GREENWOOD TWP- Issues keep cropping up with the township’s large fire boat, and Fire Chief Brian Trancheff asked the board for permission to pursue some quotes for major repairs and retrofitting to the boat’s electronics, fuel, and engines.
The boat had trouble returning from a call on the lake this month, but limped home on one engine, he said. The next morning, however, all the engines started back up. This is a pattern they have encountered multiple times, he said.
“This problem isn’t easily diagnosable,” Trancheff said.
Supervisor Paul Skubic said the boat’s E-Tec engines, which are outdated and not easily repairable, are a big issue. Trancheff said the boat’s other issues include the fact that there are overlapping electronics systems and GPS systems, as well as possible issues with fuel delivery.
Trancheff said there is a marine repair shop in Duluth that would be able to retrofit the boat over the winter. The shop is used to working on larger commercial vessels.
“They can do everything,” he said, “electronics, valves, and pumps.”
The boat itself is in very good condition, Trancheff said. He estimated the cost of purchasing a similar new vessel could be as high as a million dollars.
Greenwood’s fire department had a very busy month in June, capped off with an exceptionally busy first week in July that included responding to two structure fires, one in Greenwood and one in Vermilion Lake Township, with 10 total calls in the first six days of July.
He noted that the department saved a cabin on Birch Point, where a fire had started in the kitchen.
“They contained the fire to the kitchen area,” he said. “For a small, rural department, this is a big deal. They saved a good portion of the home and its belongings.”
The department also responded to the lightning strike garage fire on Hwy. 1 in Vermilion Lake Township, another successful call, he said.
Trancheff also spoke about the success of the sprint medic pilot program.
“I was the biggest skeptic,” he admitted. “But I am extremely impressed now. Their response times are amazing, and the level of care they provide is something we couldn’t do even if we wanted to.”
Trancheff urged the board to express support for the program and to help keep it continuing.
“This is a game changer for rural EMS,” he said.
The sprint medics, based out of their response vehicles, can respond more quickly than the department. They’ve also saved time for the department, being able to respond to calls and determine if something is a false alarm.
The board discussed inviting sprint medic personnel to a board meeting to give updates on the program.
“We should start talking about this now,” said supervisor Steve Bradach. “We also need to build political support.”
The program is funded by the state Legislature, under a one-time allotment. The program hopes its funding will cover the program until next June, but after that, there are questions on whether or not the program could continue.
In other news, Trancheff said the department, which is looking at replacing its main fire engine in the next few years, will get a look at a new model this week when a manufacturer brings up a demo model. Township residents approved raising the levy for this purpose and are designating $200,000 a year for this purchase. The truck would take a few years to arrive, and payment isn’t due until arrival.
Newly-trained wildland firefighters were on call for the DNR this past week, and July 15 were heading up to Ely with tender three and two staff to help with structure protection from the Camp Fire. The department is reimbursed for both truck time and staff time for these activities.
Chairman Paul Thompson said the township has been approached about hosting a command center for the ongoing firefighting effort. This would include use of the meeting room and possibly the storage garage. The board gave him permission to continue working with the U.S. Forest Service if they determine they need the space.

Projects to get underway
The board accepted quotes for two projects being funded with a 50/50 matching grant from the IRRR. They accepted the low quote from the Carlson Duluth Company for $33,980 to replace several furnaces in the town hall and fire hall. They also accepted the low quote from Bob Hecimovich Mechanical Contracting to remove the existing leaking 6,000-gallon water tank in the fire hall, and replace it with a 5,000-gallon poly tank.
Fire Chief Brian Trancheff said the 5,000-gallon tank would be big enough to resupply the three existing trucks. The tank is kept full of water to refill trucks during active fire events. The tank is refilled by the department using lake water.

Isle of Pines
Supervisors Lois Roskoski and Craig Gilbert will be meeting with the Isle of Pines Property Owners Association to discuss the return of $20,606 of unspent township funds given to the association, as well as some requests from the association regarding a release of liability, and a commitment to help with $500 of the annual costs for plowing the bridge and causeway management, since the bridge is the property of the township.

Other business:
In other business, the board:
• Noted the August board meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 12, due to the primary election set for Aug. 11.
• Heard the paved bike trail is scheduled to be redone by the end of this month, weather permitting.
• Approved naming of new roads for the Red Sunset Development off of Hwy. 115. The township will still need to assign fire numbers to the parcels, part of an existing older plat, some of which are now being built on.
• Approved sending their 2026 ambulance subsidy payment of $26,025 to the Tower Ambulance Commission. Roskoski noted this was the third year of a three-year agreement. The amount is based on a $25 per capita payment based on the 2020 census number.