the lowest 10 total.”
Township taxes in Greenwood work out to $26.36 per $100,000 in property value.
“If someone is complaining about township taxes,” John Bassing said. “It can’t be possible.”
Lee Peterson said the township should be promoting their tax rate to attract commercial businesses, including land available that is not on the lakeshore.
“Compared to other areas,” Peterson said, “it is kind of astonishing.” Peterson said the township could attract younger business owners to land on the non-lakeshore side of County Rd. 77.
Bassing’s calculations showed local tax rates ranging a little higher than $1,000 per $100,000 in value in both Tower and Cook. Both small cities have a much higher level of service, including maintaining streets and city infrastructure than Greenwood, which only has one small portion of a township road they need to maintain. Other township comparisons included Beatty at $83.56, Breitung at $323.20, Unorganized 63-17 (west end of the lake) at $161.48, Vermilion Lake at $59.32, Owens at $66.83, Eagles Nest at $149.82, and Kugler at 130.47. Bassing said this data came from the St. Louis County Land Explorer and the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
The township’s levy has been set at $150,000 since 2018.
The 2024 budget does include a $60,000 set-aside for capital replacement costs, and $43,000 for the fire department equipment, repairs, and training. This is up from $17,700 budgeted in 2023. The 2024 budget does not include an amount for the Tower Area Ambulance Service, though the 2023 budget does include a $16,000 amount. The 2023 budget also included $100,000 for broadband projects.
Broadband
Broadband was another area of discussion at the meeting. The majority of Greenwood Township will have broadband installed as part of a larger project overseen by Bois Forte, who received a $20 million federal grant.
“I am taken aback by the map of the coverage area,” said Lee Peterson, who asked if the township had any input in making the map. The coverage area will not include Isle of Pines, and some other more remote and water-access areas.
The township was not involved in Bois Forte’s grant proposal.
Mike Ralston, who has worked on broadband grants for the township while on the town board, noted that the township had unsuccessfully submitted grant proposals for a broadband project two years in a row.
“Both were turned down,” he said.
“CTC is working 100-percent with the Band on the project,” said Ralston. “Everyone else is just hanging on the shirttails.”
“Getting coverage in the outlying areas will require money from the township,” Ralston noted. “We need to continue to address the shortfall and raise the money out of Greenwood Township pockets.”
“CTC is willing to work with us,” said John Bassing. “We have the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money, but it won’t cover nearly all those areas. We will need to be strategic with it.”
Bassing said it is important for those living in areas that won’t be covered, and who are interested in broadband, to let the township know they are willing to subscribe to broadband if it is available in their area. CTC helps subsidize the installation of broadband, so decisions made are often dependent on the number of customers in an area.
“It still bothers me that the map was drawn without township comment and approval,” said Peterson. But John Bassing responded that this was common during the broadband planning process.
Fire department
Fire Chief Jeff Maus reported on the fire department activities for the year. He said the town board had approved raising the hourly wage for fire fighters from $10 to $15 for trainings, and had increased the number of annual trainings from 12 to 24.
“All our trucks and fire boats have been serviced,” he said. While the trucks are all “up to snuff,” Maus said the larger fire boat is having issues with its engines, which were found during fall maintenance, and the department was working with the manufacturer to solve the issue.
The department has also instituted an automatic mutual aid agreement with the Virginia Fire Department for any structure fire at Fortune Bay Resort Casino.
Maus noted the department had had a lot of turmoil and turnover in employees. The department now sits at 10 members, with seven firefighters (some of whom are also EMRs), and three EMRs. The department also hired an administrative assistant last year.
Other actions
 A motion to ask the board to appoint The Timberjay as the township’s official newspaper passed with two no votes. Interim Clerk JoAnn Bassing said the township had received a quote from the Timberjay, but not from the Tower News at this point in time. She noted the Timberjay offers online access to all its legal notices, and the Tower News has no current website. “That is a definite plus for the Timberjay,” she said.
A resident asked if the township could post notices on their own website. JoAnn Bassing replied that the township website “doesn’t function well,” and that the board is looking at upgrading the website. A motion was put on the floor to have the board also request that the company who maintains the current website, TechBytes, be hired to get notices and other information added to the website.
Township residents can also request to be on an email notification list, to receive regular meeting packets and notices of special meetings. Requests can be emailed to clerk@greenwoodmn.com.
All four candidates for the four open township seats were reelected. Incumbent Paul Skubic received 59 votes. John Bassing received 72 votes for the open supervisor seat. Interim clerk JoAnn Bassing was elected to the one-year clerk seat with 71 votes, and interim treasurer Jeff Maus was elected to the two-year treasurer seat with 71 votes.
GREENWOOD TWP- About two dozen Greenwood residents attended a rather quiet and business-like annual meeting on Tuesday. In a move back to a less contentious time, all the votes on motions were by a simple hand-raise, and almost all the motions were unanimous, with a few individual no votes sprinkled in. No paper ballots on votes were requested. Jeff Maus was elected as moderator.
The vote to set the 2024 township levy at $150,000 was unanimous. While township spending is anticipated to be a little over $332,000, the township still has ample reserves, and the township’s budget calculations showed an anticipated fund balance of a little over $503,000 at the end of 2024.
“I love the fact our taxes are where they are at,” said Mike Ralston. “I love paying no taxes, but we don’t get anything for it.”
All agreed the levy was a bargain, and others piped in with what the township did have to offer.
“We provide 911-numbers, a precinct for voting, maintenance for the recreation area, a tennis court, and fire department,” said John Bassing. “We also provide drinking water.” The township maintains an outdoor spigot where residents who have lake-water systems can access clean and safe drinking water. Marilyn Mueller said the township also maintains a paved recreation trail.
“Townships are the last unit of government where we have local control,” said Dave Koski. “If we start losing control, Duluth makes those decisions. The fire department is huge and keeps our insurance costs lower. We have a nice building to meet in, and maybe we don’t utilize it enough. We have a helicopter landing area. It’s a bargain.”
“Our average township tax rate is the lowest in St. Louis County,” said John Bassing, who had prepared the budget report, and looking at the township’s net tax capacity, divided by the levy, we are one of the 10 lowest in the state, not the lowest 10-percent, but the lowest 10 total.”
Township taxes in Greenwood work out to $26.36 per $100,000 in property value.
“If someone is complaining about township taxes,” John Bassing said. “It can’t be possible.”
Lee Peterson said the township should be promoting their tax rate to attract commercial businesses, including land available that is not on the lakeshore.
“Compared to other areas,” Peterson said, “it is kind of astonishing.” Peterson said the township could attract younger business owners to land on the non-lakeshore side of County Rd. 77.
Bassing’s calculations showed local tax rates ranging a little higher than $1,000 per $100,000 in value in both Tower and Cook. Both small cities have a much higher level of service, including maintaining streets and city infrastructure than Greenwood, which only has one small portion of a township road they need to maintain. Other township comparisons included Beatty at $83.56, Breitung at $323.20, Unorganized 63-17 (west end of the lake) at $161.48, Vermilion Lake at $59.32, Owens at $66.83, Eagles Nest at $149.82, and Kugler at 130.47. Bassing said this data came from the St. Louis County Land Explorer and the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
The township’s levy has been set at $150,000 since 2018.
The 2024 budget does include a $60,000 set-aside for capital replacement costs, and $43,000 for the fire department equipment, repairs, and training. This is up from $17,700 budgeted in 2023. The 2024 budget does not include an amount for the Tower Area Ambulance Service, though the 2023 budget does include a $16,000 amount. The 2023 budget also included $100,000 for broadband projects.
Broadband
Broadband was another area of discussion at the meeting. The majority of Greenwood Township will have broadband installed as part of a larger project overseen by Bois Forte, who received a $20 million federal grant.
“I am taken aback by the map of the coverage area,” said Lee Peterson, who asked if the township had any input in making the map. The coverage area will not include Isle of Pines, and some other more remote and water-access areas.
The township was not involved in Bois Forte’s grant proposal.
Mike Ralston, who has worked on broadband grants for the township while on the town board, noted that the township had unsuccessfully submitted grant proposals for a broadband project two years in a row.
“Both were turned down,” he said.
“CTC is working 100-percent with the Band on the project,” said Ralston. “Everyone else is just hanging on the shirttails.”
“Getting coverage in the outlying areas will require money from the township,” Ralston noted. “We need to continue to address the shortfall and raise the money out of Greenwood Township pockets.”
“CTC is willing to work with us,” said John Bassing. “We have the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money, but it won’t cover nearly all those areas. We will need to be strategic with it.”
Bassing said it is important for those living in areas that won’t be covered, and who are interested in broadband, to let the township know they are willing to subscribe to broadband if it is available in their area. CTC helps subsidize the installation of broadband, so decisions made are often dependent on the number of customers in an area.
“It still bothers me that the map was drawn without township comment and approval,” said Peterson. But John Bassing responded that this was common during the broadband planning process.
Fire department
Fire Chief Jeff Maus reported on the fire department activities for the year. He said the town board had approved raising the hourly wage for fire fighters from $10 to $15 for trainings, and had increased the number of annual trainings from 12 to 24.
“All our trucks and fire boats have been serviced,” he said. While the trucks are all “up to snuff,” Maus said the larger fire boat is having issues with its engines, which were found during fall maintenance, and the department was working with the manufacturer to solve the issue.
The department has also instituted an automatic mutual aid agreement with the Virginia Fire Department for any structure fire at Fortune Bay Resort Casino.
Maus noted the department had had a lot of turmoil and turnover in employees. The department now sits at 10 members, with seven firefighters (some of whom are also EMRs), and three EMRs. The department also hired an administrative assistant last year.
Other actions
• A motion to ask the board to appoint The Timberjay as the township’s official newspaper passed with two no votes. Interim Clerk JoAnn Bassing said the township had received a quote from the Timberjay, but not from the Tower News at this point in time. She noted the Timberjay offers online access to all its legal notices, and the Tower News has no current website. “That is a definite plus for the Timberjay,” she said.
A resident asked if the township could post notices on their own website. JoAnn Bassing replied that the township website “doesn’t function well,” and that the board is looking at upgrading the website. A motion was put on the floor to have the board also request that the company who maintains the current website, TechBytes, be hired to get notices and other information added to the website.
Township residents can also request to be on an email notification list, to receive regular meeting packets and notices of special meetings. Requests can be emailed to clerk@greenwoodmn.com.
• All four candidates for the four open township seats were reelected. Incumbent Paul Skubic received 59 votes. John Bassing received 72 votes for the open supervisor seat. Interim clerk JoAnn Bassing was elected to the one-year clerk seat with 71 votes, and interim treasurer Jeff Maus was elected to the two-year treasurer seat with 71 votes.
• Mike Ralston gave the road report. The only township road is Birch Point Extension with is a little over 8,000 feet long. “The road is becoming worse and worse every year,” Ralston said. “It will need some attention, either we’ll need to invest money in upgrades or let it deteriorate back to gravel.” The township did receive an estimate on the cost to repave the road which came in at over $440,000.
• The town board met after the annual meeting to canvass the votes and pay bills. The board will hold their reorganizational meeting on Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Mike Ralston gave the road report. The only township road is Birch Point Extension with is a little over 8,000 feet long. “The road is becoming worse and worse every year,” Ralston said. “It will need some attention, either we’ll need to invest money in upgrades or let it deteriorate back to gravel.” The township did receive an estimate on the cost to repave the road which came in at over $440,000.
• The town board met after the annual meeting to canvass the votes and pay bills. The board will hold their reorganizational meeting on Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.