Lutsen Township Board Meeting Minutes
October 21, 2025
Lutsen Town Hall
Present: Carl Friesner, Chris Homyak, Lolli Cooper, Ashley VanDoren, Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle, Sharon Hexum-Platzer, Steve Duclos, Ginny Storlie, Chris Lindholm, Richard Furlong, Tim Lien, Rene Swadburg, Judy Motenbaucher
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 September Meeting Minutes: C Friesner made a motion to approve the agenda, C Homyak seconded. Motion passed.
School Board Referendum: (Chris Lindholm)
Mr. Lindholm can to present the case to vote for the proposed Cook County school board referendum this November 2025. All Cook County registered voters should have received a ballot in the mail and the school superintendent is reaching out to inform the public on what this referendum would include. This referendum ballot is asking voters to consider a 6.65-million-dollar bond referendum to invest in the performing art center and to invest in athletic spaces outside including a multipurpose physical education space for track and football. The school board believe that athletics and arts that student participate in are an integral part of education and development and applied to mental health and wellness confidence. Teamwork and all the things that we look for as employers in problem solving skills and ultimately help kids be successful academically.
How did we get here? A year ago, a referendum was put in front of voters with three questions and part of that process was a year long process with facility evaluations. 10 or more listening sessions with students, staff and community members and a comprehensive facilities study; are we growing; are we shrinking? We learned that our district is looking to grow about 50+ students in the next 10 years. The first of the tree questions asked was passed asking for 24.17 million for developments which is currently in the bidding process which will be opened on November 5, 2025. Question two and three failed which led the supervenient to look for outside resources to reduce the cost of expenses for taxpayers. So far, a matching 5-million-dollar grant was granted from IRRRB contingent on referendum passing which is about half the total cost of what is being proposed. The impact on the taxpayers is cutting the price tag in half from a year ago. The district was approved for a $250,000 LCCMR grant for outdoor learning spaces and trails in the forest; this will be approved in the next legislative session.
Main factors being looked at for improving if this referendum is approved in improvement in the ACA that was built in 1998 and is still the same carpet, same seating and lighting. Upgrading the lighting and a creating a catwalk to change out lighting for all the events and plays hosted in the ACA including music festivals, playhouse and theatre education. The seating old and very heavy with steal supports which makes moving and arranging seating a monumental task; replacing seating is a part of the proposal. We are also looking at upgrading and renovating outdoor programs; the track program with 70 to 80 students is very successful but they don’t have facilities in Cook County at all. Right now, they have to drive to Two Harbors or Duluth just to go to practice running hurdles or long jump and they miss an entire day of school for practice and all competitions are away. Because the football field is natural turf it has to be rested 90% of the time to keep it game playable. We could be using it for Phy ed, soccer, lacrosse or a multitude of other sports. The baseball field is also in need of updating turf work and currently we do not have a softball field, currently girl have to go to the recreation park to play and practice. This proposal is to install some lighting, new turf, multiuse field that can be used 24/7. The field would be expanded and usable for multiple programs with new lighting that can extend usage hours
The total bill for the 11.7 million dollar proposed project would be IRRRB grant paying 43%, seasonal reck paying for 20% and homeowners paying 20% of the total cost. In a school district referendum like this seasonal property owners will also be paying unlike operating referendums so everyone in Cook County would be a part of this 6.65-million-dollar bond referendum. If this referendum is approved it will unlock a matching IRRRB grant for 5 million dollars.
If it does pass, we would have major construction summer 2026 and summer 2027 and the school in-between. Timing is imports to capitalize on with current work being done to utilize engineers, experts and consultants on that are here now for the stuff that has already been passed. A good part of the land studies and soil testing has been completed in preparation for this referendum and utilize the services available.
How long does this increase taxes? For 20 years property taxes will increase; estimated for $400,000 home, taxes would increase by $4 per month which is 50% less that the tax impact from 2024. Currently there is a million-dollar contingency in place for the stuff that has already passed. ICS is the main consultants used and we sold bonds and able to invest them in interest at 1.6 million and if the referendum passes there will be a whole separate contingency carved out. Please everyone get their ballots in by November 4, 2025.
Commissioner’s Report: (Ginny Storlie)
· A couple weeks ago Grand Marais had the legislative bonding group with included representative Skraba to discuss the Westwater facility in Grand Marais; renovations are needed to keep it up to date. We took a tour of the facility. The next day the senator group came up including senator Hauschild. We are competing with another county looking to update water works however with being so close to Lake Superior and the amount of tourism Cook County received we have a strong case for the bonding committee.
· Attended the bi-annual meet up with the other seven counties in our district #1; attendance by Minnesota association counties. This year was hosted by St. Louis County we focused on making priorities, what is going to be the important information to take to St. Paul; technology modernization, public health and human resources getting online and doing something simple like looking a name up; we are behind and need a better way to find online information. This is a problem all over the state at the moment not just Cook County. Mental health was another talking point, child welfare, public safety and transportation and infrastructure. All these talking points will be taken back to the individual counties for specifics to each county. This meeting was proceeded by a tribal meeting; a listening meeting to get information passed between Fond du lac and Grand Portage hosted by Bobby Deschamp. November 6, 2025 senator Hauschild and Skraba will be in Cook County at Charlies to fine tune the talking points.
· Public health and human service meeting today and everyone is concerned and the SNAP program. If November 1st comes around and the government isn’t open then many families will not receive funds. Public health is going to try and come up with some contingency plans; is the Cook County food shelf capable of handling large amounts of food if grocery stones and other stores help with donations? IGA and Johnson’s have donation carts at the exits of the store which could be a good resource, Ruby’s panty is also another opportunity for residents. WIC program will not be affected for mothers and children under 5 years old.
· Working with Andrew Beavers to create an emergency checklist to go out to all VRBO owners to inform their guest should an emergency occur.
Townhall lease for personal convection oven: (Rich Furlong)
Discussing lease terms in an open meeting attorney Furlong made a preparatory statement; “Anything that I say here isn’t meant to be a comment on whether or not I think this is a good idea because me acting in my position as the board’s lawyer, doing what I think is best for the board and the Township”
Going back and forth with Supervisors and clerk there has been a little bit of confusion on what the primary use and cost is going to be. Tabitha has as of January 1, 2025 set up and installed a personal convection oven in the townhall kitchen with permission from the town board supervisors with the set up being an hour or two usage at a time a few times a week when no other rentals are currently occupying the townhall or a few times a month depending on business with no other items being used in the kitchen for the purpose of selling her professional bakery goods under the Minnesota cottage law. After a few concerned citizens brought up the possible legal and liability issues it was agreed upon to contact a lawyer to draft an official specialized lease agreement. When first setting up the oven an insurance policy was taken out by Tabitha to cover damages by Musty barn Hart insurance company and presented to the supervisor.
Townhall attorney Mr. Furlong wants to verify if this lease is clean and transparent for all parties involved and if this is partially an honor system, how booking and payments work along with how the lease would be renewed and or cancelled. Does the board trust that only the oven will be used; no usage of the water or other appliances?
· How are the rental days and times approved or confirmed and payment amount? At the moment Tabitha tracks her own hours by verifying that no rentals are booked on the townhall website before use and then pays $10 per hour of use to cover the cleaning and electric fees. The townhall does have cameras at the entrances of the building’s doors should there be a question of days and or times of usage. Billing will be to cover the times used at the end of each quarter. Supervisors request that Tabitha contacts clerk to reserve each times usage with a 24 hours’ notice from now on so it can be documented on the townhall calendar for public transparency. Mr. Furlong will amend the lease draft to include this.
· How to verify good faith rental of only using oven? It was agreed at the initial request stage that all items are made at home and brought to the townhall on trays to solely bake as the oven cannot fit in her personal kitchen. Mr. Furlong at the moment has the lease draft stated as “use of kitchen” without specifics to only the convection oven. Supervisor Cooper pointed out that the renter owns the specific oven as well. The supervisors agreed to leave the lease verbiage as “use of kitchen” at 180 square feet based on the good faith model.
· Utilities: supervisors agreed that the $10 per hour usage will cover the utilities used after talking to an election about power outage of the convection oven. Citizen comment asking if the refrigerator is being used. Supervisors agreed to add in a clause about no overnight storage of items
· How does the oven work with other rentals; No other rentals are using or have access to use the convection oven as it is locked and unplugged (regular townhall oven is plugged in at all other times) when the townhall is rented out by other parties.
· Damage deposit and insurance? Mr. Furlong advised the townhall it would be best to have some form of damage deposit for immediate use should something happen. At the moment the townhall is not doing a damage deposit as there is a million-dollar insurance policy in place with Lutsen townhall listed as a seconded insured. Mr. Furlong suggested requested the deductible of what the policy would be. Supervisor Friesner will reach are to Tabitha to update and find out the deductible amount to be put into the lease.
· Cost of rental; Tabitha’s rental cost will be $10 per hour with one hour being the minimum rental time and to be in hour increments. If she used the townhall for an hour and a half the charge will be for two hours. One citizen advised the town board that as a taxpayer they do not want to subsidize helping a business to grown with cheap rent and requesting that instead of renewing the lease each year at $10 an hour to have an escalation clause put in place. Supervisor Friesner advised it would be better to go in a review of utilities each year to determine if rental amount will increase instead of escalation. Supervisors request to state that each payment will be due monthly on the 1st the following month. All rentals amount for October should be paid on the following November 1st and so forth.
· Lease renewals or termination? The convection oven was installed on January 1, 2025 and the lease will be stated as started that day. The lease draft is set up to automatically renew each year unless termination is requested. Term of lease “the lease shall automatically renew the day after the termination date, which is identified above as December 31, 2025 and each subsequent anniversary of the date in success of a one-year period unless a party gives notice of its intent not to renew prior to 60 days before the termination.” Supervisor Homyak requested putting in a statement of the town board having the right to review the terms of lease annually. After some deliberation it was determined to have the yearly lease renewal review done every August annual continuation meeting.
· Physical property removal upon termination; What happens to the oven after lease termination? In the lease draft the landlord can cancel the lease and require the removal of all attendance property, and it lays out different types of circumstances that could occur. As long as there is no disagreement between the parties the tenant will be the one to remove the oven. Citizen comment; if the tenant leaves and the oven is left here what becomes of the oven? In the eviction sense a landlord is required to keep personal property of a tenant storage for up to 30 days. If the tenant is notified and unable or willing to remove personal property after 30 days it will become forfeit to the landlord. Supervisor request to have that clause put in the lease and verify the timeline with current laws. Citizen question; does the township have any type of lease for the kitchen to begin with? No lease for the kitchen currently just a single use rental policy. At the moment no rental increase occurred for kitchen use with single rental policy only a damage deposit that is returned to renter if no damage has occurred.
· Overriding factor for kitchen lease: Should any short-term emergency shelter use occur or be needed it will override any kitchen lease or rental for the time period that the short-term emergency shelter should need to be in use.
Clerk’s Report: S. Mcquatters-Spangle Deputy Clerk: S. Hexum-Platzer
Correspondence: 8 phone calls forwarded; 6 new townhall rentals, Email correspondences: Stations: HVAC 101 l Construction Delivery Methods, MAT annual conference to be held December 11-13, 2025, Webinar: Energy Innovation Opportunities In Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Communities; forwarded to supervisors, Log homes inquiry about cartway documentation; all document on file but no cartway yet filed, Invitation: Community Meetings on Housing & Land Opportunities in Cook County; forwarded to supervisors, OSA Weekly Update, City of Grand Marais Weekly Update, PERA Webinar September 25, AAAA Newsletter, October Update, 2025 Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Applications Now Open, Energy Innovation Opportunities along the North Shore; forwarded to supervisors, Notification: Board of Adjustment - 01 Oct 2025; no Lutsen residents on agenda, IRRR Board Meeting Recap - Sept. 25, Fire State Aid and Police State Aid Update - 2025 Aid Amounts Posted; forwarded to Lutsen fire crew, Distressed Building Program FAQ, Information Session Two Registration, and Notice of Correction, Energy Innovation Opportunities along the North Shore - Resources & Links, Public Works & Housing Programs –Applications Due October 24, Information on Paid Leave for Townships, Update on Reporting Requirements Due to Legislative Changes, OSA Announces Changes to Township Audit Thresholds,
· Cleaning supplies ordered
· EMS supplies ordered
· Township Tuesday webinars
· Emergency management zoom meeting
· Fall celebration; helped collect donations
· Website platform training
· Outreach for 2026 election judges
· 2nd check approved and printed for Boreal Enterprises
· Letters of support submitted/emergency letter of support approved and submitted
· Sundew to look at speed signs
Treasurer’s Report; Ashley VanDoren: As of September 30,2025;
North Shore Federal Credit Union-Checking $213,233.69; General Building Fund-savings $57,563.24, General Money Market $86,122.24, Fire/EMS truck fund $82,528.67 totaling $439,447.84; CD investments;
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State bank-$102,613.70 at 4.0%,
(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 2/19/26
o 29 Month CD at Grand Marais State bank-$104,512.33 at 4.5%
Matures 6/2/25
Fire truck fund
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank-$10,000 at 4.25%
Matures 10/20/25
Vehicle refurbish/Maint
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank-$10,000 at 4.25%
Matures 10/20/25
Vehicle refurbish/Maint
Total funds including CD investments $667,072.23
Supervisor Homyak made a motion to roll over the matured 7-month CDs to a new 7-month CD’s the amount $10,000 minimum; if its not then combine to meet the $20,000 minimum. Supervisor Cooper seconded. Motion passed. Citizen comment; the township has $213,000 in checking and a total of $439,000 between checking and money market, why are we not putting $200,000 into CDs into invest? Supervisor advised we do need disposable income per township policy but agreed. Requesting treasurer to create a cashflow analysis to track the amount that could be put into CDs to invest even it is short term ones to grow the money.
Year to Date Receipts $280,425.59; Year to Date Disbursements $309,363.00.
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
Town Park and town hall electric lines corrected. Treasurer VanDoren created a first rough draft spreadsheet created to better illustrate what deposits will look like versus the planned capital expenses including building maintenance, expenses to the parking lot and larger fire/EMS equipment.
Supervisor Friesner made a motion to approve the following people access to the Lutsen Township accounts for both North Shore Federal Credit Union and Grand Marais State Bank:
Approved authorized North Shore Federal Credit Union personnel for Lutsen Township checking account:
· Carl Frienser
· Chris Homyak
· Ashley VanDoren
· Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle
· Sharon Hexum-Platzer
Approved authorized North Shore Federal Credit Union personnel for Lutsen Township credit account:
· Carl Frienser
· Chris Homyak
· Ashley VanDoren
· Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle
· Sharon Hexum-Platzer
1. Open or close any shore or deposit accounts in authorizing entity’s name- 3 signatures
2. Enter into and execute any preauthorized electronic transfer agreements for automatic withdrawals, deposits or transfers initiated through an electronic ATM or point of sale terminal-2 signatures
3. Enter into and execute commercial wire transfer agreements that authorize transfers by telephone or other communication systems through the network chosen by financial institution- 2 signatures
4. Endorse for cash, deposit, negotiation, collection or discount by financial institutions any and all deposit checks, drafts, certificates of deposit and other instruments- 2 signatures
5. Sign checks or orders for the payment of money, withdraw or transfer funds on deposit with you-2 signatures
6. Enter into and execute a written night depository agreement, a lock-box agreement or a safe deposit box lease agreement-2 signature
7. Borrow money or obtain other credit or financial accommodations from financial institution on behalf of and in the name of authorizing entity on the terms agreed with financial institution- at the moment a $0 exceed amount for indebtedness but if it does arise the need in the future- 3 signatures needed.
8. Grand a security interest, lien or other encumbrances to financial institution- N/A or wanted but if needed in the future- 3 signatures
9. Receive and acknowledge receipt for funds, whether payable to the order of authorizing entity and or an agent without additional certification as to the use of a proceeds- 1 signature
10. Guaranty the payment and performance od debts, liabilities and obligations owned to financial institution or its successors and assigns by-Chairperson; currently person A.
11. Periodically amend, restructure, renew, extend, modify, substitute or terminate any agreements or arraignments with financial institution that relate to this authorization-2 signatures
12. Execute other agreements that financial institution may require and preform or cause to be preformed any further action necessary to carry out the purposes of the authorization- 2 signatures
13. No other arraignments
Supervisor Cooper seconded. Motion passed
Review and Approval of Claims:
· Clerk S. Mcquatters-Spangle provided the invoiced October Claims. Details; 11 claims for a
total of $6,433.19, This included $2,967.38 for quarterly federal taxes, $2,150 for Mobile health services for SCBA exams, quantitative fit testing and processing fee, $268.67 for townhall electric.
C Homyak made a motion to approve claims, C Friesner seconded. Motion passed.
· Clerk provided October 2025 payroll; 5 claims totaling $2,178.96
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 October 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 9 calls and Fire responded to 3
· Pancake breakfast went great with about 200 people and about $5000 raised for a new rescue truck
· Training consisted of hall clean up, pancake breakfast, truck cleanup, SCBA checks, truck checks and winter trauma training.
· Talked with Rosenbauer more about requested truck quotes and items needed for a rescue truck
· Windsock is ordered and figuring out how to mount and ground it
· Fire requesting verification if there is a total number of members the fire crew can have? Currently 18 full time and one part time volunteers. Possibly only limited because of the lockers available?
· Sharon Hexum-Platzer attended the fire meeting to go over the drone grant being written and logistics. Grant finished and sent for review in October. Some questions remain; how will it be maintained and cost? There are 3 grants that this will be submitted to after review; Lutsen Mountains, Lloyd K Johnson grant and one other. This drone is to be used as mutual aid across the county and it has been questioned if there is anyway to have the multiple VRBO’s help with cost and how to go about inquiring. Sharon has sent over a coverage page to the tourism associations for review.
Supervisors’ Report:
C Friesner:
· Attended fall celebration; thank you for everyone who helped out
· Spoke to arborist about the fallen tree at the park
· Fixed the outhouse door at Grandview Park
· Talked with clerk and Como about new installation
L Cooper:
· WTIP radio
· Picked up donations for fall celebration
· Worked with attorney Furlong on convection oven lease
C Homyak:
· Attended fall celebration
· Attended 3 Gitchi-Gami trail meetings; legislative bonding meetings set for later this year with the Gitchi-Gami trail to ask for 4.5 to 5.5 million dollars from the state for bonding. Matching federal funds for the bridge to be built in Lutsen near Paradise Park Pl. The money is appropriated for 2027 but they would be buying material and laying the ground work with the bridge to be built and finalized in spring of 2028.
· House capital investment tour in October; senate investment committee in October.
· Nov 6, 2025 is the chamber legislative luncheon that legislators are going to and open to any entity to attend and try to get on the lobbying priorities for the chamber to be held at Charlies in Lutsen.
· New food access council as part of Cook County that will look at food insecurity; expanding food shelf and more Ruby pantry, second Harvest style food distributions.
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. Commercial propane application submitted with propane installation anticipated. 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. Waiting for Como oil and propane review and installation
· Grand view park:
o Spruce tree located on top of the pump house is dead and will need removal
o Grill located on lower side in disrepair and needing to be replaced
o Bench located on lower side broken and needing to be removed
o Invasive Tanzy weeds need to be removed
o Lower driveway washed out and new gravel fill needed
o Pavilion vertical post at bottom needs to be fix/repair as the wood is sitting directly on concrete; proposed to hire contractor to raise building, cut back wood and have concrete poured.
o Apple trees that have survived need to be fenced before deer get to them
o Seedlings need to be planted
o Outhouse now locked for winter and water shut off
· Citizen request for installation of personal convection oven at town hall kitchen; review and discussion above.
Supervisor Cooper has taken lead in talking Smith Law to draw up a legal document to cover all interests.
· Fall celebration: Special thank you to the following donations
Caribou Highlands Johnson’s and Johnson’s Grocery
East Bay Suites Lutsen Mountain Ski Corp.
Lutsen Liquor Store World’s best donuts
Mini Gold Adventure North Shore Winery
North Shore Federal Credit Union Arrowhead Electric
Moguls Bar, Grill and Taproom Sharon Hexum-Platzer
North Lake Wellness Lollie Cooper
Terra Bella Flowers Solbakken Resort
Clearview General Store
New Business:
· Liquor license request for letter of support for Lutsen Mountain ski Corp. DBA
Charlie’s Alpine Bistro
Chalet bar/Rosie’s Café
Summit Chalet
Supervisor Friesner made a motion to write a letter of support on behalf of all 3 businesses’, Supervisor Cooper seconded. Montion passed.
· Gitchi-Gami state trail snowplowing agreement. Lutsen township needs to create their own DNR agreement along with the cost estimate from Patrick that plowed the bike trail for free. Request to Sharon Hexum-Platzer to write up a Lutsen agreement for review.
Donations: Dr. Stuart A and Anita Kay Smith; Thank you. Supervisor Friesner made a motion to accept the donation; Supervisor Coooper seconded. Motion passed.
Citizen Comments: N/A
Adjournment: C Friesner made a motion to adjourn; seconded by L Cooper. Motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm
Respectfully Submitted, S Mcquatters-Spangle; Townhall Clerk Carl Friesner; Chairperson