LAKE VERMILION- A rare event in local government will take place in April and May when registered voters in Unorganized Township 63-17 will vote to decide whether to become a formally organized township.
The unorganized area encompasses about 16,600 acres nestled between Greenwood Township on the east and Beatty Township to the west, stretching from Indian and Waconda bays on the south to Vermilion Dam and Norwegian Bay on the north.
County Board Clerk Phil Chapman told the Timberjay that this election is unusual.
“I would say this process is somewhat uncommon,” Chapman said. “The last time this happened in St. Louis County was the establishment of Kabetogama in June of 2001.”
If organized as an official township, 63-17 would be renamed by a majority of eligible voters and have its own town board as the authority to provide for essential services and managing local affairs, such as road maintenance, coordinating with county zoning authorities, contract for or establish emergency services, address nuisances, support recreation services, and collaborate with county, state, and regional planning organizations.
Chapman said that the process to organize was initiated last year in May by the residents when they filed a petition with the County Auditor’s office containing a majority of registered voters in the township. In December, the Board of Commissioners approved a special election for May 13, although the voting process will begin when ballots are mailed to all eligible voters by April 28.
Those who reside in Unorganized Township 63-17 and are eligible to vote but are not currently registered may apply to the Auditor’s Office in person or by mail for ballots and registration materials.
Stamped return envelopes will be included with each mail ballot packet and ballots may be returned by mail or in person at auditor’s offices in Virginia or Duluth. Ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on May 13 to be counted.
Assistive voting equipment and witnessing of signatures is also available at the auditor offices, as are extended hours for mail and absentee ballot voting, including Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Monday, May 12 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Polls will be open on election day, Tuesday, May 13, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Virginia Government Services Building, 201 S 3rd Ave West in Virginia and the St. Louis County Courthouse, 100 N 5th Ave West, Room 214 in Duluth. These are also the addresses for the auditor’s offices.
Questions can be emailed to elections@stlouiscountymn.gov.