Lutsen Township Board Meeting Minutes
June 17, 2025
Lutsen Town Hall
Present: Carl Friesner, Chris Homyak, Lolli Cooper, Ashley VanDoren, Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle, Sharon Hexum-Platzer, Steve Duclos, Cathy Johnson
Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chairperson, C Friesner at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Agenda: L Cooper made a motion to approve the June agenda, C. Friesner seconded. Motion passed.
Approval of May Meeting Minutes: C. Friesner made a motion to accept the meeting minutes, C. Homyak seconded. Motion passed.
Commissioner’s Report: (Ginny Storlie) N/A
Moment of Silence for house speaker shooting tragedy
Clerk’s Report: S. Mcquatters-Spangle Deputy Clerk: S. Hexum-Platzer
1. Correspondence: Correspondence: 16 phone call forwarded; 4 new hall rentals, Emails: 2024 Scholarship information forwarded, OSA Weekly Update, District 10 MAT meeting at Saginaw, MN August 28th-more specific notices to be given, land assessments forwarded to Courtnee, City of Grand Marais Weekly Update, AAAA Newsletter, June Update, Forest Service News Release, IRRR Board Meeting Recap, Building regulations and assessments forwarded to Courtnee, MAT Staff Update-Lori Stalker retiring, Minnesota - Half-Staff Alert - Andrew Karels, Daily fire updates, NOAH Multifamily Program RFP Application, Statement from State Auditor Julie Blaha on Targeted Shooting of Two Minnesota Lawmakers, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Fee Proposal Media Release,
2. Mowing bid signed
3. Township Tuesdays webinar
4. Onsite to help with rental set up
5. Daily townhall checks
6. IamResponding renewal; waiting for invoice
7. New fire crew hire paperwork submitted
8. Park electric updated; to be sent out
9. Called two drone companies about media for website
10. Generator added to MATIT insurance; Supervisor Homyak advised to have the hydraulic ram added onto insurance as well.
Treasurer’s Report; Ashley VanDoren: As of May 31, 2025;
North Shore Federal Credit Union-Checking $122,648.88; General Building Fund-savings $35,766.76; Fire/EMS truck fund $82,104.28, General Money Market $85,679.38 totaling $326,209.30; CD investments;
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State bank-$100,000 at 4.5%
(The 7 Month CD accrued interest will not show until the CD matures because of the short length of time but is earmarked to return to the fire truck fund)
o 29 Month CD at Grand Marais State bank-$104,512.33 at 4.5%
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank-$10,000 at 4.25%
Matures 10/20/25
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank-$10,000 at 4.25%
Matures 10/20/25
Total funds including CD investments $224,512.33
Year to Date Receipts $60,352.15; Year to Date Disbursements $188,315.55.
2025 General town Budget $40,850.00, 2025 Fire District Budget $363,795.00 for a total budget of $404,645.00.
2025 General town Levy $40,000.00, 2025 Fire District Levy $300,000.00 for a total 2025 Levy of $340,000.00.
C Friesner made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. C Homyak seconded. Motion passed
Sharon Hexum-Platzer questioned if the received funds including the transfer of the late ARPA money should be transferred from the general fund to the building fund account since the generator and emergency shelter upgrades will be a permanent building attribute. Treasurer VanDoren; one check for $5000 has been deposited into the general fund; ARPA disbursements were split between general and fire accounts; we are currently awaiting the approved checks from the commissioner’s board and Arrowhead. We have the option to transfer all of that money into the building fund. Supervisor Friesner agreed that would be the most logical thing to do to keep track of where money is to be located Treasurer VanDoren will transfer the amount of $12,269.66 from the general checking account to the building fund account at the Noth Shore Federal Credit Union.
Supervisor Friesner questioned how far along with the building loan repayment the township was? Treasurer VanDoren was able to pull up the CTAS account; $146,000 is left to repay in the loan (not counting the payment form the current June 2025 meeting)
Review and Approval of Claims:
· Clerk S. Mcquatters-Spangle provided the invoiced June Claims. Details; 14 claims for a
total of $31,165 This included $8,436 to MATIT insurance for full coverage of building, fire supplies and major interior items for the next year, $19,395.36 to Cook County building repayment plan, $314.10 to IamResponding subscription for Fire/EMS, $1,775 to Duclos Construction for the interior painting of the Lutsen Townhall
C Homyak made a motion to approve claims, L Cooper seconded. Motion passed.
· Clerk provided June 2025 payroll; 22 claims totaling $9,203.15; this includes all fire and EMS quarterly payroll
C Friesner made a motion to approved payroll. C Homyak seconded. Motion passed
· Claims approval and Payroll distributions were signed by Supervisors; copies are on file
in the town office.
· Cash Control coding between accounts 205 and 255 were off due to an inactive account on CTAS causing cash control beginning balance to be off, the clerk has set up meeting with state auditor CTAS specialist to help fix the error and has advised the supervisors the wait to sign the cash control until it is fixed to match the treasurers cash control, clerk will send out the correct form to all supervisors.
Fire and EMS Chief’s Report: (Steve Duclos)
· EMS responded to 5 calls and Fire responded to 2 calls in the last month
· Training; EMS focused on stokes and anaphylaxis, splinting and diabetic car while fire focused on search and rescue and forcible injury, Supervisor Friesner and the Fire/EMS crew practiced spray control at the Lutsen golf course after their irrigation system failed.
· Lutsen EMTs will start IV training to provide better patient care
· Fire chief Duclos attended the fire chiefs meeting and renewal mutual aid contract for the County for the first time since 2011.
· New radios anticipated to be delivered by the end of July 2025
· Met with a company to discuss funding to buy a rescue drone for Lutsen fire/EMS. This company builds search and rescue drones; paying a subscription to have this company help submit the proper grant paperwork. To make it clear purchasing the previously discussed drone would only be done if all funds were secured by grants and or fundraising as the township does not currently have the funds; the anticipated cost to be around $30,000 if covered by grants. Greatest benefits of said drone is the thermal/heat seeking and infrared capabilities to aid in search and rescue; speed and ease to locate lost persons from an aerial standpoint and the ability to drop payloads such as EpiPens and other medical aid to injured or lost person long before a physical rescue person could arrive. The idea is to have this drone available Lutsen and mutual aid efforts supporting the all of the west end. Once the drone is funded the Fire/EMS crew will have three trained pilots; licensing will be needed to operate the drone; Supervisor Homyak also advised contacting MATIT about requirements of licensing and insurance.
· Fire chief Duclos asked the supervisors for their thought on how to process with emergency cancelled calls; when an emergency crew arrived, gears up and takes the emergency vehicles out of the bay but then the call is cancelled. Currently we create and file a report once a vehicle leaves the bay but don’t create a report if personal arrive and gear up but the call is cancelled before the vehicles leave the bay; this is keeping in mind that all the emergency personnel are leaving home and work to respond to each call. The supervisors were advised that each chief has done it differently and Fire Chief Duclos is asking for input from the supervisors.
Supervisor Friesner voiced his opinion that is an emergency personnel respond to a call and if fully suited up and the truck leaves the bay, they should be filing a report. Supervisor Cooper seconded that thought and advised that this policy should be put into an official resolution. Fire Chief Duclos agreed and will add this policy to the Fire/EMS SOG’s for future chief’s as well which is reviewed annually.
· Lutsen’s type 5 truck was sent to help with forest fires for a night shift with James Colemen and Nic Renisscuss; Fire chief Duclos requested full reporting of how Greenwood fire crew were paid from 2020 to review and create a basic policy to follow when fire crew is sent overnight for mutual aid. Clerk will review and forward all relevant CTAS and paperwork related to payment from the Greenwood fire.
· Request to start a conversation on fund raising and planning to purchase a new heavy-duty truck; when sending the brush truck to aid in the fires this last week a problem of space has become more apparent as a lot of time is taken up unloading what storage space is currently available in the trucks storage to reach and search for emergency items. The idea would be to buy a heavy-duty truck that would be able to carry all car accident equipment’s such as road signs, cones and other items needed for emergencies. Every tool that is carried in the trucks is needed for different emergencies but with everything packs so tight retrieved one item at a time is time consuming and slows down emergency response times. Fire Chief talked with Rosenbauer about cost of a F550 or similar; it does not need to carry water, only supplies. An estimated cost of $360,000, it is something to think about fundraising, grant writing, looking over possibly used trucks if good emergency vehicle can be found over the next few years with the end goal being a heavy-duty emergency hauling truck.
· Lutsen Fire/EMS attended the Lutsen block party on 6/13/25 in front of Cook County Pluming and Heating to fundraise, support community and showcase the newer equipment that donations have been able to help supply to emergency responders including the hydraulic ram, EV blanket turnout gear.
Supervisors’ Report:
C Friesner:
· Worked on Lutsen ball field, weeding and dragging
· Worked with contractor in setting up interior paint of Lutsen townhall
· Worked with Smith law firm
· Gitchi Gami Trail opening
· Ant issues at townhall; worked with pest control
· Helped with spray control Fire training at golf course
· Talked with KTM about resurfacing the townhall blacktop and possibly line stripping
L Cooper:
· WTIP radio to represent and update about Lutsen township
· Corresponding with multiple citizens about cardboard trailer
C Homyak:
· Corresponding with multiple citizens about cardboard trailer
Old Business:
· Lutsen Township emergency shelter; generator has been delivered and is currently stored in the emergencies bay. Lutsen already has a working kitchen, cots, blankets, showers and has already talked with other emergency shelter groups on needs. As it currently stands Lutsen Township has pledged $10,000 and Tofte Township has donated $7,000 (received), Arrowhead has pledged a sum (not yet revived) and the commissioners have pledged $8,500 (not yet revived).; Supervisor L Cooper will be the main contact for Mr. Keyport about his hazard mitigation request. Supervisor Friesner will be working with contractors on pouring a slab for the generator and start setting up the necessary work to have propane tank installed, new heater put into bay and Como gas installation. Hoping to have installation completed by the end up summer 2025.
· Citizen request for installation of personal convection oven at town hall kitchen; Tabitha Blanchard requested discussion about installing a personal high end convection oven she has received through a grant to help grow her cottage license baking business but currently does not have the space to house and would require a 240 outlet or a normal oven outlet which the townhall kitchen currently has. As the oven only requires a standard oven outlet which is easily accessible in the open space near the current oven only one shelf will need to be moved.
Judy Motschenbacher advised the board that a full lease with terms of service will need to be drafted and signed along with hand full of Questions including the liability being placed on the community.
o Is enough to cover full loss should anything happen to either the building or if the oven would be damaged by a renting party?
o Where is the line drawn as this is a type of rental?
o What would happen if someone because sick from the food would the town be liable for be sued?
o Is there a timeframe for this rental/lease to be held to?
o What would happen if this person were to move away and left the oven?
o Why use Lutsen Townhall as it is not a commercial kitchen instead of Grand Marais or Birchgrove?
o Legality of hosting a cottage law business in the Townhall?
o Deposit for damage to the kitchen like any other rental with kitchen use?
Supervisor Friesner will take lead in talking to Tabitha about the questioned items and collaborate to draft a legally binding lease to better protect the interests of the community and the Townhall.Supervisor Friesner have been in contact with Smith Law to draw up a legal document to cover all interests.
· New web design for township suggested. Deputy Treasurer Philip Creighton presented the topic of a new web design and layout for Lutsen township as the current webpage is about 10 years old and outdated. The only stipulation Philip mandated was that once the page is approved, designed and personnel trained he would not be tasked with maintaining the page on a daily basis. The new webpage launch date is planned to happen before the continues annual meeting at the end of August 2025; Supervisor Homyak advised the clerk to contact Visit Cook County about video media.
· Sound Bar; Supervisor Friesner will install the sound bar on Thursday
· Resurfacing: Supervisor Friesner has talked with KTM about resurfacing the townhall parking lot and leveling out all the pot holes; they will be visiting the site and giving an official quote on Wed. June 18, 2025. Supervisor Friesner will also talk with KTM about professionally line stripping the parking lot
· Town hall park fence repair: Supervisor Friesner will contact Duluth fencing or Century fence on repairing the ball park fence that was damaged by a fallen tree.
· Grandview park outhouse door handle:Supervisor Friesner will repair the broken door handle
New Business:
· Many Lutsen residents questioned the where abouts of the cardboard trailing; after posing risk to cars trying to access it the trailer was moved to Grand Marais; however, many residents have requested to keep the cardboard trailer in Lutsen for convenience. Clerk Mcquatters-Spangle will contact owners at 3rd lot to inquire about placing the trailer there.
· Schroeder townhall representative; emergency planning; Cathy Johnson from Schroeder came to the Lutsen supervisors hoping to put together a collaboration group with all three west end townships to create a emergency management plan for the average citizen; where to go and what to do in the event of an emergency or natural disaster like the flooding that happened in Schoeder over the last year where people became stranded, roads washed and with no idea what to do or where to go. Tofte has also expressed interest in collaborating in a monthly brainstorming session with all west end townships. Cathy advised looking at what other more well-prepared townships and city currently have for emergency situation, Duluth has an amazing 32-page plan that detailed a lot of emergency situations and agreed to answer and discuss ideas should the Cook County west end be able to form emergency planning group. Creating a full contact sheet for who can help and call for multiple situations be it construction crew for washed out roads or emergency contacts for immediate help; something that can be passed out the public and give a plan to the average citizen. Supervisor Lolli will take lead as the contact for Lutsen Township and join this Cook County west end emergency planning group.Lutsen fire will also have a few people available to attend meetings.
Donations: N/A
Citizen Comments: Sharon Hexum-Platzer on behalf of Lutsen township helped to water the apple tree at Grandview park and took charge in watering the shrubs around the marker sign at Lutsen townhall.
Adjournment: C Friesner made a motion to adjourn; seconded by L Cooper. Motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm
Respectfully Submitted, S Mcquatters-Spangle; Townhall Clerk Carl Friesner; Chairperson