3/11/25 Annual Meeting Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
ANNUAL MEETING
March 11, 2025
The March 11, 2025, Annual 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 Clerk Ashlyn Denning and 8 members of the community.
Clerk Ashlyn explained the purpose of the Annual Meeting and asked for nominations for a Moderator. Jerry Pohlman nominated Jeff Sanborn, with a second by Butch Eggen. There being no other nominations, the nominations were closed. All voted in favor of Jeff Sanborn being nominated as Moderator.
Moderator Jeff stated the order of business by reading the agenda.
Additions to the Agenda: There were none. A motion was made by Scott Sanborn, supported by Serena Swenson, to approve the Agenda. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Minutes Approval – All attendees of the Annual Meeting received copies of the minutes for approval. Jeff asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes. There were none. A motion was made by Jeanne Shuck, supported by Serena Swenson, to approve the 3/12/24 Annual Meeting Minutes and the 2/4/25 Board of Audit Meeting Minutes. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report – Clerk Ashlyn read the following Treasurer’s Report for fiscal year 2024:
Opening Balance $ 156,375.76
Receipts + 900,468.92
Disbursements – 786,708.06
Ending Balance $ 270,136.62
A motion was made by Jerry Pohlman, supported by Scott Sanborn, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as read. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Moderator Jeff asked if there was any other Old Business from the floor. There was none.
NEW BUSINESS
2025 & 2026 Election Day Times & Location – A motion was made by Jeanne Shuck, supported by Traci Bak, that the polls would be open from 10AM – 8PM for all elections in 2025 and 2026. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Moderator Jeff Sanborn asked if the elections for 2025 and 2026 should be held at the Fellowship Hall or the Visitors Center. A motion was made by Jerry Pohlman, supported by Butch Eggen, to hold elections in 2025 and 2026 at the new Visitor Center. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
2026 Annual Meeting Date, Time, & Location – A motion was made by Serena Swenson, supported by Jeanne Shuck, to set the 2025 Annual Meeting date and time for March 10, 2026, at 5:30PM at the Visitor Center. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Annual Summary Reports –- A handout of full reports was provided at the meeting, which is included here.
Visitor Center & Campground – Gretchen Janssen
In the past year, Crane Lake has used grant funds (secured by the Costin group) to build a National Park Visitor Center and a Campground. These projects have been overseen by the County and the State and have been met with approval of the many standards required therein. The Campground and Visitor Center will open to the public in May of 2025 once a few remaining punch list items are completed on the building including the connection of internet service. The campground has 38 full-service RV sites complete, 35 of which are available for rent (2 are reserved for the NPS and 1 for the camp host). The Visitor Center has an office for the Township, the Sewer Dept, and the Campground manager. Voyageurs National Park is leasing the majority of space in the building which includes the welcome area, the auditorium, one office for reception and one office for the Park Ranger. Shared space includes the meeting/break room and the bathrooms. The Town is beginning the process of constructing a shower house in the campground with remaining grant funds, as part of the original plan.
Visitor Center & Campground Operations – Serena Swenson
Visitor Center is set to open May 23. This summer will have temporary exhibits in the “Welcome Zone” with the permanent exhibits being installed fall of 25’. Hours will be 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week May 23rd to at least Labor Day with Voyageurs National Park Volunteers. If they can stay longer or if we can find volunteers within the community, it would be great to keep it open into October. We are waiting on VNP to install the internet and AV equipment. Once this is complete, VNP and our town staff members can move into the building and start making use of the office space. Campground is set to open May 9th through September or October, weather permitting. I have hired a couple to be the camp hosts for the summer to help with maintenance and customer service duties. VNP volunteers will occupy two other spaces in the campground. Picnic tables and fire rings will be delivered in April and installed as soon as weather allows.
Crane Lake Water & Sanitary District – Rob Scott
The following 2025 Annual Report is submitted to provide an update on the past and current activities within the CLWSD. The annual revenues were $373,000 (operating, special assessment, and tax levy funds) and total expenses were $370,000 (operating, administrative, and debt service). The district is conducting a complete review of expenses and user fees. This is the first complete review since 2015. The treatment plant processed over 1.6 million gallons of sewage with no treatment issues. The plant upgrade project has been completed and all changes to the plant are operational. The plant has been operating for over 20 years. With potential service life issues on related equipment there is an ongoing review to determine what
upgrades and/or replacement components need to be addressed. We installed 5 ISTS systems and completed the work at the new Visitor Center. The district continues to work on ISTS installations (decentralized collection systems) under our Management Program. This year we anticipate installing 6 new ISTS systems. We currently have 58 systems operational. We currently have a balance of around $45,000 in Legacy grant funds available. It looks like the VNP Clean Water project will be receiving $2.0 million in additional legacy funds for 2025 and 2026. I am advocating that the CLWSD receive an additional $400,000.
Crane Lake Visitor & Tourism Bureau – John Sanborn
The Crane Lake Visitor and Tourism Bureau is continuing to work very hard at promoting the Crane Lake area. We elected a new Chairman John Sanborn and Vice Chair Shannon Bibeau this year. The CLVTB has strengthened its online presence through social media ads on Facebook and Instagram along with other digital marketing. We are continually modifying and updating our advertising as times change to stay effective. Any new ideas or opportunities for the CLVTB to promote the area are always welcomed.
Snowmobile Club – Mike Cherrywell
To start we had five strong weeks of snowmobiling and as usual we’ve had some very warm weather, So grooming operations have been suspended. On another note, the club had a ride to the Thunderbird and back the in over thirty years 23 sleds and 24 folks it was a great time. Till next year have a great spring and the rest of the year.
Crane Lake Chapel – Steve Bergerson
This has been another year of growth and excitement at the chapel. More and more of our friends and neighbors from Crane Lake and Buyck are attending services and getting involved in ministry at the Chapel. We’ve had many outstanding guest speakers, a baptism service in the lake, VBS for area kids, a great bazaar, as well as a record-breaking National Night Out to benefit the Buyck and Crane Lake fire departments. God has enabled us to send over $22,000 to missionary projects in our community, our region, and throughout the world. During the Winter, we had monthly meals for all in the community to come and enjoy. The year 2025 will mark the 75th anniversary of the chapel. We are working on some special t shirts, an anniversary float for the parade and a celebration service. More news to come. The Crane Lake Chapel is unlike any other church you have ever attended. It is a place with real people who are developing a relationship with Jesus. We take our motto, “Come As You Are”
seriously. We want all to feel welcome to stop in and experience the love of Jesus.
Crane Lake Volunteer Fire Department – Jeff Sanborn
For the year ended 12/31/24 the CLVFD saw a reduced number of calls over 2023. A total of 13 calls for the year. 3 calls that were fire related (one structure fire, one mutual aid to Orr and one service call for smoke in area that was a permit burn). 2 water emergency calls, one ATV accident and 7 EMS calls. Often the fire side is also called out for support of EMS (helicopter landing zone management or to provide manpower).
Our fundraising efforts continue to be well supported by or residents and visitors. The annual calendar project is doing well, and we continue to receive generous unsolicited donations. Thank you to everyone for your financial support.
2024 was a refresher training year for our EMS/EMR members and we continue to provide training for our fire fighters with both in house drills and outsourced training.
Projects on the horizon: Finishing the back garage at fire hall including adding the ability to heat it. We have decided to move this project to the top of our list. It will allow heated storage for our equipment. We continue to look to replacing our small fire truck. It is the last unit to be replaced, all others including our boat have been updated.
We are always on the lookout for new members. If you know someone, get in touch with one of us.
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Review Proposed Revenue & Expenditures – Clerk and Budget Committee member Ashlyn reviewed the proposed 2026 budget revenues and expenditures. Copies of the 2026 budget were distributed to everyone in attendance prior to the meeting. Ashlyn reviewed the proposed revenues of $267,656.00 and the proposed Township disbursements of $220,565.00 plus Fire Protection for $60,000.00. The Project Fund balances were also presented. Ashlyn asked if there were any questions. There were none.
There was no further New Business from the floor.
Set Levy for 2025 (Payable in 2026) – A motion was made by Jerry Pohlman, supported by Jeanne Shuck, to approve the Township portion of the levy request as follows: General Fund – $40,000, Community Property Project Fund – $5,600, Bond for Community Property Project Fund – $9,400 and Road & Bridge Fund – $5,000 for a total of $60,000. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Scott Sanborn, supported by Butch Eggen, to approve the Fire Department portion of the 2026 levy request of $60,000.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Total levy request is $120,000.00.
A motion was made by Scott Sanborn, supported by Jeanne Shuck, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:56pm.
Ashlyn Denning, Clerk Jeff Sanborn, Moderator
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.
