SOUDAN- McKinley Park Campground manager Susie Chiabotti said the 2024 season was a surprisingly good one, even after the June 19 flood left a mess and destroyed a dock at the campground.
“Revenues were up by $11,176,” she said, “and expenses were only up by $346.”
The township was able to get the campground up and running quickly in the wake of the flood, and for that, Chiabotti had nothing but accolades.
“The township was awesome,” she said. “If you had asked me on June 19, I would have said we couldn’t have saved the year. Our maintenance crew was always there, we are so lucky to have them,” she said.
Chiabotti suggested the township keep the long-term camping rates stable for 2025, since they had been increased the last two seasons.
But the town board felt that with the township increasing its levy by seven percent this year, and with the added maintenance expenses incurred this summer due to the flooding and to the routine upkeep being done, that it was only fair to increase the rates.
Improvements at the campground this year included replacing the roof on the campground store, a new playground and dock, bringing the dump station up to code, and the regular maintenance on the electrical sites.
“We are spending more time down there,” said chairman Tim Tomsich.
Chiabotti also said they are seeing more and more campers bringing bicycles, and the upgrades done to the bike trail were put to good use.
The board thanked Chiabotti for her work managing the campground, and they were happy to hear that she will renew her contract for a final year.
The township-owned campground offers seasonal, monthly, weekly, and daily rates. The beach is a popular spot for area families, and the new playground was put to good use all summer, she said. Boat launch fees, even with the dock out for several weeks, were on par with last year.
“Fishing was wonderful this year,” she said, noting that the fish cleaning shack could use some minor upgrading for next year.
The board opted to increase seasonal rates by $400, to $4,000. Monthly rates will increase $100, to $1,200 for electric sites and $800 for non-electric sites. Weekly rates will increase by $25 to $350 for electric and $225 for non-electric. Daily rates are going up $5, to $55 for electric and $35 for non-electric sites. Winter storage rates will remain at $600, and boat launch fees are remaining the same at $10 or $70 for the season.

Police contract
The township is working with the city of Tower on next year’s police contract and asking for help in covering the cost of part-time staff, which the township currently funds itself. Tomsich said the township is asking the city to split the cost of 500 hours of part-time work with the township. Currently the city only pays for part-time work if it is requested by the city, such as Fourth of July coverage.
“Most of the major calls and arrests are in Tower,” noted police chief Dan Reing.
Administrative work required after an investigation or arrest keep Reing in the office and keep him away from patrolling. Reing has asked the township to look at hiring a very part-time employee to help with some administrative tasks.
“There are a lot of expenses that Tower isn’t covering,” said Tomsich, who added the council will be discussing the issue at their December meeting.
In other police department business, the town board heard that long-time part-time officer Jim Battin is retiring.
“We appreciate his contributions to the township and to the department,” said Reing. “We are formally retiring his badge number 155. The badge will permanently be assigned to Officer Battin.”
The department’s taco fundraiser was a huge success, with over 200 people served. The proceeds will be used for programs for area youth, and possibly for other department equipment needs, said Reing.

Water commission
The board took the first step of disbanding the township’s water commission, and creating a township department to take over those duties. The water commission was created as a separate entity from the township back in the 1950s, when the township first started selling water to the city of Tower. It was kept separate to ensure that costs for maintaining the systems were not paid from general township funds, but only by users of the system, which served Soudan proper.
With the recent passing of long-term water commission president Jim Hill, and neither of the two remaining commission members willing to take over leadership, the commission voted to merge the duties into a township department, with the billing and expenses kept separate from other township expenses. Jorgine Gornick, who was doing the billing and financials for the commission, is expected to be named as the account manager, and the new department would reimburse the township for other time spent managing the department.
The changeover will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The board plans to designate one of its members to oversee the department. Gornick has been asked to put together a job description for the account manager. The rate of pay is yet to be set.
The board was not sure if the commission was established by ordinance. Clerk Amber Zak will research the issue. If an ordinance is found, it will need to be rescinded. Otherwise, the board will just need to pass a resolution creating the new department.

Other business
In other business the board:
• Passed a resolution creating a no-parking zone on the west side of Stuntz Bay Rd. from Jasper St. up the hill for approximately 300 feet. Parking will be allowed on the east side (the side of the street with adjacent housing). The change is needed because of the width of the new road.
• Approved change orders on the Stuntz Bay Rd. project. All costs are being covered by the DNR.
• Heard that the St. Louis County Board will hold their Tuesday, Jan. 14 board meeting at the Breitung Community Building at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.
• Is still waiting to hear on the township’s FEMA funding application, but Zak said it sounds like the engineering costs incurred will also be covered. The township still has a few invoices to submit, but most of the information is already in place.
• Heard that the Thompson Farm Rd. project is on track for completion next summer.
• Will hold their next regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.