SOUDAN — The Breitung Town Board made the decision to stop paying a full-time township employee who was injured on the job two months ago. The employee had been receiving full pay from the township for the two months he was unable to work. The township had been giving full pay because of precedent set with past employee injuries.
The board reviewed a draft of the change to the employee handbook that would guide future boards on how to handle workers’ compensation. The proposed change states that eligible employees should receive wages directly from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company, which is generally 66 percent of regular wages. The township will next review the proposed changes with the employee unions and the township’s legal counsel.
The board also discussed the township’s pay period, which is currently set at Tuesday through Monday, and paid on Tuesday. The board will look into changing the work week to Sunday through Saturday and keeping pay day on Tuesday, which would give the treasurer more time to complete payroll.
In other news, the town board:
• Passed a resolution to certify the 2025 levy at $773,000. Of that total, $372,967 goes to road and bridge, $133,956 goes to police, $150,057 goes to the general fund, $77,955 goes to the fire department, and $38,056 goes to recreation.
• Accepted an additional $155,200 from the state for the Vermilion Loop Trail. Matt Tuchel said that the entire project is paid for excepting grant writer, Nancy Larson’s fee.
• Passed a motion to transfer $25,000 from a mature CD to a 4M account.
• Accepted donations of a weapon from Doug Erickson, and $25 from Chuck Roehrdanz to benefit the Breitung Police Department.
• Named Barb Burgess as deputy treasurer.
The next regular board meeting is set for Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.