December 2023 Minutes
REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
OF THE SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF MORSE HELD ON
December 12, 2023
At 5:04 p.m. on December 12, 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, Cindy Smyka, Darren Shavor, Nancy Schwartz, Jim Schwartz, Catie Clark, Oniell Tedrow.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The minutes of the November 2 and December 4 were reviewed.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to approve the minutes of the November 2 and December 4. Motion carried.
Bob Berrini entered the meeting at 5:05 p.m.
Cindy Smyka addressed the board on the Lodging Tax Joint Powers Board agreement. She said each of the entities involved have reviewed this including the city of Ely, Stony River and Fall Lake along with unincorporated areas. The agreement was last signed in 1986. Additional unorganized areas were added and now the border line matches up with Lake Vermilion. Soderberg said additional areas were added toward Babbitt as well. This has been approved by the county board. Berrini asked if there can be an account of how many people come here. He said the reports only say how much money and that resorts raise their rates every year. Smyka said there have been some losses of some resorts and lodging facilities. Berrini asked for the number of people who stay in the area. Smyka said there is an average nightly rate. Smyka said a study would be needed to provide the numbers. She said $200 is the average nightly rate for one type of lodging and $140 for hotel rooms. She said to come up with more detailed information would be difficult to come up with. Smyka recommended that a letter be sent regarding the number of beds available and rooms available each year. Soderberg said the request could be sent to the lodging tax board. Smyka said the quarterly and annual payers have not been included. In February of 2024 all of the annual payers financial information will be known. Soderberg said there have been negotiations with Lake County to get an actual number instead of the county proposing to pay $140,000 where the actual numbers are higher. Wognum asked if the number of rooms could be determined along with occupancy rates such as Duluth provides every year. He said the board will provide a letter to Lodging Tax Board requesting specific information be gathered each year.
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve the revised agreement for the Joint Powers Lodging Tax board. Motion carried.
Darren Shavor participated via Zoom and spoke to the board about a platted road. Cersine said this is not a township road. It is not owned or maintained by the township, according to Cersine. Soderberg said if the District Court needs testimony the township could provide it at that time. Shavor said there has never been a road here and that he owns the land. Soderberg said he tried to drive to the location but couldn’t find it. Shavor said he is east of Bruce Filson with John Theno on the other side, who is his uncle. He said his father was Marvin Theno. The family purchased the property in 1956. Shavor provided maps and photos of the area and said the county is requiring a 15 foot setback from the platted road. The board agreed he should be able to move forward with his proposed project.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to send a letter to St. Louis County requesting that Darren Shavor be allowed to build on his property and that the township does not recognize the platted road in question. Motion carried.
Jim and Nancy Schwartz talked to the board about a proposed project utilizing the Robich Farm. She is currently the director of the Ely Area Food Shelf but she is representing herself. Her role there has made her aware of the food situation in Ely. There is less food in the system and she thought about how she could get food for her people. She has been putting together a business plan to start food production at Robich Farm along with additional businesses to support the property. You pick berries including pumpkins and Christmas trees, a classroom would be made in the one of the buildings as well. Jim worked in construction for many years and Nancy worked at the International Wolf Center for 11 years. She said the property has pasture land, several outbuildings, a Finnish homestead building and more. She would also have lodging there for farm vacations as well. Six tent pads, four pre-built mini-cabins on the ridge without power and water to start, modelled after some campgrounds in South Dakota. Ely doesn’t have something like that now where the cabins are very basic. She said last week at the Food Shelf she met someone in their late 20s who didn’t understand options for cutting meat. Nancy said as she moves forward with permits, variances and other things that might come up. Cersine asked if she had talked to the county about variances if she needs any at all. The property is 94 acres. Jim said all of the infrastructure is current. Nancy is working the Entrepreneur Fund out of Virginia and will look for grants if there are some available. Cersine noted there is a gravel pit located nearby. Cersine explained the road is a cartway not a township road. Cersine said the township stopped the city from applying sludge on the field there around 20 years. The board invited them to return if there are issues in the future.
Lekatz presented claims 16610 to 16633 for $13,075.77. There was additional claim for $100 for beaver removal
A motion was made by Soderberg, seconded by Cersine to approve the claims as presented including the additional claim for $100 to Anthony Gornik. Motion carried.
Receipts 791-796 for $147,937.30. This includes $144,944.19 was from property taxes including bonds from the fire hall and interest from previous years.
Lekatz said two of our CDs came due at Frandsen Bank. They were renewed to Sept. 10, 2024 for 4.4 percent interest. She also presented a tentative budget for 2025. Soderberg said he reviewed the budget and has some suggested changes.
Wognum presented an update on the Treehouse Broadband project which has been submitted for funding. The project has increased from $1.8 million to $3.7 million.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to approve an agreement amendment with SEH for the Romberg Acres project and an easement across a private parcel. Motion carried.
There was discussion on the Joint Powers Ambulance Board. Soderberg noted that the city of Ely did not pay the full amount for 2023. He asked when they will pay for the difference. Berrini said you get what you get. Soderberg said the city has the largest number of ambulance calls doesn’t pay their fair share. Berrini said Lake County Commissioner Joe Baltich has agreed to join the non-profit board that manages the ambulance. Berrini noted the city purchased a vehicle from EAAS for $15,500. Berrini said a hearing will be held in Mt. Iron tomorrow for the state task force, with three more planned for the future. Berrini said he also pursued getting local government aid for townships at the legislative meeting yesterday. Ambulance service was discussed at that meeting as well. Berrini said the hospital is supposed to have their ambulance study done by the middle of January. It’s time for the ambulance to go back to the hospital said Soderberg. Cersine and Berrini said they don’t want the hospital to take it over. Cersine said he is worried there would be another company brought in. If it stays with the hospital to take it over that would be fine, said Cersine.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to pay the $17,678 to the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers Board. The motion passed 2-1 with Soderberg voting no.
Soderberg said the city didn’t pay their fair share and now the township is paying the city’s amount they didn’t pay. Soderberg said the $17 billion state surplus wasn’t used to help the ambulance services. Soderberg said the township has overspent the budget for 2023 while the city didn’t pay their full share. Morse budgeted $25,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024.
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant informational meeting was held at Eagles Nest with supervisor Berrini attending the meeting. There is $890,925 in funds available.
A motion was made by Berrini, seconded by Soderberg to look into applying for funding for Community Wildfire Defense through St. Louis County. Motion carried.
Wognum gave an update on training he and Lekatz attended for the Presidential Nominating Primary.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to adjourn at 7:06 p.m.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Len Cersine, Chair Nick Wognum, Clerk
Official Website of Town of Morse