Crane Lake Township

TOWN OF CRANE LAKE

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ & REORGANIZATION MEETING

January 14, 2025

 

The January 14, 2025, Board of Supervisors’ & Reorganization Meeting was called to order by Clerk Ashlyn Denning at 5:30PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those in attendance including Supervisors Jim Janssen, Scott Sanborn & Jeanne Shuck; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy Clerk – Jo Ann Pohlman, V/C Manager Serena Swenson; and Clerk Ashlyn Denning.

 

 

Nomination of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Jeanne Shuck nominated Jim Janssen as Chairman, Scott Sanborn supported that nomination. There were no other nominations, and the motion carried. Jim Janssen nominated Jeanne Shuck as Vice-Chairman, Scott Sanborn supported that nomination. There were no other nominations, and the motion carried. The Clerk turned the meeting over to Chairman Jim Janssen.

 

BUSINESS

 

Additions to the Agenda:  There were none.

 

Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve the minutes of the 12/10/24 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report –The December Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows: Twp. Funds:  MAT – $298.80; IRS – $1,257.45; MN Revenue – $230.22; SLC Auditor – $55.65 & $94.36; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; CLVTB – $371.43; Border State Bank – $4,680.50; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $2,977.60; Lakes Gas – $1,280.61; Sarah Zweir Design – $2,500.00;  Postage – $73.00; and Payroll – $1,145.89. VC/Campground Fund:  Lake Country Power – $373.15; Lakes Gas – $610.69; CLWSD – $1,654.64; Quill – $394.49; PERA – $159.60; Visa – $1,666.55 and Payroll – $941.61.  A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as read and the payment of bills.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

The Clerk presented the correspondence.  The correspondence was received and will be placed on file and acted upon as required.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: Serena provided the following report:

• Blinds and furniture are installed
• Swing Set was delivered in December
  • It’s in the parking lot under a tarp until we assemble in Spring
• Phones are still being worked out but we are getting there
  • Phone for campground is up and running
    • Serena – 218-235-9871

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 14, 2025

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)

• Meeting with Sarah and Jim about outdoor signage
  • Concepts are good. Lots of discussion and feedback. Re-working and getting back to us this week or next.
  • Focus on the history of Crane Lake. Kind of a timeline of about 200 years. Lots of black and white pictures. QR codes.
• Camp Host
  • List of volunteers from Mark with VNP from volunteers.gov
  • Are we going to pay them?
  • Workcamper – $99/year for gold membership. Discounts on advertising and access to resume database
  • I’d like to wait on signing up for this option until I get Mark’s list
  • If no good candidates, can I pay for the job ad and gold membership to get going?
    • [Township agreed that we pay the camp host $2,000 at the end of the season so they have more incentive to stay all season.]
  • Meeting with VNPO and Voyageurs Conservancy – Grand Opening
  • Picnic tables
    • Delivery Date?
      • Last week of April?
        • [Township agreed on an April date to be delivered.]

 

Committee Report & Resulting Board Action:  Jim Janssen provided the following report:

Casper Construction needs to fix a plumbing issue and he’s working with them on a timeline. Max Gray is still completing their punch list.

 

Bills to approve:

S.E.H. $492.32- LCCMR, S.E.H. $2,094.68 – LCCMR, S.E.H. $3,799.70 – LCCMR, S.E.H. $3,990.12 –  DEED, S.E.H. $4,620.00 – DNR Appropriation, S.E.H. $13,090.00 – DNR Appropriation.

Total: $28,086.82

A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to approve the bills.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Bayside Drive Upgrade:  Construction on Bayside Drive is substantially complete. The Township is waiting for the project final close out.

DNR Boat Launch: Will be reconstructing Fall of 2025

McKie Easement Request:  The McKie attorney has communicated with the Township attorney.  The process is close to an agreement.

VNP Ice Road Management Plan:  There was no report.

Bayside Drive Maintenance:  The Board is preparing an agreement/contract for blading and summer maintenance with Rutchasky Enterprises.

Dark Sky Crane Lake:  There was no report.

Community Action Plan: Jeanne will provide an update at the March meeting.

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 14, 2025

 

 NEW BUSINESS

 

Board of Audit Meeting:  The Board of Audit Meeting is set for February 4, 2025 at the Fellowship Hall following the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting. Meetings will begin at 5:00PM.

 

Budget Committee Meeting:  The Budget Committee Meeting will be held on January 20, 2025 at 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Resolution-Records Retention Schedule:  The Township will begin the process of purging the Township files.  A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-01 Adopting the Minnesota Townships General Records Retention Schedule for the management and destruction of the Town’s records and will send notice of its decision to adopt the schedule to the Government Records Archivist at the Minnesota Historical Society.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Reorganization:

A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to designate the following for 2025:

Town Board Meetings – Date & Time: Currently the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM (May-September) and 5:30PM (October-April). Any changes will be posted.

Official Posting Places: Remain the same. One posting listing all meeting dates for the year at the Church, Post Office & the following businesses when open – Anderson’s, Handberg’s, Nelson’s, & Voyagaire.  Any changes will be posted.

Legal Representatives: Remain the same with option to consult with others on an as-needed basis. Couri & Ruppe of St. Michael and Johnson, Killen & Seiler of Duluth are the current representations.

Depository/Bank: Remains the same. Motion that any bank in St. Louis County may be used with Frandsen Bank designated as the primary bank.

Fellowship Hall Donation: Recommendation is $500 since we will only be using the Fellowship Hall until VC opens in Spring 2025.

Minutes Distribution & Posting Policy: Minutes are posted on the Township Website.  Minutes are mailed to those supplying the Clerk with stamped, self-addressed envelopes.

Copy & Information Request Policy: Remains the same – Charge of 25 cents per copy (includes labor) for copy requests & $25 per hour for other labor requests.

Salaries & Meeting Rates: Budgeted for an increase in 2025. Recommendation to increase salaries and increase meeting rate. Meeting rate will go from $65 to $70. Supervisors increase to $70 per meeting. Clerk – $400 per month + $70 per meeting; Treasurer –  $260 per month + $70 per meeting; Deputy Clerk –  $150 per month + $70 per meeting; Deputy Treasurer – $150 per month + $70 per meeting. No change to election judge pay for 2025 as there is no election held this year. Recommendation to increase election judge rate in 2026.

Mileage Reimbursement: Remains the same to follow state guideline, which fluctuates and at this time is .67 cents per mile.

Official Newspaper: Board decided to alternate between CNH and Timberjay each year beginning in 2015. It will be Timberjay for 2025.

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 14, 2025

 

Reorganization: (Cont.)

A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, that Committees would be as follows for 2025:

Budget Committee: The Budget Committee will continue to be made up of one Supervisor (Jeanne), the Clerk (Ashlyn), the Treasurer (Traci) and two members of the community (Deb Scott and Mary Tomasko).

VNP Visitor Center/Campground Committee: Deena Congdon and Gretchen Janssen as Co-Chairs of the Committee.  Other members are Brenda Pohlman, Mark Anderson, Lori & Jeff Sanborn, and Jim Janssen as ex-officio.

Trails Committee:  Deena Congdon, Gretchen Janssen, Dee Kuder, Lori Sanborn & Jo Ann Pohlman. Others are welcome.

Dark Sky Committee: Mary McKie & Peter Coggan

Community Action Plan Committee:  Jeanne Shuck is Chair. Other Members are Ashlyn Denning, Dan Denning, Traci Bak and Jo Ann Pohlman. Others are welcome.

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, that Representatives would be as follows for 2025:

International Rainy Lake Board of Control: – Jerry Pohlman

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Other New Business:  There was none.

 

Comments from Officers:  Jim welcomed Scott and Ashlyn to the Board.  Jeanne thanked Serena for all her work on the Visitor Center/Campground.

 

Public Comments: There was none

 

Next Meeting:   Board of Supervisors’ & Board of Audit Meetings – February 4, 2025 – 5:00pm at the Fellowship Hall.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40PM.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ashlyn Denning, Clerk                                                                         Jim Janssen, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This draft of the Crane Lake Township minutes has been posted solely for preliminary informational purposes.  Minutes are unofficial and subject to change until they have been approved by the Crane Lake Board of Supervisors.