Breitung juggling multiple road and infrastructure projects

SOUDAN- The township’s major infrastructure projects were the focus on the agenda at the Sept. 18 Breitung Town Board meeting.
The township has four separate infrastructure projects underway, including a large three-part project set for next year, which includes the rerouting of the Thompson Farm Rd., the most costly item in the ongoing list of projects. The township is seeking IRRR funding for a shortfall in the upcoming 2025 project budgets. Most of the Thompson Farm Rd. reroute is being funded by a state road project grant, with additional funding from the DNR and the Prospectors Trail Club, but an estimated $69,000 shortfall still remains. This project is being done in conjunction with the new state park ATV campground, and it will provide trail access to the Tower-Soudan area from the park and Prospector’s Trail, as well as move the gravel road away from township and private gravel pit areas.
The current infrastructure project on Church St. and First Ave. has also run above estimated costs due to problems found while the streets were dug up, as well as damage from the June flood.
“The project just kept getting bigger,” said board chair Tim Tomsich. “When the street is dug up, you have to do it.” The township has received around $184,000 in grant funding from IRRR and CDBG for this project so far, along with a township contribution. The estimated cost has grown to around $324,000 plus engineering fees. Township residents did vote to increase the 2025 levy by $40,000 to help build up the road and bridge fund, and at that time, Tomsich told residents that amount might need to become the new normal.
Loop trail
The township has been working with St. Louis County on a proposed route for the completion of the loop trail that will link paved trails in Breitung and Tower, specifically between McKinley and Hoodoo Point campgrounds. The township did receive grants from Blandin and IRRR for the engineering and environmental reviews required, which are now underway. The township plans to submit a second grant application to the DNR this spring to fund the actual construction of the trail segment, and if that grant is successful, would apply to the IRRR for matching funds. Tower and Breitung would also be contributing to the project.
Breitung Township engineer John Jamnick said the project wouldn’t require filling of any wetlands, but they would need a permit to “impact wetlands.”
The project will provide a complete paved loop trail between Tower, Soudan, and the two campgrounds.
FEMA flood funding
Township officials met with a FEMA representative to review damage and cost estimates from the June flood event.
“They will cover costs to repair to the previous condition,” said Tomsich. “But possibly will not pay the costs for improvements to mitigate future flood damage.” The township had been told that such funding may have been possible. Some improvements, such as increasing the size of culverts so a higher volume of water can flow through might be covered, they were told.
The township recorded about 20 locations that were damaged during the flood.
Tomsich noted that clerk Amber Zak was spending a lot of time on the paperwork required and asked if the board would consider paying the clerk for the extra time. The board agreed and asked Zak to track her hours. Jamnick noted that FEMA funds can be used to reimburse that expense.
In other business, the board:
• Heard an update on the sewer treatment expansion project from Matt Tuchel. The township-approved logging at the site adjacent to the sewage treatment ponds is completed. Tuchel said the initial soil boring results are looking favorable, and more borings might be done to determine the exact site for the infiltration wells. Tuchel noted the site might be a source of gravel for the township in the future.
• Heard that the logging done by the water tower is also completed. Tuchel was set to meet with Eric Norberg, who is working on a solar panel installation in that area. Tuchel said the logging would mean a larger solar array can be installed, possibly making the site more financially feasible.
• Heard that work on the new water filtration plant is on schedule. The exterior of the building should be completed by December, and the contractors will work on the interior over the winter.
• Will begin discussions with the city of Tower for the new police contract. The current contract expires at the end of this year.