draft (only continue meeting minutes) Continued minutes PDF link
Lutsen Township
Continued Annual Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2026
Lutsen Townhall
Present: Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle, Dale Sundstrom, Sharon Hexum-Platzer, Dayna Johnson, Chris Homyak, Carl Friesner, Tim Lein, Steve Duclos, Brad Sillman
Call Meeting to Order: Clerk called to order the continue annual meeting at 6pm
Nomination From the Floor for Meeting Moderator: C Homyak nominated Sharon Hexum-Platzer as meeting moderator, D Johnson seconded that motion, no objections. Motion passed.
Pledge of Allegiance: All present pledged allegiance to the American flag
Setting of Agenda(Moderator): Advised to add on
#5B. Playground grant opportunity for Lutsen
#5C. Highway 61 construction meeting update.
#5D. No passing zone between Issak Hansen and Grandview Park; letter written to authority who would be able to create a no passing zone.
#5E. Pavillion funding
C Homyak made a motion to approve to the amended agenda, D Johnson seconded. Motion passed
Other town business:
Short Term Emergency Shelter Update: Furnaces all installed and piped in, forced air units are all installed and working along with the generator. Waiting to install the piping for the propane tank. Clerk has offered donation of 20 blankets and pillows and will bring them onsite as storage become available. Logistics of storage to be discussed with supervisors at a later meeting.
Playground grant opportunity for Lutsen Township: Gametime company offered a matching 50/50 playground grant and reached out to Lutsen Township; previously it was discussed updating and placing new playground equipment at the ball park with how busy T-ball and parent pitch season gets however a new playground even a smaller unit averages 20-30 thousand dollars. I was suggested to have the supervisors look through the Gametime catalogue for individual pieces instead to add to the play area as many of the residents like have the large metal slide currently there. The catalogue will be presented at the next meeting for review and will put the possible playground upgrade on hold until the 2027 Annual meeting to discuss budgeting.
Highway 61 Construction meeting to be head at the Schroeder town hall on August 20, 2026 at 5pm. The MN department of transportation invites you to hear updates about highway 61 construction occurring in summer 2027 and hear about proposed long-range alternatives for the corridor between Little Marais and Tofte.
No Passing Zone between Issak Hansen’s and Grandview Park: Citizens have come forward with concerns with supervisor Johnson about accidents and multiple near accidents occurring when cars are trying to pass vehicles turning into the park or the hardware store on a daily occurrence. Request to have a letter written to either the highway department or MN DOT on place no passing lines; solid yellow lines on that stretch of highway to deter people from trying to pass or over take cars at that location. Have the departments research rink with passing and the increased traffic over the years to solve this issue.
C Homyak suggested encompassing another requested for the departments relook into extending the slower speed on the other side of Lutsen at the same time and extending the 40 mile per hour enforced speed limit starting at Alta Mikana as there is a similar issue happening on the west side of Lutsen and maintaining the slow speed until Caribou trail where there is a small by pass lane. The projected Gitchi Gami bike trail project happening next will already be affecting the traffic with the culvert near Paradise Park Place having to be replaced and major construction creating a double lane by pass. Traffic studies will be required for this project and encompassing it all together may benefit the township more. Further discussion will be held at the next township meting for specifics on this issue and what should be included in the request.
Review of the Treasurer’s Report through June 2026:
As of June 31, 2026 checking account funds are as follows:
General Fund; checking $314,941.32
General Building Fund Savings; $22,,592.70
General Fund Money Market; $86,939.34
Totaling bank funds; $424, 473.36 not including CD investments
Certificates of Deposits invested;
o 11 Month CD at Grand Marais State bank-$111,248.58 at 3.75%
Matures 5/2/27 Fire truck fund
o 24 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank- $10,249.18 at 4.0%
Matures 10/22/27 (Vehicle Refurbish/Manit)
o 24 Month CD at Grand Marais State Banke- $10,249.18 at 4.0%
Matures 10/22/27 (Equipment Replacement)
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank- $35,000 at 4.0%
Matures 8/27/26 Building fund
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank- $100,000 at 4.0%
Matures 8/27/26 General/Fire fund
o 7 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank- $112,817.63 at 4.0%
Matures 8/27/26 Truck Fund
o 13 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank- $105,074.59
Matures 4/27/27 Truck Fund
o 11 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank - $204,334.00 at 3.75%
Matures 5/29/27 Truck Loan Funds
o 11 Month CD at Grand Marais State Bank - $39,000.00 at 3.75%
Matures 5/29/27 Drone Funds
Total funds including CD investments $1,152,446.52 (This includes the truck loan of $204,334) Year to Date Receipts $289,055.20; Year to Date Disbursements $131,562.42. 2026 General town Budget $63,200.00, 2026 Fire District Budget $290,395.00 for a total budget of $353,595.00. 2026 General town Levy $40,000.00, 2026 Fire District Levy $275,000.00 for a total 2026 Levy of $315,000.00.
C Freisner made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, D Johnson seconded. Motion passed.
Review of the proposed 2027 Budget and any changes/updates
Grandview pavilion repairs; Does that need a substantial fund to repair? Currently the pillars sit directly on a concrete pad and often becomes water logged during the spring melt and recently there have been signs that the base of the pillars is starting to get dry rot; not currently a safety issue but it should be repaired long before it becomes one. The best solution which is currently being looked at for a quote is to lift the pavilion and replace the pillar then pour a 6-to-7-inch concrete support that will keep the wooden pillow out of the water during the spring. Town Park services funds will be raised by $10,000 to cover expected costs.
Truck loan repayment which has a promissory note signed from June of 2026 will need to be factored into the budget. At the moment the loan is invested into a CD to grow while waiting to the payment timeline in June 2027; the county loan is at 4% for half of the total amount for the rescue truck which will be delivered in early spring of 2027 to the Lutsen fire department. New line item “Cook County Truck Loan Payment added onto Fire/EMS budget in the amount of $25,200 for 2027.
It was advised to lower to funds for General town budget for legal professional services as less perceived need in 2027 and raise the funds for General town budget supplies to match what average costs have been in previous years.
C Friesner made a motion to finalize the Lutsen Township 2027 Levy at $265,200 for the Lutsen Fire district. $49,700 for the General Town Property Tax Levy with a Total Combine Levy of $314,900. C Homyak seconded. Motin passed.
Required motion for 2027 election and 2027 annual meeting:
C Friesner made a motion to approve holding the Lutsen Township 2027 election for local office on March 9, 2027 from 5pm-8pm at the Lutsen townhall to be directly followed by the annual 2027 Lutsen meeting at 8:05 at the Lutsen townhall. D Johnson seconded. Motion passed.
Adjournment: C Friesner made a motion to adjourn the 2026 annual meeting, C Homyak seconded. Motion passed at 8:55pm.
Note: Minutes are not word-for-word. Motions are as presented.
Respectfully Submitted,
Samantha Mcquatters-Spangle Sharon Hexum-Platzer
______________________________ __________________________________
Lutsen Town Clerk Meeting Moderator