6/10/25 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING
June 10, 2025
The June 10, 2025, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chair Jim Janssen at 6:00PM at the Crane Lake Visitor Center with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those in attendance including: Supervisors Jim Janssen and Scott Sanborn; and Treasurer Traci Bak.
Also present: Deputy-Treasurer Gretchen Janssen, Deputy-Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman, and Visitor Center/Campground Manager Serena Swenson.
Absent: Supervisor Jeanne Shuck and Clerk Ashlyn Denning.
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: MN Boater Safety Law was added to New Business
Minutes: A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to approve the minutes of the 5/13/2025 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting and the 4/30/25 Board of Appeal Meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: The May Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows: Twp: Ashlyn Denning – $172.20; Lutefisk Tech. – $5,874.95; Quill – $447.69; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; Anderson Canoe Outfitters – $78.91; St. Louis County Auditor – $52.00; S.E.H. – $8,625.00; Rutchasky Enterprises – $55,000.00; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $3,924.07; and iZone – $3,788.12. VC: Northwoods True Value – $45.77; TechBytes – $200.00; Uline – $2,019.92; Clemmer’s Metal Worx – $925.00; Handberg’s Marine – $7.47; W.A. Fisher – $514.78; Nelson’s Resort – $1,292.05; Scott’s Resort – $266.85; Voyageurs Guide Service – $295.30; Jo Ann Pohlman – $160.20; Lake Country Power – $455.70; CLWSD – $1,654.64; ATT Phone – $140.82 ($70.41Twp); Visa – $3,546.09 ($161.06 Twp); PERA – $603.74 ($75.60 Twp) & $1,174.58 ($75.60 Twp); and Payroll – $1,282.59 (Twp) & $5,763.57 (VC). A motion was made by Scott, 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 Deputy-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:
Visitor Center/Campground Manager Report &Resulting Board Action: Serena Swenson provided the following report: May Report from Visitor Center Manager
- Grand Opening
- Went really well!
- Campground
- Getting lots of good feedback about how beautiful it is and how easy it is to back into the spaces
- Thoughts on rocks around fire pits?
- Net Sales =
- 72 Transactions
- Things we need
- Weed Whipper
Options:
- Stihl FS 251-Z Trimmer – $679.99
- Stihl FS 311 Straight Shaft String Trimmer w/ Bike Handles- $549.88
- Stihl Double Standard Harness- $30.99
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:
Visitor Center/Campground Manager Report &Resulting Board Action (Cont.)
- Swing Set-
- Near the red picnic tables
- Need to make that area flat
- 16 ½ ft X 14ft or so
- Play area around swing set- manufacturers want it to be big. 28×28 or so.
- Material under the swing set- mulch etc- 9” depth
- Visitor Center
- Over 500 visitors so far
- Oral History Project
- Chuck Standfuss (one of the VNP Volunteers) wants to put together an oral history of Crane Lake. He has offered to do this in his free time.
- Will interview people with lots of history in Crane Lake and put together a narrative or compile stories
- Will need to use the visitor center after hours. He is currently using the Sewer Board Office. He will use whatever space we allow him
- Wants the town to pay for Otter app up front ($99 for one year). He will re-imburse the town for the remainder of the year ($67) when the project is completed on or around October 15th.
- Questions? Concerns?
- List of People he should interview? People that would definitely want to be involved?
Board Action: A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to purchase the Stihl FS 311 Straight Shaft String Trimmer for $549.88 and Stihl Double Standard Harness for $30.99 plus gas can and other needed items up to a total of $600.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to spend up to $150.00 to support Chuck Standfuss’ Crane Lake oral history project. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: Gretchen Janssen provided the following report: The Visitor Center Grand Opening went perfectly! Serena deserves the majority of the credit for how well things went. A huge thanks to her, to Emily and Isa for driving the pontoons, and to Nelsons for a great lunch. We have two maps left for Gary and Jeff Anderson. Does the Town board want to buy a map for Jo Ann or Jerry or anyone else? We have a lot of plaques left.
Action Items:
Agreement to sign/approve: S.E.H contract to manage the shower house construction project for $27,000. This will be covered by grant funds.
Once the DNR has approved the Bayside Boat Landing design, is the Town in agreement that the DNR can move forward putting that project out to bid?
Invoices to approve:
S.E.H – Visitor Center $456.81
S.E.H – Campground $438.36
S.E.H – Boat Landing (last one) $3840.00 These three are paid by grants
S.E.H – Bayside PWA $8625.00 This will be reimbursed by the DNR
Checks to sign:
Rutchasky Enterprises $55,000 This will be reimbursed by the DNR
iZone $3788.12 (sign final) This will be reimbursed by the IRRR
S.E.H.-Bayside PWA $8625.00 This will be reimbursed by the DNR
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)
Board Action: A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to approve and sign the Agreement for Professional Services between the Town of Crane Lake and Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. for Consultant work on the Crane Lake RV Park Restroom Building for $27,000.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to allow S.E.H. to go out to bid on the Bayside Boat Landing Project, upon DNR approval of the Bayside Boat Landing design. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to approve the above mentioned invoices totaling $13,360.17. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
DNR Public Water Access: See motion above.
Dark Sky Crane Lake: There was no report.
Bayside Drive Upgrade: Complete. Jim received final completion information. Will remove from Agenda.
Community Action Plan: There was no report.
New Computers/Printer: A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to purchase a printer for the Township for $439.99. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Quarterly Computer Maintenance: A proposal for quarterly maintenance of the Township computers was received from Lutefisk Tech. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to accept the proposal from Lutefisk Tech. for quarterly computer maintenance on the Clerk and Treasurer computers for 50% off their standard hourly rate of $135.00 per hour for the first 2 hours of maintenance per quarter. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Billboard in Orr: The CLVTB asked if the Township was willing to purchase property in Orr where the current billboard for Crane Lake is. The request was tabled.
Fireworks Permit: Tony Ramberg is completing the SLC Permit and the $52 fee is being sent to SLC.
Calcium Chloride Dust Control: A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to spend up to $1,500.00 with SLC for calcium chloride dust control for Bayside Drive. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Scott will communicate with SLC.
MN Boater Safety Law: Crane Lake Township will be offering two free boater education sessions after July 15th at the Visitor Center on the new MN Boater Safety Law. Dates will be determined.
Other New Business: There was none.
Comments from Officers: Scott thanked everyone for their work on the Visitor Center Grand Opening. Jim acknowledged Gretchen and Serena’s efforts on the Visitor Center Grand Opening.
Public Comment: Gretchen asked if the Voyageur Days funds could be used for music at National Night Out as in the past three years. It was agreed that the funds could be used.
Next Meeting: Board of Supervisors Meeting – July 8th, 2025 – 6:00pm, Visitor Center
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05PM.
Jo Ann Pohlman, Deputy-Clerk Jim Janssen, 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.
