SOUDAN -The Breitung Town Board, on July 21, agreed to sign a letter from business owners asking for government help for those impacted by the ongoing fires.
The letter, drafted by Dianna Sunsdahl, local business owner, has been signed by fifteen area businesses and is asking local, county, state, and federal leaders to work together “to provide meaningful economic relief for businesses affected by these extraordinary circumstances.”
Specifically, the letter is asking for:
• Emergency grants for businesses experiencing documented revenue losses due to wildfire-related impacts.
• Low- or no-interest disaster recovery loans for small businesses.
• Temporary tax relief or deferred tax payment options.
• Emergency unemployment and workforce assistance for affected employees.
• State and federal disaster declarations, where appropriate, to unlock additional business assistance.
• A coordinated marketing and tourism recovery campaign once conditions improve, encouraging visitors to return to northeastern Minnesota.
Sunsdahl wrote, “This is not simply an issue affecting individual businesses– it is an issue affecting the economic health of the city of Tower and our community. Tourism is the economic engine for much of northeastern Minnesota, and when visitors stay away, the impacts ripple through every sector of our local economy.”
The board added their support to the letter.

Breitung Police Report
Police Chief Dan Reing told the board he had a near fatal accident when he came within seven inches of being hit by a vehicle while standing near his police car with the flashing lights on.
Reing reported that June was very busy, with two arrests— one adult male for 3rd degree DWI, and one adult female for 4th degree DWI. There were 151 calls for service and 15 citations issued. There were seven citations for speeding, including 85 in a 60-mph zone and 58 in a 30-mph zone. Two juveniles were cited for riding an ATV without a helmet. Other citations included underage drinking and driving, and driving after suspension.
An animal permit request was approved to allow Cayuga ducks to be kept in Soudan with a one-year probationary period. The proposal includes a revocation clause if complaints arise due to noise and mess. No animal tags are required and the maximum is 3 ducks per permit.

Noxious weeds
Noxious weed inspector Stephanie Ukkola identified, photographed, and presented photos of several threatening areas of noxious weeds. The township has been spraying four types of noxious weeds including tansies, knapweed, wild parsnip, and Japanese knotweed on township property and are notifying other property owners with identified patches of weeds to have them removed. Ukkola presented a very thorough and comprehensive report to the board and stated she will check locations in August to see if weeds have been removed, otherwise the county will issue formal letters to non-abiding residents.

Other business
In other business the board:
• Approved the purchase and installation of trail cams to cut down on vandalism on local trails.
• Heard the application for Operation Roundup was approved and a check for $2,500 was received for the purchase of a new radio for the side-by-side.
• Heard the Tower Ambulance is in the final stages of pursuing a partnership with the Ely Hospital that will offer cost reductions, improved transfers, training, and grant eligibility. The agreement still has some issues surrounding billing, taxes, and legalities to be clarified and has not yet been signed.
• Heard discussion about a project labor agreement, and Wildland Fire Pay for firefighters at $25/hour. The department is also reimbursed for the use of any trucks they send.
• Ongoing blight concerns with property owners have been met through issuance of a letter and is a work in progress with a few residents being problematic every year. Also, the board discussed possibly starting curbside pick-up days (with limitations).
• Heard that quite a few residents are now using Broadband.
• Heard that the wastewater expansion bids will be opened on July 30.
• Approved rewarding the quote for propane to Edward’s Oil on a three-year contract for $1.238/gallon.
• Heard that the township maintenance department had identified some large water leaks in four homes on the north side of town. The leaks were all upstream of the homes’ water meters causing the loss of 20,000 gallons of water per day for roughly a two-week period. Residents are asked to report any possible leaks to the township as soon as detected.
 The board’s next meeting is on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.