SOUDAN- At their meeting on May 20, the Breitung Town Board approved the permits allowing CTC to begin laying fiber optic cable to bring high-speed broadband internet to parts of the township. Residents on Mallard Dr., Puncher Pt., and along Hoodoo Pt. Rd. up to the McKinley Park Campground will get the service.
CTC has been working with the Bois Forte Reservation and local townships to get permits and install broadband in as many places as possible with available funding. Initially, broadband was supposed to be installed to Echo Pt. and McKinley Park Acres but the prevalence of bedrock made that cost-prohibitive. If residents in these areas are interested in high-speed internet, it’s important to visit goctc.com to request service. Board chairman Matt Tuchel said his goal is to eventually get service to all parts of the township including Indian Point.
Service will begin later this year or in early 2026 depending on location. Service charges start at $65 per month for 250 mbps with additional faster tiers at $85 for 500 mbps and $100 per month for 1 gbps.
McKinley Park Campground already has broadband service.
Special electors meeting
At the Breitung Township Special Electors Meeting, electors authorized the board to adopt both the updated animal ordinance and sewer ordinance. The animal ordinance was changed to reduce the seriousness of violations from a misdemeanor to petty misdemeanor and would no longer lead to imprisonment. The board formally adopted these ordinances during their regular meeting.
Other business
In other business, the board:
• Committed $10,000 to the Vermilion Housing renovation project to be paid in 2027. The township commitment is a show of local support for a $9.3 million project to renovate the income-based housing located in Soudan and Tower.
• Noted they have received $48,526 from FEMA for flood repairs on Spring St., Armstrong Bay Rd., 1st Ave., 2nd Ave., Junction Rd. manhole, McKinley Park Campground, and Miettunen Plat Rd. The township is anticipating an additional payment of $55,456 in repair costs for Puncher Pt. Rd., McKinley Park Acres Rd., Echo Pt. Rd., Mallard Dr., and Junction Rd. as well as $8,964 for Stuntz Bay Rd. repairs, and a potential additional $8,964 for mitigation on the same road. There is a possibility the township could receive an additional $45,685 for mitigation.
• Accepted donations to the fire department from the department’s spaghetti feed. Donations include $550.06 cash from a donation bucket and $25 from Robin Majerle, $50 from Joyce Swanson, $100 from Paul Pishler, $100 from Tom Gorsma, $150 from Zup’s, and $500 from Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. Also accepted was a $2,000 donation from Stuntz Bay Association for road and bridge work.
• Waived the community center rental fee for Mandy Meyer’s Basic Dog Obedience Class, but will still require a deposit for cleaning. The class will take place outdoors, with the community center as a backup for inclement weather.
• Heard complaints about dirt bikes speeding and driving recklessly on township roads. Breitung PD will increase enforcement.
• Heard that township youth workers on have been working Wednesdays after school sweeping, raking, and cleaning up litter. Maintenance Director Tom Gorsma said the workers filled the entire bed of the one-ton truck with trash just from Junction Rd.
• Will allow Eagles Nest Township to use the Breitung Community Center as an evacuation location in case of emergency.
• Noted that Airbnb’s need to be permitted and must pay lodging tax.
• Received fire department reports for March and April. The department did not receive any calls for service in March. April had one call for service which was cancelled enroute. The department held it’s 75th anniversary spaghetti feed which served about 140 people. The department also did controlled burns in April.
• Made an offer of employment to a part-time police candidate pending health evaluations.
The next town board meeting will be held Tuesday June 17 at 6 p.m. at the Tim Tomsich Community Center.