SOUDAN — At their July 15 meeting, the Breitung Town Board emphasized the importance for residents to sign up for broadband internet service where it will soon be available, including the areas around Hoodoo Point, Puncher Point, and Mallard Drive.
Chairman Matt Tuchel said this is everyone’s “opportunity to get this installed free, under the grant. If they do not do that and wait, they will have to pay that installation fee which could be as much as $5,000-$10,000, depending on terrain and how they have to run the line. It can be a significant savings when it’s covered under the grant but they need to sign up.”
Tuchel asked that residents get in touch with their neighbors to make sure they’ve signed up. Almost 200 residences have signed up so far.
Every household in the eligible neighborhoods should have been contacted to sign up by now. If you haven’t been contacted or are unsure if your home is in the service area, call the town hall. Construction to lay the fiber lines will begin on July 28.
In the project’s next phase, the board hopes to get broadband to Echo Point and McKinley Park Acres. These areas were previously planned to get broadband but installing fiber through these areas, which has extensive bedrock, proved too expensive. The board, along with other municipalities, CTC and Lake Country Power are exploring the possibility of having fiber internet brought in on power lines.
To complete the project, a study is required which will cost $175,000. The money will come from Breitung Township, Beatty Township, Greenwood Township, Vermilion Lake Township, the new Goodwill Township, and the city of Tower. Breitung’s share would be 10.65-percent, serving 108 addresses.
Breitung estimated their cost of the study would be $18,637.

Flood repairs
The township is wrapping up their work with FEMA. The agency has been working with the township to fund repairs and mitigation since the June 2024 flood. Clerk Amber Zak said that FEMA has officially closed the project. Any remaining work will be handled through Homeland Security Emergency Management of MN.
The township has received $48,684 in payments to date. Additional claims for payment are still being reviewed by the agency including $108,788 for repair and mitigation, approximately $9,000 more for management costs, and $8,964 for Stuntz Bay Road repairs. Another $8,964 for mitigation of Stuntz Bay Road is available, but the work hasn’t been completed yet and would need to be completed before December.
In other news, the town board:
• Passed a resolution authorizing Breitung Township to apply for grant funds from IRRR for the Vermilion Loop Trail for approximately $141,700.
• Signed a cooperative agreement with St. Louis County to work jointly to complete the Vermilion Loop Trail. Chairman Matt Tuchel mentioned there was a possibility of turning the trail and other existing Breitung paved trails over to the Mesabi Trail organization.
• Passed a motion to hire Lenci Enterprises to replace the signage on the community center to reflect the buildings new name, the Timothy S. Tomsich Community Center, at a cost of $7,460.
• Heard from Gary Aubol who asked the town board to support getting Stuntz Bay boathouses privately owned again. He said that the boathouses are an important attraction, bringing dollars to the community with minimal environmental impact. Currently, boathouses must stay with the original owner, be passed on to a child, or revert to state property. Boathouses cannot be sold or remodeled. Aubol said that over 30 of the boathouses are vacated.
• The next Breitung Town Board meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m.

June Police Report
Calls for service: 114
2 arrests for DWI
Four citations including one female speeding 55 mph in a 30 mph zone, two adult males cited for DWI, one adult male citation for theft.
The long days of light are here. Summer will be gone before we know it. Enjoy the nice weather. Thankfully we did not have the flooding that we did last year. This month was busy with calls but down slightly from our average. We assisted neighboring agencies on investigations leading to charges and arrests. It is always good to help your neighbors. We also had several investigations in our local paper. We have had several criminal damages to property calls this month. Currently we have three under active investigation. We do have a suspect identified in two of the three incidents. Many events upcoming as well. Please stay safe and enjoy our area.