1/9/24 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ & REORGANIZATION MEETING
January 9, 2024
The January 9, 2024, Board of Supervisors’ & Reorganization Meeting was called to order by Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman at 5:30PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those in attendance including VNP Superintendent Bob DeGross; Supervisors Jim Janssen, Jerry Pohlman & Jeanne Shuck; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy-Clerk Gretchen Janssen; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and two members of the community (including Zoon).
Nomination of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Jim Janssen nominated Jerry Pohlman as Chairman. There were no other nominations, all voted in favor of Jerry continuing as Chairman. Jerry Pohlman nominated Jim Janssen as Vice-Chairman. There were no other nominations. Jerry & Jeanne voted in favor of Jim continuing as Vice-Chairman, Jim abstained and the motion carried. The Clerk turned the meeting over to Chairman Jerry Pohlman.
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: There were none.
Presentation by VNP Superintendent Bob DeGross: Bob began by stating that he was attending to update the community on VNP activity. The first topic of discussion was the lease between the NPS and the Town of Crane Lake. Bob assured those present that Washington indications were good for acceptance and the lease will hopefully be in place by March. It will take time to set up the exhibits, etc. There is hope that the monument sign will be in place this year, but more likely in 2025. The site was planned for the left side of the driveway, but now the right side is being considered. The ice is being checked for safety with a fly-over planned for January 10th to locate any open water. The NPS is changing Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA). The result of this change is that for those who have historically had multiple approved activities on one CUA with one application fee will now need to apply for multiple CUA’s and pay multiple application fees. For example, a CUA holder that wishes to provide guided fishing services and boat rentals will need to submit two online application packets and submit two application fees of $350 and $250 respectively. A management fee must be paid in addition to the application fee. The management fee allows parks to recover costs associated with managing and monitoring CUAs and is a requirement service wide for all CUAs. We expect to communicate the management fee structure during the summer of 2024. The Board and audience thanked Bob for his presentation.
Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, to approve the minutes of the 12/12/23 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: Backus Community Center – $100.00; MAT – $299.76; IRS – $462.05; MN Revenue – $60.35; Traci Bak – $16.89; SLC Auditor – $94.87; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; CLVTB – $301.93; Border State Bank – $4,779.56; Beth Bak – $378.00; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $206.50; Braun Intertec – $1,098.75; CR-Bldg. Performance – $1,839.38; Casper Const. – $5,209.56; and Payroll – $997.05. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, 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:
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: Gretchen provided the following report: Visitor Center/Campground:
The windows are in and the roof is getting shingled. Meetings are continuing every two weeks by Zoom on Thursdays at 10 am. B3 compliance is being closely monitored. Structural engineers were onsite in December to inspect the framing and foundation. Minor changes have been made to anchoring and the design of the lakeside stairs. The wall thickness between the welcome zone and the auditorium will be extended by 5 inches due to a mistake made in the foundation there. To address the boards concerns, the Town representatives have asked for a meeting between the architects, project managers, and Max Gray to require a construction schedule including an anticipated expense timeline from Max Gray.
Bills to approve:
Max Gray AFP #4 – $148,895.16, Max Gray AFP #5 – $263,211.60, CR-BPS – $1517.99, Costin Group – $30,000.00
Total $443,624.75.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2024
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground: Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)
4 Contracts to approve:
Based on a construction extension through August 2024 these contracts are amended:
S.E.H Visitor Center $14,000 increase
S.E.H Campground $82,500 increase (both billable to DNR 1.9M direct appropriation)
Based on bids awarded for the Bayside Drive project these construction contracts are new:
S.E.H Bayside Drive $101,400
Braun Intertec Bayside Drive $5,225 (both billable to IRRR)
Other attachments:
Budget for Bayside Drive and VC/Campground projects (FYI)
Bills to pay once IRRR has issued a reimbursement to the Town. Submitted on 12/26/23
| Invoice # | Invoice Date | Vendor Name | Description | Invoice Amount | Eligible Amount |
| B367452 | 11/30/2023 | Braun Intertec | Materials Testing VC | $305.00 | $305.00 |
| B367451 | 11/30/2023 | Braun Intertec | Materials Testing RV | $793.75 | $793.75 |
| CRANE 001-03 | 12/1/2023 | CR-BPS | B3 Commissioning | $1,839.38 | $1,839.38 |
| Pay App 6 (pg 6-7) | 12/1/2023 | Casper Construction | Monitoring Well Relocation | $5,209.56 | $5,209.56 |
| Total | $8,147.69 |
Notes:
To discuss with Bob DeGross
Update on the lease agreement progress
Update on the new exhibitry for the VC
Update on the VC signage
Animal silhouettes for the 11 exterior windows: “Deer, wolf, beaver, loon, eagle would be good. Maybe a moose and/ or lynx, though I know they are more rare” see A2.1 in the plans
Board Action:
A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve and sign Max Gray Construction Pay Request #4 for $148,895.16 and Pay Request #5 for $263,211.60. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, to approve and pay the above listed bills for $443,624.75. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services between CL Township and S.E.H. affective 5/9/23 for the VNP Visitors Center Project to provide additional Construction Administration Services due to project time extension. All voted in favor and the motion carried. The Board did not approve a similar amendment for the RV Campground project as more information is needed.
Bayside Drive Upgrade: Gretchen provided the following report: Four bids came in on Dec 21 for the Bayside Drive Improvement Project. Rachel Construction has been awarded the contract and will be starting in March to have trees down before April 1. The estimated total for that project was $463,144. Rachel came in at $285,353 (38% below this estimate). Casper was the next lowest bid at 17% below estimate. The County will formally award that bid and manage the payments to Rachel Contracting through the SPRA funding. The engineers and Braun Intertec have presented contracts to the Town for the construction phase of this project.
Board Action:
A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve and sign the Agreement for Professional Service between Crane Lake Township and S.E.H. authorizing and describing the scope, schedule, and payment conditions for consultant work on the Bayside Drive Reconstruction Construction Phase of Bayside Drive. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to approve and sign the Braun Intertec Proposal for Construction Materials Testing Services on the Bayside Drive Improvement Project. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
American Rescue Plan Act Fund ($1,111.15): There was nothing new.
McKie Easement Request: The McKie attorney has communicated with the Township attorney. The Township attorney has responded to that communication.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2024
VNP Ice Road Management Plan: There was no report.
Bayside Drive Maintenance: The Township will need to review options for road maintenance after the road improvements planned for spring 2024 are completed. There was no action.
Dark Sky Crane Lake: There was no report. Peter Coggan will have a report at the February meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Board of Audit Meeting: The Board of Audit Meeting is set for February 13, 2024, at 5:30PM at the Fellowship Hall prior to the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.
Budget Committee Meeting: The Budget Committee is working to set a date prior to the February meeting.
Reorganization:
A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to designate the following for 2024:
Town Board Meetings – Date & Time remains as the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM May through September and 5:30PM October through April, any changes will be posted.
Official Posting Places remain the same as 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. Changes will be posted as needed.
Legal Representatives remain as Couri & Ruppe of St. Michael and Johnson, Killen & Seiler of Duluth, with the option to consult others on an as-needed basis.
Depository/Bank remains the same as any bank in St. Louis County may be used with Frandsen Bank designated as the primary bank.
Fellowship Hall Donation will increase to $1,000 for 2024.
Minutes Distribution & Posting Policy – Minutes are posted on the 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 change as follows: Salaries remain the same. Meeting rates increase from $60 per meeting to $65 per meeting. Supervisors-$65 per meeting; Clerk- $380 per month + $65 per meeting; Treasurer- $245 per month + $65 per meeting; Deputy Clerk- $100 per month + $65 per meeting. Election Judges increase to $13 per hour and $14 per hour after 10PM.
Mileage Reimbursement remains the same to follow State guideline, which fluctuates and at this time is .67 cents per mile.
Official Newspaper will be the Cook-News Herald as per motion by the Board in 2014 to alternate between the CNH and Timberjay each year.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, that Committees would be as follows for 2024:
Budget Committee – The Budget Committee will continue to be made up of One Supervisor, the Clerk, the Treasurer and two members of the community.
VNP Visitor Center/Campground Committee – Deena Congdon and Gretchen Janssen as Co-Chairs of the Committee. Other members are Brenda Pohlman, Mark Anderson, Bruce Beste, Lori & Jeff Sanborn, Debbie Scott, Serena Swenson, and Jim Janssen as ex-officio. Others are welcome.
Trails Committee – Deena Congdon, Gretchen Janssen, Dee Kuder, Lori Sanborn & Jo Ann Pohlman. Others are welcome.
Dark Sky Committee – Mary McKie & Peter Coggan
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, that Representatives would be as follows for 2024:
International Rainy Lake Board of Control – Jerry Pohlman.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2024
Other New Business: There was none.
Comments from Officers: There were none.
Public Comments: Gretchen Janssen reminded everyone that there would be a Church dinner at 5:30PM on Wed, January 10, 2024.
Next Meeting: Board of Supervisors’ & Board of Audit Meetings – February 13, 2024 – 5:30PM, Fellowship Hall
The planned Closed Meeting to discuss the McKie dock/easement request was cancelled.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55PM.
Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk Jerry Pohlman, 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.
