Crane Lake Township

TOWN OF CRANE LAKE

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING

March 11, 2025

 

The March 11, 2025, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Jeanne Shuck at 6:00PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with those in attendance including: Supervisors Jeanne Shuck and Scott Sanborn; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy-Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; Clerk Ashlyn Denning; and 4 members of the community.  Supervisor Jim Janssen and Deputy-Treasurer Gretchen Janssen were absent.

 

BUSINESS

 

 Additions to the Agenda: There were none.

 

Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to approve the minutes of the 2/4/25 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report – The February Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows:  Ashlyn Denning – $350.00; Jo Ann Pohlman – $350.00; Lutefisk Tech. – $633.20; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; CLVTB – $239.68; SLC Public Works – $161.25; Sarah Zweir Design – $2,500.00; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $2,655.15; Lake Country Power – $548.32; Lakes Gas – $236.21; CLWSD – $1,654.64; Beth Bak -$1,230.00; Kathy Knox – $240.00; PERA – $454.66 & $20.00; Visa – $346.05 & $1,129.99; and Payroll – $2,968.70.   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.

 

The Clerk presented the correspondence.  The correspondence was received and will be placed on file and acted upon as required.  There was discussion about fireworks and ice road meetings – please see below.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: Serena provided the following report:

• Pilot Rock- Campground Furniture

• • Pet Trash Receptacles

• • • $2,687.60 for 7 of them and freight

• • • Delivery set for the week of April 14-18

• • Emailed/texted Beth Bak about helping unload. Haven’t heard back.

• Camp Host

• • Robert and Beth Mecham are hired

• • June 4^th-September 24^th

• • Sign for their camp site? Sign for VNP volunteer sites?

• Visitor Center Opening

• • May 23^rd soft opening

• • June 6^th– Grand Opening

• • Will Town Pay for –

• • • Food

• • • • Lunch at Nelsons. No more than 50 people

• • • • $20 (ish) per person

• • • • • 50 people=$1000

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)

• • • Boat Tour to Grassy Bay-

• • • • 3 Pontoons

• • • • • $215 for Scott’s

• • • • • $275 (each for VGS)

• • • • • $765 + tax total

• • • Gifts for VIPS

• • • • Framed Photo (or something similar)

• • • • • No estimated cost

• Records Retention Process

• • JoAnn, Serena and Ashlynn have times scheduled to start going through everything.

• • Need to figure out what the sewer board can get rid of as well

• Keys

• • Park wants 8 keys for the building

• • • Mark Miller (Interp), Erik Ditzler (Interp), 1 each for volunteer couples, John Cowman (IT) and 3 Law Enforcement Rangers

• • • Park will have special locks on Jeff Quams door and the mechanical room attached to the auditorium due to their tech equipment being in there.

• • • Who needs them from town and access to what

• Golf cart for camp hosts

• • Thoughts?

• • Or/at least hand truck and big steel garbage can for scooping ashes out of fire pits

• CLVTB Membership

• • Gold Membership

• • • $1500
    • We are already listed on the website with a clickable link

• Mowing

• • Any word on who will do this?

Board Action: A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to approve Serena’s request to spend $1,500 on a Gold Membership from CLVTB.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to approve $2,687.60 for pet trash receptacles. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Committee Report & Resulting Board Action:  Gretchen Janssen provided the following report:

Max Gray Pay Apps #15 and #16 need a signature.

Max Gray Change Order 5 also needs a signature.  This covers flashing around the radius roof edge and larger door pulls on the pocket doors to the auditorium.

We are still working on punch list items and are in constant communication with Max Gray.  Casper has a few remaining items to complete this Spring as well.

The DNR requests the signed meeting minutes from Feb 4 to move forward with contracts for the construction of the public boat access on Bayside Drive.

As we move closer to the finalizing of the DNR contract and the completion of the Visitor Center and Campground, this committee is working with the Costin Group, the County, the IRRR and S.E.H to determine what funds are remaining.  The plan is to spend these funds to continue working on the campground development, specifically to begin construction of a shower house which was part of the original plan for the campground.

 

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)  Added

Bills to approve:

• E.H 482125 VC        $956.47             (LCCMR)
• E.H 482142 RV         $716.04             (LCCMR)
• Max Gray Pay App 15 $114,467.69     (pd by appropriation funds)

($136,503.34    this is the amount on the documents, but we are only approving 114,467.69 due to the payment of change order 4 not reflected in this pay app when it was created)

• Max Gray Pay App 16 $13,500             (for LCCMR remaining funds)

Checks to sign:

• Sarah Zweir Design $2500  (IRRR reimbursement)

Board Action:  A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to approve Max Gray App 15 for $114,467.69; & Pay App 16 for $13,500.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to approve Max Gray Change Order #5 – adding $2,531.97 for Facia/Flashing, adding $1,312.29 for Pocket Door Ladder Pulls, and deducting $1,544.00 for Tile substitution – totaling $2,300.26. All voted in favor and the motion carried.  A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jeanne, to approve the above listed invoices totaling $132,140.20.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Bayside Drive Upgrade: Complete. The Township is waiting for the project final close out.

DNR Public Water Access: Will work on agreement signatures.

VNP Ice Road Management Plan: Scott Sanborn provided the following reports, which were discussed during Correspondence: Lakes Area Coalition Meeting with Congressman Pete Stauber 02-20-2025.  I (Scott Sanborn) attended the meeting where local officials from Crane Lake, Kabetogama, and International Falls met with Representative Pete Stauber to address the following issues:

1. VNP’s Frozen Lake Surface Plan

• This plan will limit the use of wheeled vehicles to VNP’s designated ice roads
• This limits a person’s free right to travel, in violation of the Webster/ Ashburton Treaty
• VNP never consulted MN DNR for this plan
• We propose to use CFR 36 – Get MN alongside AK with special exceptions.
• – Rusterholz says this is a difficult way to accomplish the goal
• They will attack this from multiple angles, keeping in mind we are looking for a long-term solution, not something that will be changed with the next administration.

2. VNP’ CUA Program Update

• VNP is proposing more rules, regulations, and higher fees
• CUA used to be a one-time nominal fee, one size fits all for commercial operations in the park.
• They are now implementing a new system. This will include a management fee, as well as individual fees for each commercial service provided in the park.
• In addition to new fees, they are also asking for access to business’s financial records.
• They have hired a new employee to run the CUA program, stating that this employee’s salary must be captive  fees to pay for this person’s salary.
• Chief ranger Joshua Wentz is in charge of the CUA program, under superintendent Bob DeGross’s supervision.

 

 

VNP Ice Road Management Plan: (Cont.)

3. Passenger Limit for Uninspected Vessels

• Crane Lake has a special exception that allows uninspected vessels up to 25 feet in length to carry up to 12 passengers.
• The law applies to any waters contiguous of Crane Lake.
• VNP does not recognize Rainy Lake as contiguous of Crane Lake.
• We are trying to get Rainy Lake on the same program, so that they may take advantage of this special exception.
• We need the United States Coast Guard to step in and inform VNP that Rainy Lake is contiguous of Crane Lake.

4. RABC Permit (Remote Area Border Crossing) Suspension

• CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) suspended the RABC program. Their current position is that any RABC issued after September 1^st, 2023 will remain valid until December 31^st, 2025.
• CBSA is not currently issuing any new permits.
• Hoping for a fix prior to December 31^st, 2025 so that we may enjoy the privilege of this program, which is necessary for border crossing in the fall/ winter/ spring.

In Summary:  If the state of MN asserts their jurisdiction over the waters in MN, the first 2 issues should go away, as VNP’s will lose their jurisdiction to enforce these new proposed rules.   If the United States Coast Guard will enforce that Rainy Lake is in fact contiguous of Crane Lake, commercial operators will be allowed to use the same special exception for passenger limits on uninspected vessels.   We are not sure what will happen with the RABC. This is a foreign country’s program. Our legislators are trying.   Pete Stauber and his team are with us 100% on all these issues.

Voyageur’s National Park Affairs Meeting – VNP Headquarters – 02-21-2025.   I (Scott Sanborn) attended VNP’s affairs meeting in regards to the following agenda items:

1. Frozen Lakes Surface Plan:

• Bob DeGross was very vague about the plan, he wouldn’t reveal much information.
• He said it will include a “broader use the public” but stated no specific details.
• He hopes to reveal the plan by end of April.
• He stated that the truck portage will remain through Mukooda, as long as it is a MN licensed vehicle, including side by sides/ ATV’s. I believe he may have misspoke on this.

2. Leadership Succession:

• Bob DeGross will be retiring in May 2025.
• No definite person has been chosen for his replacement
• Brian Harman will serve in the position temporarily if they are unable to find a new superintendent by the time of Bob’s exit.
• They have let go of 3 employees so far under the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).
• They are still allowed to hire seasonal help

3. Commercial Services Program (CUA)

• They are moving forward with the new program which includes a management fee and higher fees for each individual commercial service offered.
• They are also moving this program to an online portal.
• They have extended the deadline for application to April 14, 2025.

4. Kettle Falls

• They are replacing the current power line that runs to Kettle Falls.
• They are adding camper cabins on site.
• They are adding RV sites for employee housing on site.
• Potentially doing some prescribed burning at Kettle Falls and Johnson Lake sometime in 2027-2028.

In Summary:  Bob DeGross hosted the meeting. He was super vague surrounding most of the specific details I wanted to learn about. We should learn more in April.

 

Bayside Drive Maintenance: Clerk Ashlyn and Deputy-Clerk Jo Ann are working on preparing an agreement/contract for grading and summer maintenance with Rutchasky Enterprises.

Dark Sky Crane Lake: There was no report. Serena Swenson will work with Mary McKie and Peter Coggan on this project.

Community Action Plan: Jeanne Shuck is meeting with the team on May 20^th at 6pm.

Records Retention Process: Jo Ann, Ashlyn and Serena will be working on organizing documents at the Visitor Center over the next 2 weeks.

CPP Loan Principal Payment: The board will make a decision on whether to pay this down when Supervisor Jim Janssen is present at the meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS

• Donation Requests: The board decided to pass on the donation requests presented.
• The Board will research new laptops to purchase as the current ones do not support Windows 11.

 

Other New Business:  There was none.

 

Comments from Officers:  The April 2025 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting date was changed from April 8^th to April 24^th at 5:30pm.  Scott asked about MAT training for Township Officers.  Attendance was recommended by previous Supervisors that were present.

 

Public Comments: (During Correspondence) Community member Jerry Pohlman asked for an update on the Fireworks Display for July 4^th.   The Board informed community members that we have the option to have the fireworks show on July 5^th but not for July 4^th.  Supervisor Jim is in communication with Premier Pyrotechnics to see if there are  other solutions to continue with the July 4^th date.  Talked about taking the July 5^th date this year, with the guarantee of a July 4^th date for 2026.  Community member Jeff Sanborn would like a final decision for Fireworks to be made during the next Board Meeting on April 24^th so he can make plans for his own business which relies on fireworks show date knowledge for summer reservations. He also inquired about summer maintenance of Bayside Drive being provided by St. Louis County.  SLC no longer provides that service for new customers.

 

Next Meeting:  Board of Supervisors Meeting – April 24^th, 2025 – 5:30pm, Fellowship Hall

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12PM.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ashlyn Denning, Clerk                                                                         Jeanne Shuck, Vice-Chair

 

 

 

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.