Lutsen Township Board Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2025
Lutsen Town Hall
Present: Carl Friesner, Chris Homyak, Lolli Cooper, Ashley VanDoren, Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle, Sharon Hexum-Platzer, Steve Duclos, Ginny Storlie
Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chairperson, C Friesner at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Agenda: C Friesner made a motion to approve the July agenda, L Cooper seconded. Motion passed.
Approval of June Meeting Minutes: C. Friesner made a motion to accept the meeting minutes, L Cooper seconded. Motion passed.
Commissioner’s Report: (Ginny Storlie)
· Taconite Harbor moving ahead; TRA and Schroeder agreed to support hiring a consulting service called Stanic not to exceed $200,000. Plan to work through August of 2026; public meetings will be held throughout the process
· Renovations continue at the Cook County courthouse; Additional office space will be put into the basement for public health and a small Kitchen and lactation room.
· New housing administrator Kristan Tribl-Halbersma was hired to state August 4, 2025 for Cook County.
· Development next to Up Yonder currently called “The Heights” consisting of 31 modular homes will be shipped through some difficulty and stored either at the old airport or possibly Ski Hill 3rd parking lot in August of 2025 until land is developed.
· Hospital board will be holding their annual meeting at Lutsen Townhall July 24, 2025; meeting to start at 10am with public comments and questions open from 9:30am-10:00am
· West End Emergency Management meeting to take place July 28, 2025; representative Lollie Cooper will be attending along with fire chiefs if schedules allow. Requests for chain of command; who to call and what to do in different emergencies for the average citizen.
· Concern over communication of local governments and outreach. Lutsen township is currently branching out to social media and updating website along with the currently used outreach using newspapers, radio, townhall webpage and physical postings on communal board in front of Clearview, townhall and fire posting boards. G Storlie suggested have people sign up email or brainstorming new ways to publish more. L Cooper suggested using “West End Wire” on Facebook as a community outreach.
· Cardboard trailer not able to be house at Ski Hill 3rd parking lot as space might be needed for modular home storage and additional space for Lutsen MTN Corp. Supervisors requesting commissioner Storlie reach out to others to find a solution as many Lutsen citizens are requesting access to cardboard trailer at extended hours.
Clerk’s Report: S. Mcquatters-Spangle Deputy Clerk: S. Hexum-Platzer
Correspondence: 8 phone calls forwarded; Email correspondences: Statement from State Auditor Julie Blaha on Targeted Shooting of Two Minnesota Lawmakers, Statement from State Auditor Julie Blaha on Apprehension of Suspect in Shooting of Two Lawmakers; forwarded, OSA Weekly Update, Superior National Forest invites the public to July 7 Resource Advisory Committee Meeting, MAT annual conference Thursday, December 11 through Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center. Federal Energy & Climate Action Planning - Funding Assistance Opportunities, Fence repair; clerk corresponded between supervisors, INVITATION: Business & Community Development Resources Workshop, Notice of Grant Opportunities, Remittance Advice Notification; forwarded, Forest Service Press Release,
1. Township Tuesdays webinar
2. 2nd quarter taxes
3. Daily townhall checks
4. Park electric invoices mailed
5. Emergency letter of support Lutsen MTN
6. Hydraulic ram added to insurance
7. Posted notice; Continued annual mtg
Treasurer’s Report; Ashley VanDoren: As of June 30, 2025;
North Shore Federal Credit Union-Checking $251,865.35; General Building Fund-savings $35,779.70, General Money Market $85,788.53, Fire/EMS truck fund $82,208.88 totaling $455,642.46; 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) Matures 7/19/25
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 $222,138.54; Year to Date Disbursements $228,68.70.
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 Homyak made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. L Cooper seconded. Motion passed
Clarification requested for ending of 7 Month Truck Fund CD maturing. Currently interest acquired is $2,564.38; would the board like to deposit the matured amount back into Truck Fund account or to reinvest into another CD at Grand Marais State Bank? L Cooper motion to reinvest the amount back into another CD with the best interest available at Grand Marais State Bank. C Homyak seconded. Motion passed.
Review and Approval of Claims:
· Clerk S. Mcquatters-Spangle provided the invoiced July Claims. Details; 16 claims for a
total of $31,474.38 This included $12,269.66 transfer of funds from general funds to building funds in preparation for emergency shelter. $2,356.92 for 2nd quarter federal taxes. $1,416 to Action Fire for annual inspection, replacement and services. $558,81 to North Shore Health for medical supplies/EMS. $10,790.85 to Macqueen Emergency for fire turnout gear and services. $2,400 to Boreal Enterprises LLC for mowing services.
C Homyak made a motion to approve claims, L Cooper seconded. Motion passed.
· Clerk provided July 2025 payroll; 4 claims totaling $2,296.06; 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 for June 2025 presented and matches with treasurers; Cash Control for July 2025 presented and matches with treasurers. Both signed by all supervisors and on file in town office.
Fire and EMS Chief’s Report: (Steve Duclos)
· EMS responded to 6 calls and Fire responded to 3 calls in the last month
· Training; EMS trauma training, Fire crew pumped water with Tofte fire on Lutsen hydrants, mutual aid vehicle extrication with Tofte and Schroeder at the Tofte junk yard with new struts and equipment.
· New member Jessie Auwels; from Grand Marais fully trained in Fire 1&2. New gear recently bought by Grand Marais fire crew; Grand Marais fire requesting $5000 purchase of turnout great (originally bought for $5,700 and never used in a fire) Fire chief Duclos requesting township approval to purchase turnout gear set for Jessie. C Frienser made a motion to purchase turnout gear for the amount of $5000 from Grand Marais. L Cooper seconded. Motion passed. Fire Chief Duclos did let the board know a helmet would need to be purchased still as well as a name plate.
· 2 Fire members currently out of commission due to injuries; will require doctors note to physically serve again however encouraged to continue attending meetings.
· 4th of July parade fish stand a great success; a profit of over $7000 which will go back into fire crew funds
· Rosenbauer; suggested f5500 truck purchase for equipment Fire/EMS crew. Fire Chief will continue talks to find the best solution to a new truck purchase over the next few years to eliminate the overcrowding of needed rescue supplies over multiple vehicles that is currently greatly increase the amount of gear up time when called to an emergency.
· Firefighter Homyak helped in missing person search around boundary waters.
· Ants currently in the fire hall; Clerk will provide ant traps previously bought by townhall
Supervisors’ Report:
C Friesner:
· KTM scheduling
· Fence repair; corresponds
· Soccer crew requesting BBQ for Jamaican Independence Day
· Attended 4th of July fish fry
· Drove sag truck for Lutsen 99ner
· Installed sound bar at townhall
· Changed trash at dog park
L Cooper:
· WTIP radio scheduling worked on
· West End Emergency representative
C Homyak:
· Worked on insurance claims with multiple companies
· Attended Gitchi-Gami trail meeting in Duluth; renewal of contractors working on the trail and applying for additional funding on the bridge portion in Lutsen.
Old Business:
· Lutsen Township emergency shelter; generator has been delivered and has been placed on property; now waiting for electrical hook ups to be installed. Lutsen already has a working kitchen, cots, blankets, showers and has already talked with other emergency shelter groups on needs. Supervisor L Cooper will be the main contact for Mr. Keyport about his hazard mitigation request. Supervisor Friesner will be working with 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 Cooper will take lead in talking 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
· Resurfacing: Supervisor Friesner has talked with KTM about resurfacing the townhall parking lot and leveling out all the pot holes; quote for fix of larger pot hole outside fire bay door and resurfacing is at $15,600 which including removing existing blacktop and replacing with 4-inch new blacktop. C Frienser made a motion to get on the customer list with KTM to resurface and repair pot hole for the amount of $15,600. L Cooper seconded. Motion passed.
· Town hall park fence repair: Supervisor Friesner contacted Century fence on repairing the ball park fence that was damaged by a fallen tree. Quote is to rebuild backdrop and broken outlaying fencing but would require clearing of the trees in the way for the amount of $4,200. Supervisor Friesner will contact Boreal Enterprises, McMillan and Fulson out of Silver Bay to see best cost of tree and stump removal; repair to be completed before next meeting.
· Grandview park outhouse door handle: Supervisor Friesner will repair the broken door handle
New Business:
1. Insurance policy inquiry; C Homyak presented a case that had recently happed during a fire call where some personal vehicles of volunteer fire crew were damaged while on call and asked for supervisors’ stance on what should be covered while on a fire call pertaining to personal vehicles. Currently township insurance MATIT has stated that personal vehicle damages where not covered unless owned, rented or leased by the township. Concern over the willingness of Fire/EMS volunteers to drive personal vehicles to calls if damages occur while on site as it has happened in the past such as with large fires. Previous fire chiefs had been under the impression that if used while on a fire call personal vehicles would be covered after deductible but the recent policy since 2024 says different, checking with alternative insurance companies questioned why damages would not be covered under liability. Other townships have opted to create a line item to budget a reasonable amount to cover deductibles of personal vehicle insurance of volunteers while in the line a duty. As this rarely happens C Homyak is suggesting putting aside $2,500 yearly to help cover deductibles. All people if injured on call are currently covered under workers compensation so the main concern in personal vehicle, not people.
Supervisors discussed specific instances and what would constitute coverage, liabilities, damages and best incentives to ensure damage to personal vehicles is not a deterrent to attending a fire/EMS call. C Friesner expressed concern over a volunteer fire/EMS having to come up with $500-$1000 deductible if an incident occurs while on call to their personal vehicle. Active fire calls currently charge $500 through insurance and could be used to offset the proposed line item. C Frienser made a motion to cover deductible costs of the person at fault in an active volunteer Fire/EMS call. L Cooper seconded. Motion passed. C Frienser did advise for a long-term goal of finding policies or solutions.
2. Fall Celebration planning; C Friesner to lead planning; October 11, 2025 1pm-4pm
3. Community flea market; previously a flea market used to be help in conjunction with the art show which has moved to Grand Marais but since the church is not doing a yard sale this year a flea market on the Lutsen ball field would be a great alternative. Individuals can bring their own supplies, price their own things and collect their own money in a communal area. Perhaps the local parent pitch could open the concession stand for the day to fund raise and ask for donation on behalf of Lutsen fire for either new truck or rescue drone purchase? S Hexum-Platzer advised a great time to have this flea market open is on the Saturday before the Fire/EMS pancake breakfast on September 20, 2025, Set up at 11pm and sale from 12pm-4pm.
4. Continued Annual Meeting; August 19, 2025 6pm before the regular monthly meeting.
5. Request to host a BBQ at the Lutsen townhall ball field on behalf of the weekly soccer players to celebrate Jamaican Independence Day on August 5, 2025; C Friesner advised to let them know to be mindful of alcohol consumption, no fireworks, noise, other persons looking to use field either for play or as a dog park and garbage pickup. No rental would be needed to use ball field and BBQ but it will remain open to others looking to use the area as well.
Donations: Block party cash; Thomas & Laurie Wasmund, Musty-Barnhart Agency
Citizen Comments: N/A
Adjournment: C Friesner made a motion to adjourn; seconded by L Cooper. Motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 8:53 pm
Respectfully Submitted, S Mcquatters-Spangle; Townhall Clerk Carl Friesner; Chairperson