2/4/25 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
February 4, 2025
The February 4, 2025, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Clerk Ashlyn Denning at 5:00PM 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; and Clerk Ashlyn Denning. Deputy-Treasurer Gretchen Janssen was absent. VC/Campground Manager Serena Swenson arrived at 5:30PM.
Chairman Jim Janssen stated the following: The meeting shall move to closed session for the Town to discuss attorney client privileged matters regarding claims by James McKie regarding a Dock License, as per Minnesota Statutes 13D.05 Subd. 3(b).
A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to close the Regular Meeting to move to a Closed Session. All voted in favor and the motion carried. The Regular Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was immediately closed, and the Closed Session was opened at 5:02pm.
Following the Closed Session, the Regular Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was re-opened at 5:17pm.
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: Summer hour change and training compensation were added to New Business.
Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to approve the minutes of the 1/14/25 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: Twp-Funds: Backus Community Center – $100.00, Traci Bak – $52.25, Costin Group – $1,250.00, Lake Country Power – $156.00, CLVTB – $19.38, and Payroll – $1,116.44. VC/Campground Fund: Lake Country Power – $439.70, CLWSD – $1,654.64, and Payroll – $1,652.09. A motion was made by Scott, 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 Jim, 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: Jim Janssen provided the following report: Max Gray is still completing their punch list.
Bills to approve:
Sarah Zwier Design LLC – $2,500.00
A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to approve payment to Sarah Zwier Design for $2,500.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground: (Cont.)
Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: Serena provided the following report:
- Phones
- Serena- 218-235-9871
- Ashlynn- 218-504-9871
- Pilot Rock- Campground Furniture
- Pet Trash Receptacles
- List price is $441
- Discounted price is $352.80 plus freight
- 7 of them
- 1 by the visitor center
- Two in each “section” of the campground
- Picnic Tables confirmed for week of April 14-18
- Camp Host
- Robert and Beth Mecham
- Currently at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida
- Previous camp host experience, grew up with a cabin in Ely, 30 years in construction, super-duper nice and excited
- $2000 at the end of the season if they stay for agreed dates and do a good job
- June 4th-September 24th
- Marketing
- Good Sam= $4554.40
- Good Sam Partner (25’ and 26’) = $1295
- Use of Good Sam branding
- Ability to sell Good Sam memberships -$29 each (we keep the revenue)
- Access to the Camping World and Overton’s wholesale programs
- Profile on the website and app
- Listing in campground guide (published in 2026)
- Good Sam Members get 10% off stays less than a week-
- Most of our campgrounds use a “GoodSam10” code in their booking platform to offer the discount at checkout and then use the Good Sam Network to verify the memberships of the people who used the discount code. We get you access to the Good Sam Network when your profile goes live on our website.
- 3-Month Paid Media= $3,345
- When someone searches campgrounds in MN, then we show up on their Facebook or Instagram as an ad
- Never less than a 2/1 ration on ROI. Usually more.
- Need to work on our website
- Working with Dustin at Techbytes
- SEO, Google Analytics etc
- Canva Pro- $120/year
- Constant Contact
- Email marketing platform
- Manage social media profiles
- Starts at $12/month
- Brevo
- Free trial
- $9/month
- Robert and Beth Mecham
- Pet Trash Receptacles
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground: (Cont.)
Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action:
- Visitor Center Grand Opening
- June 6tt
- VIPS meet and go on boat tour to Grassy Bay
- Gary is speaking with the Schwankes about pontoon rental
- Lunch at Nelsons
- Crane Lake should pay for lunch?
- Ribbon cutting and speeches at 1pm
- Voyageurs Conservancy mobile classroom, North Canoe, Rides, maybe live music? Etc from 2pm to evening.
A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to approve Serena’s request to spend marketing funds as follows: Good Sam – $4,554.40 for 2025 & 2026 partnership and 90-day paid media, and Canva Pro – $120.00 per year. 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. Jim will look into.
DNR Public Water Access: Co-op Agreement was signed by Jim and Jeanne. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to approve signature of the Crane Lake Bayside Public Water Access Cooperative Construction Agreement between the State of Minnesota (acting through its Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources) and the Town of Crane Lake, St. Louis County. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
VNP Ice Road Management Plan: Scott Sanborn provided the following report: Voyageurs National Park has been pushing more and more rules on businesses/ private property owners around our lake communities of Crane Lake, Ash River, Kabetogama, and Rainy Lake. Every year they take more and ask for more. We are pushing back with the help of locals, lobbyists, and MN politicians. On February 20, 2025, Scott Sanborn will be attending a meeting in Kabetogama Township. I will be representing Crane Lake Township. We are meeting with representatives of all the lake communities and some elected officials as well. Pete Stauber will be in attendance. Roger Skraba is also invited. Our 4 main issues being addressed at the meeting are:
- Proposed frozen lakes plan and jurisdiction of waters within the boundaries of VNP
- Changes to the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program by VNP
- Passenger limits for uninspected vessels by VNP
- Suspension of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program by Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA). Unrelated to VNP.
Voyageurs National Park will be hosting their biannual Affairs meeting on February 21, 2025. They plan to address the frozen lakes plan and their commercial services program. Let the minutes show that VNP superintendent Bob DeGross is retiring in May 2025. Leadership succession is also on the agenda of VNP’s Affairs meeting.
Bayside Drive Maintenance: The Board is preparing an agreement/contract for blading and summer maintenance with Rutchasky Enterprises. There was an email sent on pricing, which was that each time the road is graded, it will cost $525.00. Rutchasky thinks that it will need to be done 3-4 times this year. For additional road repair work, the grader rate is $150.00 per hour and if other equipment is needed, they would be billed per that hourly rate.
Dark Sky Crane Lake: There was no report.
Community Action Plan: Jeanne Shuck verbalized her disappointment with not getting any support from the community to be on the Community Action Plan Committee. Talked about waiting one year and giving the community a break from projects but decided to forge ahead with the small group she has.
Records Retention Process: The signed Notification of Adoption of Township General Retention Schedule was forwarded to the Minnesota Historical Society. Upon receipt of the M.H.S. authorization, the Township will proceed with record retainage and disposal as outlined by the M.H.S. and M.A.T.
NEW BUSINESS
CPP Loan Principal Payment: The Budget Committee recommended that the Board consider a loan payment on the property acquired through the land exchange (90-acres). The Board discussed and more discussion will follow. No action was taken.
Summer Hours: Jeanne suggested that the summer meeting time be changed from 7PM to an earlier time. The Board discussed and tabled for further discussion.
Training Compensation: Ashlyn proposed that the Clerk and Deputy-Clerk be compensated for Clerk training time. Training will continue into Spring 2025, possibly longer. Clerk Ashlyn proposed $20 per hour for training. A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to approve compensation at $20 per hour for the Clerk & Deputy-Clerk for training time. Scott and Jim voted in favor, Jeanne abstained, and the motion carried.
Other New Business: There was none.
Comments from Officers: The April 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting date was changed from April 8th to April 24th at 5:30pm.
Public Comments: There were none.
Next Meeting: Annual Meeting – March 11, 2025 at 5:30pm, Fellowship Hall
Board of Supervisors Meeting – Immediately Following
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:27PM.
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.
