Tofte Town Board Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2024
Present: Supervisor Craig Horak, Supervisor Sam Crowley, Treasurer April Fredrick, Clerk Gordon Engstrom, Peter Knutsen. Absent: Supervisor Sarah Somnis, Rescue Chief Kim Jahnke, Fire Chief Rich Nelson.
Supervisor Craig called the board meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Unless otherwise stated, all actions have been approved by unanimous yea vote.
B. Approval of Agenda. Supervisor Craig moved to approve the agenda. Supervisor Sam seconded.
J.1.b. Supervisors decided to move agenda item J.1.b. relating to Community Garden – spring setup – forward in the agenda since Liz Wagner was on Zoom. Liz has sent rules and guidelines and a release form to each of the Supervisors. She would like to get things up soon for gardeners to sign up. Clerk Gordon asked to get these items from Liz also. Supervisor Sam suggested that a Facebook page for people to communicate about matter around that garden be created that would include a link to the Township website. Liz was asked to find a person to work with Treasurer April on creating a Community Garden Facebook page. Treasurer April will also work to set up a page on the Tofte website for individuals to submit their waiver form and purchase a garden plot. There are 20 plots laid out in 4 rows.
Clerk’s Report.
Approval of December 14, 2023 Tofte Town Board regular meeting minutes. Supervisor Craig moved to approve the minutes for the meeting. Supervisor Sam seconded.
Mail received.
Conditional Use Permit for Temperance Trails Subdivision approved. This is the development behind the Community Center
Pro Hydro-Testing. This notice passed on to Fire Chief Rich.
Radar Speed Signs – Beaver Bay request. Clerk Gordon will send info.
Thompson Conditional Use Permit application was withdrawn
NOAA Grant Proposal Teams Meeting January 17, 9:30 am – Letter of support request. Supervisors to not plan to participate
Fire State Aid Forms Available. Clerk Gordon will complete and submit
Fire Relief Association Forms Available. Supervisor Craig will complete and submit
Bank accounts update. Clerk Gordon reported that the banking account changes are complete except that the credit union only sent one card instead of two. He will contact them to get the second card.
Void Checks – #8135 and #8129. One check was determined not to be needed and the other was paid via credit card and is included as a reimbursement in this month’s claims listing.
Treasurer’s Report.
Cash Control Report showed a checking account book balance of $386,679.56. Treasurer April presented a Treasurer’s report which showed ending balances as follows:
Grand Marais State Bank checking account $386,679.56
Grand Marais State Bank money market account $120,657.55
Combined North Shore Federal Credit Union accounts $ 55,056.89
Charles Schwab cash and money market accounts $212,223.00
Charles Schwab bond and CD investments, at cost $547,600.75
Total cash and investments $1,322,217.75
It was noted that $200,000 was transferred from the Grand Marais State Bank to Charles Schwab.
Supervisor San moved to approve the treasurer’s report. Supervisor Craig seconded.
Receipt register for the past month totaled $8,862.95.
Claims, Payroll and Transfers of Funds.
Review & Approval of claims. Clerk Gordon presented claims listings totaling $6,719 for payment. It was noted that claim for NS Waste had a balance forward amount. Clerk Gordon will investigate. Supervisor Craig moved to approve the claim lists. Supervisor Sam seconded.
Approval of payroll register. The Payroll register showed net pay totaling $4,054.76. Supervisor Craig moved the approval of the payroll register. Supervisor Sam seconded.
Fire Department Report. There was no report. Supervisor Craig noted that a man who works at Bluefin is working as an active fire fighter in Tofte, but is also a fire fighter in Finland where he resides. He will not be joining the Fire Relief Association because he is already part of the Association in Finland. Supervisor Sam also noted that recently a fire alarm from Bluefin occurred, but no one was found at front desk to monitor the alarm. Chief Rich will be asked to talk to Bluefin management about this incident.
Rescue Squad Report. There was no report from Chief Kim. Supervisor Craig report that there was a rescue of a man who fell into Cross River canyon at a point where it is 100 feet deep. The Lutsen Ropes Team had to be called in.
Exterior Lighting for EMS side of building. A request for upgrade to lighting was received. Supervisor Sam reported that is working on this and some other electrical items.
County Commission Report. The commissioner was not present.
Citizen’s Comments. None
Old Business.
Birch Grove Community Center.
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic lease – Supervisor Sarah was not present.
Community Garden – spring setup. This item was moved to beginning of meeting.
Water Bottle Filling Station. This is a maintenance item. Clerk Gordon will order this for Peter to install
Park/Cemetery. No report.
Fire Tanker Truck insurance claim and repairs. Supervisor Sam moved the approval of a purchase order in the amount of $30,750.99 with United Plastic Fabricating for the fabrication of a new plastic water tank. Supervisor Craig seconded.
Tote Park Road design. There is no new information.
Office/document cleanup.
Website audit. Treasurer April conducted an audit of the Tofte website. She plans to add a Zoom button for future meetings. She said that the back end of the website needs updates. The Township page needs to be shortened because it is too long and not well organized.
Upcoming Audit / Budget meeting. Nothing new at this time
Preparation for Township elections. Clerk Gordon announced that he and Treasurer April intent to apply for each other’s positions in the upcoming election.
New Business
Next meeting date: February 8, 2024
Adjourn. Supervisor Craig moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 pm. Seconded by Supervisor Sam.
Respectfully submitted by Gordon Engstrom, Tofte Town Clerk