SOUDAN- Members of the Eagles Nest Trail Advocacy Group came to talk to Breitung Town Board board on Dec. 20 about proposed ATV trails that would run between Ely and Breitung, passing through Eagles Nest Township.
While Eagles Nest Township has had a large number of township residents opposed to a proposed ATV route, Breitung has not heard much, if any, opposition to the proposed new trail route, which will connect existing area trails to the planned ATV campground area in the Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
Eagles Nest residents Tim Rund and Greg Junek said that their group is not against responsible ATV use by residents, but is against having an “ATV super highway” run through the township. Rund said he was impressed with Breitung Township’s relationships with Congress and the DNR and their involvement in planning trails through the township. He said that Eagles Nest hasn’t had the same opportunity to influence their own trails plan.
Rund said there would be no positive economic impact to the township either, since Eagles Nest doesn’t have anywhere for trail riders to spend money.
He said that his group was fighting for their residents’ rights to quietude, a right guaranteed by Minnesota State Law. Rund said that as funding for trails has increased, funding for supervision of the trails and safety (conservation officers, police, fire, ambulance) hasn’t increased with it.
Brietung Chair Tim Tomsich said that the portion of the trail in Breitung is proposed to go near Thompson Farm Road and the dump.
Tomsich said that the Mesabi Trail found that 135,000 bikes went through Breitung and had an impact of $135,000, numbers that suggest ATV trails would also bring more revenue to Breitung.
In other news, the town board:
• Heard the skating rink earming shack will be open after Christmas. Hours on weekends and school-closed days are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekday/school days hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. The rink will be closed during inclement weather.
• Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gorsma extended his thanks to the community members who have been shoveling out the township fire hydrants.
• Approved a contract for providing law enforcement services to the City of Tower for 2023 beginning Jan. 1 for $76,992.
• Paid a partial pay estimate of $106,329 for the force main improvement project to Jola and Sopp Excavating in Eveleth.
• Heard from wastewater board liaison Greg Dostert that the water plant upgrades are on hold. Though the wastewater board was awarded $3.75 million from the state, they haven’t seen the funds from the Army Corps of Engineers. The wastewater board sent letters to Rep. Pete Stauber and Sen. Amy Klobuchar asking for help moving the project along.
• Passed a resolution accepting a 50/50 grant from the DNR for six sets of wildland fire-fighting equipment for new fire fighters. The cost of the equipment totals $6,000.
• Heard that Chairman Tim Tomsich has been working with IRRR and JPJ Engineering to create a five-year plan to update the township’s infrastructure. Tentative projects for 2023 include street, curb, gutter, storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements on 1st Ave. from Superior St. to Gordon St. and street, curb, gutter and storm sewer improvements on the northern half of Church St.
• Heard that police body cams are now up and running.
• Heard that four rink attendants and the maintenance supervisor attended a CPR training class held by Police Chief Dan Reing. Another CPR class will be held in January.
• Heard that manholes will start being replaced after Christmas.
• Approved the license application for tobacco sales for the Soudan Store.
• Received a newsletter from Habitat for Humanity. The town board asked the clerk to remind Habitat for Humanity that there is a lot available on 4th St. set aside and available to build on.
• Reviewed the November Police Report. There were 60 calls, one citation for driving after revocation, one citation for misdemeanor theft, one formal complaint for gross misdemeanor charge for Driving After Cancelation. There were three investigations, and two agency assists, including the apprehension of a felon in Cook. There was one arrest on a warrant.
• The next town board meeting is Thursday, Jan. 26, at 12 noon.