2/13/24 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING
February 13, 2024
The February 13, 2024, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chairman Jerry Pohlman at 6:18PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall following the Board of Audit Meeting with those in attendance including: Guests Gary Cerkvenik & Kim Stokes; Supervisors Jerry Pohlman & Jeanne Shuck; Treasurer Traci Bak; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and three members of the community (including Zoom). Supervisor Jim Janssen and Deputy-Clerk Gretchen Janssen were absent.
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: New Computers were added to New Business.
Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, to approve the minutes of the 1/9/24 Board of Supervisors’ and Reorganization Meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report –The January Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows: Lutefisk Tech. – $405.00; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; CLVTB – $7,512.04; Gretchen Janssen – $160.88; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $274.50; Costin Group – $30,000.00; CR-Bldg. Performance – $1,517.99; Beth Bak – $567.00; and Payroll – $845.76. 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.
Fund Transfers: A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve the Fund Transfers presented by the Clerk and Treasurer to bring funds into balance. 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: Voyageurs National Park has received word from the NPS Comptroller accepting the following terms of a property lease for the Visitor Center space: $141,000 escalated at 3% each year, 20-year term. The Town representative has agreed to move this forward, so a finalized lease will be forthcoming. Electric and mechanical lines are being roughed in at the Visitor Center. They are in the process of adding spray foam and hanging dry wall. Max Gray reports being on par with the schedule sent out to the board on 1/18/24. The building envelope will be tested by the B3 commissioner within the month. There was a site visit on 2/8 attended by Bob DeGross, Widseth, Max Gray and Town representatives. We discussed the location of the welcome sign and a different siding choice for the rounded area near the main entrance plus we received a tour of the building inside and out. The animal silhouettes to be placed on the Visitor Center include: a bear, a wolf, a moose, a deer, a loon, an eagle, an otter, and a lynx. Does the board also want to include a fish? Drawings are attached including a revised loon design. We can ask for other revisions also if the board wishes. The change order discussed in prior meetings is now ready for Town signature. It has been approved by the County. Included in this change order are the water supply pump system and storage tanks (now sized appropriately for the well discharge capacity) as well as the exterior lighting change requested by Park staff. The Town will be receiving a check for $1986.68 from Voyageurs Conservancy. This amount will cover the change order for new lighting on the poles at the main entrance to the Visitor Center. These down lights are specifically dark-sky certified. Max Gray will be billing for this change order, so the Town will pay this amount to Max Gray in the future. The remainder of the change order will be paid by the DNR appropriation grant of $1.9M. The committee is planning a meeting for Tuesday April 23rd at 5:30 pm. We will discuss the Visitor Center exterior signage among other things. Is there any conflict with this date?
Bills to approve:
S.E.H. 459738 1/9/24 $2,916.38
S.E.H. 459737 1/9/24 $ 983,11
Techbytes 6577 2/24 $ 285.00
Braun Intertex 2/7/24 $1,080.00 = Total $5,264.49
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – February 13, 2024
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground: Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)
Bills to pay (submitted to IRRR for reimbursement)
CR-BPS Jan 2024 1517.99
Costin Group Jan 2024 30,000.00 31, 517.99
Action items: sign change order, approve bills, comment on animal silhouettes
Board Action:
A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve and sign Widseth Smith Nolting & Associates/Max Gray Construction Change Order Number 001 to provide and install equipment specified in Section 44 41 10 Water Supply Booster Pump System & Storage Tanks as identified in PR 002 & Provide and install exterior lighting as identified in PR 003 for $46,113.50. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, to approve and sign Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services between Crane Lake Twp. and S.E.H. which was effective 5/9/23 extending services for an additional three months (to 8/31/24) of Construction Administration Services for the RV Campground increasing the fee from $75,000 to $105,000 & Provide an additional 350 hours of Resident Project Representative Services increasing the fee from $224,800 to $277,300 – Total increase $82,500. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve the bills listed above for payment totaling $5,264.49. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Gary Cerkvenik reviewed the lease agreement between the Voyageurs National Park and the Township. Both Attorney Roy Christensen and Consultant Gary Cerkvenik recommended that the Board approve and sign the Agreement. A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, to approve and sign the Lease Agreement between the United States of America and the Town of Crane Lake to lease space, as described on the lease agreement, in the Crane Lake Visitor Center from June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2044 for an annual rent of $141,000 to be increased by 3% of the amount annually and to be paid monthly. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Gary Cerkvenik reviewed the DNR JP Agreement for those present. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve and sign the Crane Lake Public Water Access Cooperative Agreement between the State of Minnesota (acting by and through the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources) and the Town of Crane Lake for upgrade and improvement of the existing Crane Lake “Waters Edge” Public Water Access as described in said document. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, to approve the animal silhouettes for the exterior of the Visitor Center selected by the Visitor Center/Campground Committee with the addition of a fish silhouette that looks like a Walleye. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Bayside Drive Upgrade: Gretchen provided the following report: Rachel Contracting will start clearing trees in early March. The Town landowners are welcome to the downed timber. Whatever timber is not taken by May 1 will be burned on site. The contract for this project is between the County and Rachel, therefore invoicing will all go through the County (the Town can review but Town approval is not required). Once road restrictions are lifted, Rachel will begin work (approx. May 1) and the substantial completion date is June 28, 2024. Road access will always be allowed during construction, but there may be minor delays if only one lane is open. Working hours will be Mon-Fri, 7 am – 5 pm.
Lake Country Power will replace and relocate the 4 poles closest to the lake this Spring.
American Rescue Plan Act Fund ($1,111.15): There was nothing new.
McKie Easement Request: The attorneys continue to communicate.
VNP Ice Road Management Plan: There was no report.
Bayside Drive Maintenance: The Board will discuss what needs to be included in a bid for road maintenance.
Dark Sky Crane Lake: There was no report. Peter Coggan will have a report at a future meeting.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – February 13, 2024
NEW BUSINESS
Election Judge Approval: A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve the Clerk’s roster of those eligible for appointment to serve on the Election Board for all 2024 elections. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Election Notices – Shopper: The Board reviewed the increased cost of placing election notices in the Cook Shopper in addition to the required notice in a qualified legal paper and decided against.
New Computers: The Board will look into options for new computers for the Clerk and Treasurer.
Other New Business: There was none.
Comments from Officers: Jerry thanked Gary Cerkvenik for attending the meeting and for all he does for the community; including the recent completion of the Visitor Center lease. Jeanne echoed Jerry’s comment and added a thank you to Deena Congdon and Gretchen & Jim Janssen for their Committee work. Jo Ann reminded all of the Presidential Nomination Primary on Tuesday, March 5th at the Fellowship Hall – time 10AM to 8PM.
Public Comments: There was none.
Next Meeting: Annual Meeting & Board of Supervisors’ Meetings – March 12, 2024 – 5:30PM, Fellowship Hall
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10PM.
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.
