January 2023
REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
OF THE SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF MORSE HELD ON
January 10, 2023
At 5:00 p.m. on January 10, 2023 at the Morse Town Hall, Chairman Bob Berrini 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 by phone, Clerk Nick Wognum, Treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz, Butch Pecha, Gerald Tyler and Aaron Kania.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Pecha was present to discuss ordering a new dump truck. He has been researching the options to purchase a new truck to replace the 1992 International truck that has a value of $9,000 to $10,000. Parts are now very difficult to get. Using state bid prices, for the 2025 International the price was $121,767.92 with a Crysteel box for $174,000. The price has already gone up eight percent. For the Mack with the Towmaster box was around $198,000. There is a 16-18 month lead time for the truck plus 3-6 months to put a box on it. Still waiting for a price from Freightliner. He said the front end of the truck is heavy enough to put a plow on it. Plus St. Louis County would provide a sander. Mounts are also included to put a tarp on in the future. Trailer hitch and brakes are included. These are 10-12 yard trucks. Soderberg said this was talked about prior to the $150,000 being spent on the ambulance garage. The other truck is a 1997 model. Pecha said used trucks are going for a much higher price than they used to. Soderberg said the board will wait to see what happens with the federal monies coming for the ambulance building. Pecha said he didn’t have a preference and that he has worked on each brand. He said St. Louis County has over 130 Mack trucks. Soderberg thanked Pecha for gathering all the information for the board.
Kania talked to the board about the township looking to get a fee for BWCA rescues. He said Ted Krueger has been great to work with from the Morse-Fall Lake fire department. Kania said there was a fire at night last fall where the Forest Service and Morse-Fall Lake firefighters worked together and kept a small fire from becoming a very large fire on a windy night. He said he spent over 20 years in law enforcement out west so he worked a lot of search and rescues. Normally the Forest Service works with the counties. Kania said the Forest Service people in the woods have satellite technology so they can see where employees are in the woods. There are also pay mechanisms in place with various agencies. He said there is around $50,000 spent by the Forest Service for related expenses each year including the Beaver float plane. Kania said the maintenance contract needs to be revisited since it wasn’t done in 2020. Soderberg said the possibility to put a $2 charge on every permit to be used for search and rescue and that was brought to Rep. Pete Stauber. Kania said the Resource Advisory Council handles Secure Rural Schools Funding. Commissioner Paul McDonald sits on the Resource Advisory Council which handles raising fees. Currently permits are $16 and the monies go to the Superior National Forest to pay for wilderness rangers, front desk people, etc. Agencies collect fees under the Federal Recreation Act. He said in Utah there was a card sold for search and rescue that was basically like insurance. If the person didn’t have a card they were billed for the rescue. A person who had a card meant the agency would bill the state for the rescue. Soderberg said we’re just trying to find extra sources of revenue because Morse-Fall Lake is the first to go on a rescue. Berrini said the plan isn’t to take money away from the Forest Service.
Tyler talked to the board about the Senior Center and the decision by the AEOA to stop the lunch program there. He has spoken to Commissioner McDonald about this issue several times. He said there nine or 10 veterans who use the program in addition to other seniors in the community. He said the current contract doesn’t expire until September of 2023. Tyler said the equipment is supposed to be picked up this week.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to pass a resolution in favor of the meals being served by AEOA at the Ely Senior Center and send it to AEOA, St. Louis County and our state elected officials. Motion carried.
The minutes of the December 13, 2022 meeting were reviewed.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to approve the minutes of December 13, 2022 meeting. Motion carried.
Lekatz presented claims 16308 to 16322 for $27,332.65. This includes the $20,000 for Morse-Fall Lake.
A motion was made by Berrini, seconded by Cersine to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried.
Lekatz presented receipts 753 for $2,980. There are additional receipts from December for mowing and disparity aide totaling $6,405.65.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Berrini to approve an $80 claim from Crapola. Motion carried.
Wognum gave an update on the annexation with the city, the DNR and the Taconite Trail and Treehouse Broadband.
Wognum will contact Stacy Melcher about the island on Shagawa Lake that the township opposed selling.
The board reviewed the sale of two additional parcels by St. Louis County.
The board discussed the proposal to combine with the Eagles Nest Township fire department. Cersine said he was opposed to the idea. Soderberg suggested a one year delay before any decision is going to be made.
A motion was made by Cersine, seconded by Soderberg to approve election judges Patty Niskala, Muffin Nelson, Tricia Schreffler, Nick Wognum and Mary Ann Lekatz for the township election. Motion carried with Cersine and Soderberg voting yes and Berrini abstaining.
Cersine said the roads may need to be sanded if we get additional snow.
The board reviewed the budget for 2024 and determined no levy increase would be needed for 2024.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Terry Soderberg, Chair Nick Wognum, Clerk