EAGLES NEST TWP — Residents of Eagles Nest Township gathered Tuesday evening at the town hall for the annual meeting, approving a modest $300 annual allowance for the Board of Supervisors to recognize special occasions, which was the only formal action taken on a light agenda. But the meeting’s real substance came from a series of supervisor reports that touched on road conditions, fire department finances, broadband infrastructure, water quality, and a looming leadership transition that could reshape how the township governs itself.

Fire department
dominates budget
Supervisor Brian Harrington noted that the fire department accounts for roughly 45 percent of the township’s annual budget, a figure he said reflects the community’s priorities.
The department responded to 40 calls in 2025, split nearly evenly between 19 fire calls and 21 medical calls. It currently has 13 members on its roster.
Recent purchases include CPR training dummies, new radios for both fire and EMS staff, and a battery-operated chainsaw. Looking ahead to 2026, the department plans to acquire a used side-by-side ATV, a specialized nozzle for extinguishing fires in hybrid and electric vehicles, and a new floating pump to replace one that failed. Engine 1, now 33 years old, remains a long-term concern.
The township’s fire auxiliary, a volunteer fundraising organization, donated $10,000 to the department last year. Harrington called it impressive. The funds are expected to go toward the ATV and EV nozzle.

Broadband coming ... eventually
Harrington also reported progress on broadband expansion, with two providers approved to bring new service to the township. IBT Group plans to install high-speed wireless service, described as approaching fiber speeds, that would cover the entire township rather than targeted areas. The service is not expected to be available until early 2027, pending regulatory approvals.
The second provider is Frontier, now operating as a Verizon company. Harrington was less optimistic about that option. He said customer service calls gave him no confidence that the company’s performance has improved, and that Frontier’s fiber deployment timeline ranges from 2027 to as late as 2030.

Road patience requested
Supervisor Skip Carlson offered a brief but timely update on roads, reminding residents that spring brings both potholes and limitations on what the township can do about them. The frost must fully leave the ground before crews can safely repair road surfaces without causing further damage, he said. The 2027 road maintenance budget of $49,959 is roughly the same as in prior years.
“Patience and drive slower,” Carlson said.

Buildings, cameras, and a vacancy
Supervisor Dave Chiabotti reported that a waterline break near the lower hall was repaired last summer after some investigative digging revealed the line’s layout was different than expected. The township also installed two security cameras on the town hall following some unspecified overnight incidents, and added a motion-activated light to a previously dark corner of the parking lot.
No-overnight-parking signs have been posted after bicycle trail users began using the lot as a multi-night staging area. Chiabotti said the township has asked trail organizations to update their maps to clarify that Eagle’s Nest Town Hall is not a designated overnight parking location.
He also noted that the cleaning service provider recently retired, leaving a vacancy for someone willing to spend an hour or two per week vacuuming and emptying trash. And the board remains one supervisor short of its full complement of five.

Governance changes on the horizon
Supervisor Jackie Monahan-Junek stated that both the treasurer and clerk will be departing at the end of 2026, leaving the township facing simultaneous vacancies in two elected positions.
The board is weighing whether to ask voters in November to approve a change in township governance structure. Option B under Minnesota statute would allow supervisors to appoint a clerk and treasurer rather than holding elections for the positions and would allow the township to hire someone who doesn’t live in the township. Option D would allow one person to hold both positions, though that arrangement would trigger mandatory outside audits every five years.
Monahan-Junek said she expects the board will formally discuss the options this spring or early summer, ahead of a county submission deadline for ballot questions.

Water quality,
parkland, and clout
Harrington reported that all lakes in the township received a score of B or better from the DNR, though he noted that high-quality lakes are paradoxically more vulnerable to phosphorus contamination. The township plans to post guidance on its website about maintaining natural shoreland buffers and keeping septic systems in good repair.
Monahan-Junek, who also handles outreach and networking for the board, offered a statistical case for why townships deserve more political weight in St. Louis County and throughout the state. Eagles Nest Township alone contributes more than $1 million annually to county taxes and $200,000 to school taxes, she said, adding that townships represent 34 percent of the population in the state Senate district and 27 percent in the House district.
She also noted that the township passed an OHV corridor overlay ordinance in January establishing designated corridors for off-highway vehicle trails, while prohibiting new trails and expansion of existing ones. The ordinance does not restrict recreational riding on private land.
The board continues to review a long-standing parkland issue involving parcels the township has partially accepted, with a full discussion expected later this spring.
The next annual town meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2027, at Eagles Nest Town Hall.