3/10/26 Minutes
TOWN OF CRANE LAKE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING
March 10, 2026
The March10, 2026, Board of Supervisors’ Meeting was called to order by Chair Jeanne Shuck at 6:05PM at the Crane Lake Visitor Center with those in attendance including Supervisors Jim Janssen, Scott Sanborn & Jeanne Shuck; Deputy-Treasurer Gretchen Janssen; Visitor Center/Campground Manager Serena Swenson; Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman; and five members of the community.
BUSINESS
Additions to the Agenda: Supervisor appointment was added to New Business.
Minutes – A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to approve the minutes of the 2/10/26 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: Twp. General Fund – $9,538.57 + $1,475.87 Payroll; Bayside Public Access Fund – $23,085.69; and Visitor Center/Campground Fund – $4,473.68 + $3,215.07 Payroll. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Scott, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as read and the payment of bills. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Correspondence – 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:
Campground Manager Report and Resulting Board Action: Serena provided the following report:
Visitor Center-
- Webinar with Voyageurs Conservancy on March 5th
- Conservancy hosted a webinar for trip planning in Voyageurs with all of the Gateway communities. I represented Crane Lake
- About 50 attendees from around the country
- Getting the deep clean going throughout this month and next
- Many of the permanent exhibits should be ready for install before we open in May. Talking with Kate about what that needs to look like as far as “construction” and what alterations need to happen in the building.
- Visitor Center opening memorial day weekend
Campground
- Opening weekend= walleye opener
- Volunteers arriving around the 14th
Campground Rev YTD= $17,690
Board Action: None
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: Gretchen Janssen provided the following report:
There is one invoices to approve at this time:
S.E.H Campground (MPCA grant closeout) $116.76 (payable by the County)
The County has reviewed the two quotes we presented to them for EV charging stations and a backup generator. They are getting quotes for the same products from a company called Sourcewell that they have a contract with.
We have received an estimate from Fogelson Electric which the County is reviewing as well, so we are making progress on the purchase and installation of the generator and EV charging stations. The rest of these grant funds we are hoping to spend on tent sites.
Crane Lake Meeting Minutes – February 10, 2026
VNP-Visitor Center/Campground:
Committee Report & Resulting Board Action: (Cont.)
S.E.H is putting together a bid package for the construction of tent sites estimated at $50,000. The Town has approximately $90,000 remaining in the Appropriation grant.
Bid opening occurred today for the revised shower house project.
The bid includes the construction of the following parts of the project:
- The shower building foundation and concrete floor slab
- Underground plumbing
- Underground site utilities (water and sewer)
- Site construction which includes site grading, parking lot, sidewalks, and the relocation of the exterior light pole.
(The intent is to build everything but the actual building)
Two bids came in (Max Gray and Lenci) and Lenci had the low bid at $289,000. The Town has $289,205.90 in grant funds available from the IRRR to fund this project, and if we move forward we have signed an agreement with S.E.H for $27,000. The contract with S.E.H includes construction administration and project close-out.
If we do not move forward, the DNR will not approve the use of appropriation dollars on building tent sites.
The Town will have to decide whether to accept or reject the bid from Lenci. Details of their bid will be available soon.
Board Action: A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to approve S.E.H. Invoice – $116.76. All voted in favor and the motion carried. A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Scott, to accept the Lenci bid for the revised shower house project of $289,000.00 upon receipt and review of the bid document detail. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
DNR Public Water Access: There will be a report next month.
Community Action Plan: Jeanne is looking into funding support at IRRRB.
NEW BUSINESS
Clerk Appointment: A motion was made by Jeanne, supported by Jim, to appoint Cathy Truebenbach as Clerk. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Cathy will serve as Clerk until the November 2026 elections. Cathy will then have the option to run for a two-year term.
Hazzard Mitigation Plan Meeting Invitation: Scott agreed to attend the Planning Team Meeting, via Zoom, for the update of the St. Louis County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The meeting is on 4/7/26 at 1PM.
Unemployment Options: A motion was made by Scott, supported by Jim, to designate the unemployment account as reimbursable. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Supervisor Appointment: Jim will be resigning from his Supervisor position on the Board. A motion was made by Jim, supported by Jeanne, to appoint Emily Schwanke as Supervisor. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Emily will serve as Supervisor until the November 2026 elections. Emily will then have the option to run for a four-year term.
Other New Business: Lori Sanborn asked for discussion on having two separate budgets for the Township and the Visitor Center/Campground. The group discussed with most agreeing that two separate budgets are needed.
Comments from Officers: Jo Ann thanked Cathy for taking over the Town Clerk position. Jeanne welcomed both Cathy and Emily to the Board.
Public Comments: There were none.
Next Meeting: Board of Supervisors’ Meeting, 4/14/26, 5:30PM, Visitor Center
Board of Appeal Meeting, 4/23/26, 3-4PM, Visitor Center
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30pm.
Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk Jeanne Shuck, 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.
