SOUDAN — Breitung’s fire chief made the case for adding a new vehicle to the department at the township’s annual meeting on March 10.
“Hearing the call and not being able to help out because you don’t have the equipment available and you have to stand there and wait is the hardest thing in the world when someone needs your help,” said Trevor Banks, chief of Breitung Fire and Rescue.
Over the years, Breitung and surrounding townships have added many miles of trails for all kinds of recreational sports—but what happens if you get injured on the trail? Unfortunately, you will probably have to wait 45 minutes or more for St. Louis County Rescue Squad to get to you.
“Right now, we don’t have any ability to respond to any off-road fires or EMS calls, and with the new UTV campground that’s going in, I have a feeling that an increase in tourists is going to increase accidents and fires in our community,” said Banks.
Banks explained that he would like to solve that problem by adding a new vehicle to the department’s line up, a side-by-side UTV equipped with a fire and EMS skid unit, basically a piece of equipment that would sit in the vehicle bed and turn the UTV into a mini fire truck complete with water tank and hose. Banks said he’d like the vehicle to be a six-seater to allow more personnel to come along.
The department has their eyes on a fully equipped 1500 Polaris that would cost $76,792. Residents voiced that the township should purchase snow tracks so the vehicle could respond to winter emergencies. Banks said he was in the process of applying for grants through NewRange Copper Nickel for ten percent of the vehicle cost, which would be $7,679, and another through Rep. Pete Stauber’s office for $50,000.
Banks said that the department currently has a snowmobile, but it cannot transport people.
“If you can’t transport someone on sled right now, it should be a definite do,” said resident Nathan Cvetan. Residents discussed that the purchase could also be funded with the sale of the department’s snowmobile and fire truck that was recently replaced. The retired pumper truck has an estimated value of $80,000.
“Given our recreational community here, you’re going to have issues, and we have them regularly. I think the guy [referring to Chief Banks and the department] should have this tool,” said resident Tony Sikora.
Resident Cade Gornick motioned to approve the purchase of the proposed ATV with snowmobile tracks for $90,000. The motion was seconded by Nathan Cvetan and passed with all residents in attendance in favor.
The jovial and sometimes boisterous crowd of 20 Breitung residents also expressed support of Breitung’s continued work and investment in broadband infrastructure. Meeting moderator and township Chairman Matt Tuchel asked Breitung residents for their input on the broadband project.
Currently, the township has some lines in place and is working through grants to get the entire township served. However, the township would have to pay for a portion of a study, estimated to be a cost of $25,000 or less, to assess the township’s need for telephone pole replacement. The residents all voted in favor except for Anthony Sikora who agreed that broadband is a nice amenity but disagreed that township funds should be spent on it.
Township Supervisor Steve Tekautz gave a special thank you to Susie and Jerry Chiabotti for their many years of service to the township and excellent management and upkeep of McKinley Park Campground.
The tax levy will stay the same at $773,000. The board said it decided not to raise the levy because they were sympathetic to the significantly higher tax bills that residents have been facing due to county tax increases. Tuchel also said that some projects that the board had levied for in the past, such as the Vermilion Loop Bike Trail, had been fully funded by grants, leaving the township with a fund balance they are comfortable with. The township ended the year with $922,524 in their account.
Tuchel was reelected to the board with 47 votes, and Amber Zak was re-elected as clerk with 50 votes. There were no other contesters or write-ins.
Residents voted to donate $500 to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society, $300 for Early Childhood’s Big Truck Night, $200 for Old Settlers, and $3,000 to the Tower Cemetery plus $273 for their computer software. Residents increased the Fourth of July donation from $2,000 to $3,000, citing rising prices and increased the donation to the Joint Powers Recreation Board from $300 to $700, noting that they would like some of those funds allocated to BEST Baseball. BEST had also submitted a donation request that the people had to deny because of legal hurdles.
The police department noted its highest call volume in the past five years with 1,180 calls, up about 100 from last year. However, markers of violent crime such as assault are very low at a total of two calls for the year, and thefts went down from 13 to five. Some call categories that have increased include community engagements, disturbances, animal complaints, and response to medical and fire calls. A full report is available on the Breitung Township website under public information packets. Select the packet for the annual town meeting.
Breitung Fire and Rescue reported an increase in calls, 46 in 2025 up from 36 in 2024. They served in seven medical incidents, six power line incidents, five structure fires, four public service or public assistance calls, and responded to three auto accidents, three auto extractions, three unauthorized burns, and one vehicle fire among other calls.
The department currently has 14 members, and applications for new members are welcomed.
Sikora said it best, “Breitung may be the best community in America.” The township has a history of responsible leadership, and though the township has seen many retirements and new faces, the township has been holding steady in its continued dedication to its citizens, responsible use of taxpayer money, and supporting community.