3/14/23 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING
March 14, 2023
The March 14, 2023, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chairman Jerry Pohlman at 6:03PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall, with those in attendance including: Gary Cerkvenik-Costin Group; Supervisors Brandon Anderson, Jim Janssen and Jerry Pohlman; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy-Clerk Gretchen Janssen; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and 9 members of the community (including Zoom).
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: There were none.
Minutes – A motion was made by Jim, supported by Brandon, to approve the minutes of the 2/14/23 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: Timberjay – $59.00; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; CLVTB – $5,467.52; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $7,787.19; Postmaster – $63.00; and Payroll – $1,107.87. A motion was made by Brandon, supported by Jim, 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/Campsite:
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: Gretchen provided the following report: The original grant amounts Crane Lake was awarded include $2.7 M for the Visitor Center and $3.1 M for the Campground. Since that time, we have also secured a grant for the contamination cleanup from the old Borderland property in the amount of about $87K.
It was expected that the Visitor Center would come in higher than $2.7M so site work under the building was included in the campground package. The contractor bidding on the campground would then do all the earthwork at both sites. The contractor bidding on the Visitor Center would focus on the building.
Bid packages went public for both projects last month. Earthwork prices including underground water and sewer lines came in much higher than expected. Overall, the campground project came in at $4.6 M and the Visitor Center came in at $2.9 M. Only two companies even bid on each project which was very disappointing.
The National Park Service is still expected to finalize a lease with Crane Lake for square footage at the Visitor Center, making monthly lease payments for 20 years. For this reason, it is best not to change the size or floorplan of the Visitor Center. In order to remain within our budget, the plan for the campground then needs to change significantly.
Site work for under the Visitor Center is included in the campground package and that remains the same. Plans for the campground/RV park are shrinking down and need to be re-bid. Again, in order to stay within our budget, the plans can no longer include a shower house which means tent sites can no longer be included. Without a shower house the campground can only accommodate folks with self-contained RVs (which means self-generated electricity, water and sewer).
The engineers have put together a revised design and have reached out to a few smaller local companies to confirm that they will bid the abridged project. If with more competition we get a better per foot cost for water and sewer lines, more utilities (and therefore more campsites) can be added. But at this time the plan contains only eleven completed sites. The package will be put out asking for a base bid to include the red area as “full build” and the green area as leveled only. An alternate bid will also be requested to add additional lines of utilities and gravel under as much of the loop as possible.
This plan will best allow the Town to add campsites in the future according to the original plan. The area in red is what our engineers believe the Town can afford at this time based on numbers from the first bids. Using this revised plan, the shortage of secured funds is approximately $760K.
Bid prices are held for 90 days, so we have that amount of time to pursue additional grant monies. Our lobbying team is already at work on that! We also have to secure in writing a lease with the NPS before we believe that the Town board will agree to a municipal loan.
Action item: Discuss and approve or approve with contingencies the revised Campground design. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Brandon, to reject the bids received for the Campground and to rebid the project with new figures. Jerry and Brandon voted in favor, Jim abstained, and the motion carried.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2023
VNP-Visitor Center/Campsite: (Cont.)
Funding: Gary Cerkvenik of the Costin Group spoke to the group about additional funding options for the Projects to make up for the shortfall and recommended moving forward with both projects.
Bayside Drive Upgrade: This project is on hold until funding is confirmed, which is expected sometime in April. A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Brandon, to approve the Agreement to Issue 7490 Bayside Drive Damages Award to Coggan Properties, LLC; rather than the possible new buyers of the property. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
American Rescue Plan Act Fund: There was nothing new. The balance in the account is $8,961.15. The funds should be used by 12/31/24. Options for fund use will be researched.
CIC Termination: Attorney Roy Christensen has been working with the Shucks to complete the paperwork included in the CIC Termination. Nothing new, ongoing.
McKie Easement Request: Stuart McKie is requesting an easement across Township land to access his dock. The attorneys continue to review the request along with their CIC work.
Flooding: The Township continues to work with FEMA for expenses acquired by the Township related to the flooding last spring. One of the two projects has been approved and the final 10% reimbursement should be received soon. Josh Brinkman, Emergency Management Planner of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office plans to attend the April meeting to review the flooding of last spring.
NEW BUSINESS – There was none.
Other New Business: There was none.
Comments from Officers: Brandon thanked Gretchen Janssen for her work on the Visitor Center/Campground Committee and Jeff Sanborn for moderating the Annual Meeting.
Public Comments: There were none.
Next Meeting: Board of Supervisors’ Meeting – April 11, 2023 – 5:30PM, Fellowship Hall
Board of Appeal & Equalization – April 13, 2023 – 2-3PM, Fellowship Hall
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43PM.
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.
