SOUDAN – Recent storm damage was the main topic of conversation at the Breitung Township regular board meeting held on Thursday, June 23. Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gorsma reported that in addition to the eight or nine larger trees that went down in Monday night’s storm, the Soudan entrance sign on west end of town also was blown down. The board had previously been looking for grant funding to replace the sign, so in light of the recent damage that process may be expedited. Two light poles at skating rink also snapped off in Monday’s storm. The poles that snapped off were the ones with the electrical outlets, so alternate ways to access electric during the upcoming Fourth of July festivities was discussed including possibly having to run extension cords.
Supervisor Chuck Tekautz was confident a solution to the immediate plug-in problem would be available, “We’ll find a way around it.” Overall cost of recent damage was unavailable at this time. Gorsma told the board the insurance adjuster was scheduled to come Monday, June 27. “We’ll know more when the adjuster comes up, but the good thing is no one was hurt. Picnic tables and lighting can be replaced.” Gorsma also mentioned that with the continued heavy rains this spring some roads keep washing out. “We had numerous roads that washed out (in Monday’s storm). We have numerous roads that continue to wash out every rain we get. We don’t need any more storms.”
A housing forum was held at Breitung Community Center June 15 by Senator Tina Smith’s Outreach Directors. Attendees voiced concerns about lack of senior housing, affordable housing and blight issues and were assured that these concerns would be taken to Senator Smith. The forum also included several housing success stories from communities around the area that included city financial incentives for improvement of rental properties to community members taking an active role in attending Blandin Leadership programs. The Vermilion Housing Authority voiced concern with the USDA 515 program and its inefficiency in getting things done. The roundtable discussion centered on lack of interest and involvement to help get things done. Also mentioned was the short supply of contractors and developers coupled with the high price of materials.
The board voted to approve extra work done on Fifth Ave. to dig up and replace the water line to a resident’s house with water and sewer lines that freeze every year. A contractor who is already doing work in Soudan gave a quote of $7,000. Gorsma said initial testing indicated that the water line may have been buried too shallow. “If we find that the water line is only at a 4’6” depth we’ll have to bury it deeper. If it’s already at the depth it should be, we’ll only have to insulate which would be significantly cheaper.” This is a project paid for by the water board, and Gorsma stated, “This is not to set a precedent for people dealing with frozen water lines.”
Police report
Police Chief Dan Reing reported that May was extremely busy. There were 134 calls with Memorial Day weekend comprising nearly half of the month’s total number of calls. Reing discussed cost of onsite staff training and is working on setting up joint training sessions with Babbitt and Ely. Reing said “We want to send one staff to taser training, so he can train our officers (and Babbitt and Ely), and then they can train us on other things.” Reing also discussed placement of automated external defibrillators (AED) around the community and possible grant funding for additional unit(s). Chief Reing and the board also discussed importance of CPR training. There was continued discussion on whether to pursue G.R.E.A.T. training or DARE or both. Costs and timing of each training are being considered.
Other business
In other business, the board:
• Heard that the 2021 population estimate by Minnesota state demographer was 525 with 263 households.
• Did not receive the DNR recreation grant funding intended for improvements at the hockey rink. Plan is to follow up and pursue other funding options.
• Heard that spraying for bugs at ballfield and park and dust control is underway.
• Discussed property donation by Casey Sunsdahl for a designated sliding hill. Will pursue broader definition to include other recreation uses of the donated property.
• Accepted donations from Northeast Range baseball for field improvements and Broten Construction towards police cameras.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 28 at noon.