SOUDAN — The Breitung Town Board on June16 approved a request from the Minnesota North-Vermilion baseball team to hold practices and scrimmages at the Soudan Ballfield starting on Aug. 24.
Coach Tom Coombe told the board that the Ely field will be undergoing major renovations and will not be available for their fall practices and scrimmages. He estimated they would need 8-10 practices and 4-5 scrimmage dates in the fall.
Coombe said the team would be willing to do regular maintenance on the field, including dragging, raking, and chalking.
The board noted there would be costs for the township, such as mowing, and asked for $500 in exchange for use of the field, which was agreed.
This will not conflict with summer youth baseball.
The board also passed a resolution in support of proclaiming July 12-18, 2026, as Heritage Week. This week will include a series of programs sponsored by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society, with the Old Settler’s Reunion and Picnic set for July 18.
TSHS member Louise Gately discussed the activities with the board and said they hope to make this an annual event. The proclamation discusses recognizing and celebrating the history of Tower-Soudan, strengthening community pride, enriching civic life, and inspiring stewardship of the historic resources that tell the story of our area.

In other business, the board:
• Heard from the state demographer’s office that the 2025 population estimates are 489 residents and 248 households.
• Heard that the wastewater expansion project costs are coming in higher than expected, because the quote for bringing power to the site came in at $246,000, instead of the projected $150,000.
• Heard an update on the recreation grant, and committee members said the priority for the grant funding were the improvements to the bike trail segment. The committee expects to have about $25,000 left over after the paving, for other upgrades.
• Noxious weed inspector Stephanie Ukkola is working with the township maintenance crew to eliminate the identified noxious weeds if possible. Problem weeds include tansy and spotted knapweed.
• Were told there still isn’t a timeline for the CTC broadband expansion to McKinley Park Acres.
• Police Chief Dan Reing will be sending out letters for blight violations.
• Passed a resolution to allow Supervisor Steve Tekautz to contract with the township for plumbing/HVAC work at a rate of $125 per hour, which is as low, or lower than, the price that could be obtained elsewhere.
• Tabled the awarding of bids for propane, to get a little more information from some of the bidders.
• Swore in Stephanie Ukkola as deputy clerk. The deputy clerk is selected by the clerk and then is trained to take over clerk duties as needed.
• Approved purchase of a brush cutter attachment for the toolcat, at a cost of $6,800. The board noted the brush cutter would help with eradicating noxious weeds.
• Approved a request by a party to serve alcohol at an event at the community center. There is an additional fee, plus the party must hire an off-duty police officer for the duration of the event.
The board’s next meeting is on Tuesday, July 21 at 6 p.m.