Crane Lake Township

Current Topics

11/12/24 Minutes

 TOWN OF CRANE LAKE

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

November 12, 2024

 

The November 12, 2024, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chairman Jerry Pohlman at 5:43PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with those in attendance including: Supervisors Jim Janssen, Jerry Pohlman & Jeanne Shuck; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy-Clerk Gretchen Janssen; Campground Manager Serena Swenson; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and seven members of the community (including Zoom).

 

Additions to the Agenda: There were none.

 

Minutes – A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to approve the minutes of the 10/8/24 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report –The October Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows: MATIT – $300.00; Jill Crain – $182.00; Vanessa Ingebretsen – $182.00; Debora Scott – $195.00; Jo Ann Pohlman – $107.36; Lutefisk Tech. – $275.40; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; Anderson Canoe Outfitters – $351.21; CLVTB – $12,881.13; S.E.H. – $10,325.70; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $4,310.80; Max Gray Construction – $57,133.71; CR-Bldg. Performance – $2,151.33; CLWSD – $1,654.64; TechBytes – $118.40; Quill – $423.58; Lakes Gas – $1,058.84; and Payroll – $1,150.89.  A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, 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:  Max Gray is finished with the Visitor Center “punch list” except for some labeling and changing out the dimmer switch in the welcome zone.  The plumbers have some work to do in the mechanical room in finishing with the booster pump and expansion tank.  Exterior lighting is also on the list.

In the campground, Casper has completed a change order to accurately reflect the additional work done paving the loop, graveling the shoulders and fixing the rip rap.  The change order also includes the picnic tables and fire ring order, a dimmer module installed on the lighting in the campground, and a vehicle gate at the entrance.  Installation of the gate may have to wait until Spring, which is why the time extension is included. This change order will be paid by the $1.9M DNR appropriation.

Met with S.E.H and the DNR to discuss the Boat Landing.  S.E.H has essentially finished preliminary design and estimates the construction to cost approximately $1M.  The goal is still completion in 2025 with costs of construction being the responsibility of the DNR primarily.  The $1.9M direct appropriation grant Crane Lake received will also be useful for this project, once we have paid all the bills from the RV Park.

Action Items:  Approve change order and pay app from Casper Construction

Invoices to approve:

Casper Pay Ap 11         RV Park                        $86,658.63                   LCCMR

S.E.H   476093             Bayside Drive                $826.68                        IRRR

S.E.H   476136             Visitor Center                $11,105.91                   LCCMR

S.E.H   476137             RV Park                        $11,737.77                   LCCMR

S.E.H   476141             Boat Landing                 $10,921.50                   DNR

CR-BPSNov (final)        Visitor Center                $2664.23                      IRRR

Tech-Bytes                   website updates            $118.40                        TWP

A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve Casper Construction Change Order #3 increasing the contract price by $294,027.91 for additional time & material for the Campground.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.    A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to approve and sign Casper Construction Pay Request #11 for $86,658.63.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approved the above mentioned invoices totaling $124,033.12.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes –November 12, 2024

 

 

Campground Manager Report:  Serena Swenson provided the following report:

Deep Cleaning

  • Kathy Knox-$30 an hour
  • Give me the go ahead and her and I will schedule it and get it done (Board said to go ahead)
  • Cleaning supplies, a vacuum
    • Could order cleaning supplies through Quill. Will be much cheaper to go to Walmart or Costco
    • Made a list on Quill- $683.19 (Board said to purchase at Walmart or Costco)
  • Will need ladders

Break Room Needs

  • Cheapest place to go would be the thrift store but can I have cash? (Board said purchase at Walmart or Cosco)

American Rescue Plan Act Fund

  • We could use this money to buy a small play set for the VC
  • Things to consider: insurance, ground prep
  • Exact amount is$1,111.15
  • Need to spend by end of December
    • Backyard Discovery- Atlantis Swingset=$999 (plus $50 off first order)
    • Backyard Discovery- Tanglewood = $999
    • Walmart- Kidcraft Skyway Resort = $998
    • Thoughts on material or features?
    • How do I go about purchasing it
    • Storage until spring

Recreogo

  • WE ARE LIVE and have reservations! Set-up completed mid-October

Camp Host Job Description

  • Finalize
  • Pay? Weekly Rate vs. by the hour (Talk about with VNP at meeting next week)
  • Will potentially need to post it on Coolworks or a similar site
  • Coolworks is $169 for a 30 day job posting

Phones

  • ATT- 2 phones with most basic unlimited plan = $121.98/month
  • Need another phone to trade-in or it will be more (There is a phone available)
  • More $$ if we don’t pay by card (Can use the CC)

Marketing

  • Facebook business page set-up
  • Work in progress. I need to do a bit more research.

Visitor Center Punchlist

  • Complete? (Not yet)
  • Keys? (After punch list completed)
  • What’s left? Do Kathy and I need to wait to do a deep clean? Do we want to do the deep clean before the furniture is installed? When will the furniture be installed?

Campground Infrastructure

  • Trees
  • Dumpster (Need a dump punch card)
  • Rocks around electrical boxes
  • Any more word on who will mow (Discuss closer to spring)

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes –November 12, 2024

 

Credit Card  (Card has been received)

Paying for things

  • We need to figure out how I am going to pay for things. Marketing, cell phone, etc. Marketing can’t really be done effectively if I have to wait a month for approval. Can’t pay facebook with a check.

Snow Removal

  • Who is responsible? Who is going to do it? (Quotes from two or more businesses are needed)

Operations meeting with VNP

  • Tuesday, Nov. 19th– 1-3pm
  • Expectations for town use once it is open
  • Use? Rental charge?
  • Any other thoughts on how it should operate if you can’t attend the meeting next Tuesday

Bayside Drive Upgrade:  Construction on Bayside Drive is substantially complete. The Township is awaiting project closeout.

American Rescue Plan Act Fund ($1,111.15):  A playground at the Visitor Center is being considered.

McKie Easement Request:  There was nothing new to report.

VNP Ice Road Management Plan:  There was nothing new to report.

Bayside Drive Maintenance:  The Board is preparing an agreement/contract for blading and summer maintenance with Rutchasky Enterprises.  Couri & Ruppe will be consulted.

Dark Sky Crane Lake:  There was nothing new to report.

Community Action Plan:  There was nothing new to report.

Re-sign Bank Account Agreement:  The check signers on the Township bank account re-signed the Agreement to be sent to Frandsen Bank.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

CLWSD Manager Posting: The Clerk will post and publish the Manager position openings.

 

Bank Agreement:  A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to sign and return the Agreement for Safekeeping of Pledged Securities to Frandsen Bank.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

New Officer Training:  The newly elected Township officers will begin training with programs on the MAT website.

 

Comments from Officers:  Jerry thanked Jim, Gretchen and Serena for all their work on the Visitor Center/Campground. Jeanne thanked Jerry for his years of service on the Board.

 

Public Comments: There were none.

 

 

Next Meeting:   Board of Supervisors’ Meeting – December 10, 2024 – 5:30PM, Fellowship Hall

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35PM.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

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.