Crane Lake Township

TOWN OF CRANE LAKE

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING

August 20, 2024

 

The August 20, 2024, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chairman Jerry Pohlman at 7:00PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those in attendance including: Supervisors Jim Janssen, Jerry Pohlman & Jeanne Shuck; Treasurer Traci Bak; Deputy-Clerk Gretchen Janssen; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and two members of the community (including Zoom).

 

Additions to the Agenda: Lakes Gas Application was added to Old Business, VNP-Visitor Center/Campground.

 

Minutes – A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve the minutes of the 7/9/24 Board of Supervisors’ Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report –The July Cash Balances were read, and the bills were presented as follows: Cook News-Herald – $168.00; W.A. Fisher – $110.00; Lutefisk Tech. – $135.00; Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lake Country Power – $156.00; Anderson Outfitters – $890.07; CLVTB – $23,670.63; S.E.H. – $19,925.22; Braun Intertec – $1,072.50; Johnson, Killen & Seiler – $2,677.04; CR-Building Perform. – $2,049.14; Costin Group – $5,000.00; Debora Scott – $240.50; Vanessa Ingebretsen – $201.50; Jill Crain – $39.00; Jeanne Shuck – $201.50; and Payroll – $901.31.  A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jerry, 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/Campground:

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

Construction status:  Both projects are nearing completion but awaiting water.  As of Friday, the pumps and booster tank were operational and a water sample had been taken to check for bacteria.  This week they should schedule a plumbing inspection then after that Casper can finish the hook up of the RV sites.  Casper needs formal approval from the Town to extend their time working on this project, so a change order is needed.  Work is still being done on landscaping at the Visitor Center.  Once the silt fences are removed, that will signal that groundskeeping is now the Towns responsibility.  Jeanne will have an update on the hiring of a manager and what our more immediate needs are on site.  Mark Miller from VNP has one or two couples very eager to move to Crane Lake with their RVs as soon as we are ready for them.  It was suggested they could open the Visitor Center to the public for a “soft” opening during weekends in September if the RV park is ready (and the Town is willing) for these couples to move in.  The Park has some temporary exhibits available.

The Open House at National Night Out was attended by approximately 200 people according to the volunteers from Voyageurs Conservancy.  It was a great opportunity to meet the new exhibit design team and show them around the building.  They reported getting positive feedback and strong opinions from those in attendance.   At NNO Bob DeGross, Sarah Zweir, Jeanne and I looked at samples together from Commercial Furniture Services.  We all agreed on furniture in the grey tones, taking style suggestions from CFS.  The committee will have a furniture order ready once lease payments from VNP are on hand and the board approves this expense.   St Louis County has reduced their fee for administering our LCCMR projects from $30,000 down to $3500.  On the direct appropriation, the DNR has reduced their fee from $95,000 down to zero and the County has reduced their fee from $95,000 down to $500.  On the budget, this money has been reallocated to the boat launch project.   S.E.H is doing the preliminary work for design of the boat launch area.  When the lake level goes down this fall they will survey the ramp area and create an excavation profile.  The shallowness of the landing there is a problem that may require digging.  Once the ramps are poured/set, a larger dock will be designed as appropriate for the ramps.

 

Action items:

Hiring of the Campground/VC manager

Approval of Casper Change Order for a time extension

Interest in letting Park RVs move in and opening the VC on weekends in Sept?

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – August 20, 2024

 

 

VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:

Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)

 

Invoices for Approval

Casper #9 June RV                   $208,806.58

Casper #10 July RV                   $742,248.54

S.E.H June VC  470825             $1688.91

Widseth April     230062             $1500

Widseth May     230724             $2400

Widseth June    231819             $1500

S.E.H June RV  470826             $4866.88

Braun RV B396684                    $4757.00

CR-BPS Aug B3 Commission.    $2944.44

Braun RV B393854                    $880.50

Max Gray #11 VC                      $232,652.92 = $1,204,245.77 Visitor Center & Campground

 

Braun Bayside   B392722           $1277.50

S.E.H Bayside   470588             $36,181.62 = $37,459.12  Bayside Drive

 

Total for approval:         $1,241,704.89

 

Board Action:  Hiring a Campground/VC manager:  Will be addressed in the Closed Meeting following this Regular Meeting.  Interest in letting Park RVs move in and opening the VC on weekends in Sept:  A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jim, to open the VC once insurance is in place.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  Approve Casper Change Order:  A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jerry, to approve Casper Change Order #2 extending the final completion date to September 15, 2024.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  Approve signature of Casper Pay Requests:  A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to approve signature of Casper Construction Pay Request #9 amounting to $208,806.58.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve signature of Casper Construction Pay Request #10 amounting to $742,248.54.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  Bills approval:  A motion was made by Jerry, supported by Jeanne, to approve the above listed invoices totaling $1,241,704.89 for payment.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Propane:  The Board discussed.  Jim said he would complete the Lakes Gas application.

 

Bayside Drive Upgrade:  Construction on Bayside Drive is complete. Awaiting final completion invoice and project closeout.

 

American Rescue Plan Act Fund ($1,111.15):  The Board agreed that the remaining funds could be used for internet at the Visitor Center.  The Board must find a different way to spend the money by the end of the year.

 

McKie Easement Request:  Jim McKie stated that he had hired a new lawyer who has been in communication with the Township lawyer.  Nancy Ross inquired as to why there must be a change in the dock status.  The Board will see if that information can be sent to her by the Township Attorney.

 

VNP Ice Road Management Plan:  There was no new information.

 

Bayside Drive Maintenance:  The Board’s questions of Rutchasky Enterprises were answered as follows:  $525.00 quote was per time.  How often?  Approximately once a month or as needed.  Repair work? Repair work cost would be determined when needed.  Note:  Buyck assigns a supervisor to review when roads need attention and then calls Rutchasky Enterprises.  A motion was by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to accept Rutchasky Enterprises quote of $525.00 per time.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  Jo Ann will complete the application with St. Louis County to provide plowing service in the winter.

 

Dark Sky Crane Lake:  No one was present to report.  The printed material to be included with the sewer bill mailing (upon CLWSD approval) was received after the August billing was mailed.  It will be considered for the September mailing.

 

Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – August 20, 2024

 

 

 

Community Action Plan:  Jeanne volunteered to head the Committee and has begun recruiting members.  The committee currently consists of:  Jeanne Shuck, Traci Bak, Jo Ann Pohlman, Ashlyn Denning, Vanessa Ingebretsen, Shannon & Chuck Bibeau.  More participants will be recruited.

 

NEW BUSINESS – There was none.

 

OTHER NEW BUSINESS – Jeanne suggested that there needs to be discussion on fire pits for the Campground.  This will be included in the VC/Campground discussion by the Committee and Board going forward.

 

 

Comments from Officers:  There were none.

 

Public Comments: There were none.

 

 

Next Meeting:   Board of Supervisors’ Meeting – September 10, 2024 – 7:00PM, Fellowship Hall

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00PM.

 

The Closed Meeting to discuss employment issues was opened immediately following the adjournment of this regular meeting.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

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.