GREENWOOD TWP — Dry conditions, high fire danger, and recent structure fires have focused attention on what both the township and residents can do to help prevent and manage wildland fires.
The Greenwood Fire Department hosted a month-long wildland firefighting class in May, and those completing the class are now certified for national wildland firefighting.
“This really opened our eyes up,” said Fire Chief Brian Trancheff. “It was a lot of work and a lot of time.”
The class included firefighters from other area departments, and it was taught by instructors from Minnesota North College.
The training received in this class, along with the experience of the recent cabin fire on Westhaven Dr. that could have easily spread to many neighboring cabins, prompted fire department members to again start a discussion with the town board on becoming a Firewise community.
“This is a great way to make our homes more safe,” said Assistant Chief Brianna Lofquist. She explained the program works by showing homeowners ways to reduce their wildfire risk, and that by adopting the program, the township may be eligible for grants to help fund programs such as wood chipping, to help property owners remove and dispose of wood and brush that can fuel a wildfire.
“This is also a way to bring the community together,” she said. Firewise is a national program that helps a community create a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. Eagles Nest Township is a leader in this effort in our area, Trancheff said, and they hope to gain knowledge from all they have accomplished. The city of Tower also recently joined the program.
The board passed a motion to support the Firewise effort. Greenwood Chair Paul Thompson, who is working with the fire department on this effort, said the township had been identified several years ago as a hotspot. The Forest Service has been working on fuels reduction efforts in the less developed areas of Greenwood.
“We are pretty excited about doing this,” Thompson said.
The DNR will have an informational booth on the Firewise program at the township’s community picnic on June 28.
Trancheff also told the board that the fire department can now contract with the DNR to be on standby, as well as assist, in fighting area wildfires. Department members would be paid at a half rate for being on standby and the regular rate if called out to help on a fire. The department would also receive a rate for the use of their trucks and equipment. Any salary costs would be reimbursed by the DNR, Trancheff said.
The department responded to 13 fire calls and 14 EMS calls in May. Department members had 11 fire training events, which included the wildland fire class, and one EMS training.
Trancheff also told the board they have outfitted the two new department members, one is an EMR, and the other is an EMR but will be trained for firefighting.

Isle of Pines
bridge fund
Dan Carnicom, president of the Isle of Pines Property Owners Association, presented a letter to the board. He reiterated that the request by an Isle of Pines resident back in 2023 to return the bridge fund monies to the association was not made under the authority of, or with the permission from, the association.
“The Isle of Pines bridge monies deposited with Greenwood Township should have been retained for future costs and maintenance of the bridge,” he said. He noted that responsibility for the assessment and repair requirements are with St. Louis County, but the township is responsible for any repair costs.
“All of this is in writing between Greenwood and St. Louis County,” he said.
Carnicom told the board that most of the funds given back to the association have already been spent on road upkeep. He asked the board for clarification on what they would like to see from the association, which is holding its annual meeting on June 27.
Thompson said the township is waiting to hear back on the investigation from the St. Louis County Sheriff, but they were told the issue was a low priority, and this will take some time.
The board did pass a motion to send a letter to the association, asking them to return any money remaining to the township.
Carnicom said the association would be open to that request, but also would like some sort of clarification on any future legal liability for the already spent funds.
The vote was 3-0, with Isle of Pines residents Thompson and Steve Bradach abstaining. Township resident Steve Zaudtke had reminded the two that they shouldn’t even be participating in the discussion of that issue, since it was a conflict of interest.

Other business
In other business, the board:
• Heard they will need to return $103,927 in unspent ARPA funds, but they are uncertain when they will need to send that money back. Thompson noted that money could have been used for other township needs, such as fixing the water supply system. Treasurer Jill Clark said they are one of about 300 other towns in Minnesota that need to pay back a total of over $20 million.
• Are still looking at options and issues as far as reducing the arsenic level in the town hall water supply and are working with a local plumbing contractor as well as the Brassmaster installer.
• Heard the township’s application to the IRRR Public Works Grant program was successful, and they will receive up to $47,000 for a one-to-one matching grant. They decided the priorities for this funding will be replacing the water storage tank in the fire hall, and the replacement of three aging furnaces in the town hall. Any extra funds can be used for the window replacement project.
“I don’t think we should let a nickel of this get away,” Thompson said.
• Heard that the resurfacing for the walking trail will get underway in mid to late July. The board also approved the up to $6,500 quote from contractor Mesabi Bituminous for crack and pothole repair on Birch Point Extension, which will be done as soon as the trail work is completed.
• Heard the conversion of township emails and website to a .gov suffix is still underway, and will need to include the addition of “slc” also, since there is another Greenwood Township in southern Minnesota.
• Approved a $500 donation to the Tower-Soudan Joint Powers Recreation Board, $100 to the W.C. Heiam Foundation, and $100 to the Tower-Soudan Fourth of July. The township has made $1,200 of donations so far this year, but had only budgeted $1,000. Clark said the money is all from the general fund, so it can just come from a budget item that is underspent.
• Held a closed meeting with their attorney to discuss the upcoming court case about the right-of-way/road vacation dispute on Birch Point Extension.
• Heard a request from a resident on Birch Point Extension about noxious weed removal. Clerk Theresa Martinson said she has experience and contacts on dealing with this issue.
• Discussed the need to repair cracks and seal the pavement at the town hall parking lots. They will contact St. Louis County about using the contractor that won the county’s bid for this type of work.
• Martinson told the board the state demographer’s estimate of the township was 1,020 population and 489 households. She noted the township’s 50th anniversary would be in 2027.