August 2023 Minutes
REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
OF THE SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF MORSE HELD ON
August 8, 2023
At 5:00 p.m. on August 8, 2023 at the Morse Town Hall, Chairman Len Cersine called a regular meeting of the Supervisors of the Town of Morse to order with the following present: Supervisor Bob Berrini, Supervisor Terry Soderberg, Supervisor Len Cersine, Clerk Nick Wognum, Treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz, Butch Pecha.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The minutes of the July 18 were reviewed.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Berrini to approve the minutes of the July 18. Motion carried.
Lekatz presented claims 16507 to 16534 for $21,176.56. The largest claim was to Clyde Peterson for mowing and culvert installation. Berrini said his road doesn’t need to be moved. Two additional claims for $6,510.28 for ambulance and Superior Fuel for $310.00.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve the claims as presented along with claims of $6,510.28 to the City of Ely for ambulance building expenses and $310 to Superior Fuel. Motion carried.
Receipts 777 to 779 for $5,613.65. This includes local government aid of $4,559.00 which is the first half.
Butch Pecha addressed the board about a bad culvert on Wolf Lake Road. He asked about hiring Krueger Excavating to assist with the culvert installation. The cost is about $400. He will put up signs saying the road will be closed on August 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The board approved.
Ely Area Ambulance Service. The funding proposal from Ely was to each pay $48,616.35 (Morse, Ely, Fall Lake) which would be the $15.15 per person rate for Ely.
A motion was made by Soderberg seconded by Cersine to pay for $17,801.25 which is the $15.15 per person based on 1,175 residents in Morse. Motion carried.
Soderberg said the board should plan on attending the County meeting on the Conditional Use Permit application from Elizabeth Chapman. The board has already opposed the permit.
The board reviewed the insurance inspection results which increased the insured value of the town hall from $218,700 for $737 to $272,190 for $925 and for the garage the value would go from $13,000 for $44 to $101,768 for $346.
Lekatz went over the proposed change to electronic polling pads. She and Cindy Nicholson attended a demonstration meeting in Duluth put on by St. Louis County. She explained the pros and cons of the new method of people getting a ballot. The cost of purchasing the machines would be $1,800 each for a total of $7,200. The decision does not have to be made today.
Soderberg brought up crack sealing on township roads. He said Moss Ridge Road could be done but it’s not that bad along with Ahola Road. Wolf Lake Road has around 20 new cracks. The board approved doing Wolf Lake Road. Pecha said blacktop is like frosting on the cake if the cake is no good you can put all the frosting you want on but it won’t do any good.
A motion was made by Soderberg seconded by Cersine to approve a resolution for crack sealing on Ahole, Moss Ridge and Wolf Lake roads. Motion carried.
WHEREAS, St. Louis County invites townships and cities to participate in its maintenance programs which include aggregate crushing, maintenance striping and crack sealing/scrub seals/chip seals; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Morse wishes to participate in the Crack Sealing Program.
IT IS RESOLVED, that the Town of Morse hereby authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement with St. Louis County for the purpose of the 2023 St. Louis County Maintenance Programs Solicitation.
The board discussed the MAT District 10 meeting and election that will be held on August 24 at 7 p.m. in Virginia.
The board reviewed the other correspondence and took no action.
Pecha said he put in 16 culverts this year and the supply of culverts is getting low.
The meeting was recessed at 6:03 p.m. to August 10 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Government Services Center for the public hearing on the sled dog issue.
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Len Cersine, Chair Nick Wognum, Clerk
Official Website of Town of Morse