GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board, Tuesday, denied a request from resident Lee Peterson to move public comments at the meeting to the top of the agenda.
“The public can’t comment on approving the agenda, minutes, claims, payroll, and treasurer’s report,” he said.
“I see no need to move it,” said Board Chair Sue Drobac. “Those things are the board’s work. I don’t see that residents should have to comment on those things.”
Peterson stated that residents “definitely should” be able to add corrections and note any ommissions.
Supervisor Rick Stoehr wondered if the board could try the move on a trial basis, but Drobac said, “I don’t see any reason to.”
The board took no action on the request.
Peterson said, “That’s enough for me, it’s a tragedy to me,” and then stood up and left the meeting.
Public comment used to be at the end of the agenda after the board had discussed both old and new business, but had been moved up to right after the approval of the agenda and acceptance of the board’s reports.

2024 budget and levy
The board voted to propose a $150,000 levy to the voters who attend the annual meeting on March 14. The proposed budget, prepared by John Bassing with help from interim clerk JoAnn Bassing and interim treasurer Jeff Maus, sets township spending at $323,980, down from the 2023 budget of $360,785.
The 2023 budget included one-time revenue from the American Rescue Plan Act, most of which has been set aside for future broadband projects.
The 2024 budget does include a $60,000 contribution to the township’s capital replacement fund, and a $43,000 contribution to the fire department equipment fund. The 2024 budget does not have a line item amount for the Tower Ambulance subsidy or EMS pension.
The budget worksheet showed an anticipated balance of $644,683 at the end of 2023, and an anticipated balance of $504,702 at the end of 2024.
Township levies in 2012-2014 were over $450,000, but were dropped significantly lower starting in 2015. Levies the past six years have been set at $150,000, as the township slowly lowers township reserves to a more reasonable level.

Ambulance subsidy indemnification
The town board appears to be sticking with its insistence on the inclusion of the indemnity language in the ambulance subsidy agreement.
“We give them money as a gift,” said John Bassing. “We are not part of their business.”
Bassing also said the city was delinquent in making their transfer miles payment to the subsidy account, because of the ambulance’s poor financial condition.
“They breached the contract just like they did in 2021,” he said. “They could have transferred the money from their general fund.”
The board discussed sending a letter to the Tower City Council, asking for an explanation of why they won’t accept the language that Greenwood is demanding.
“We need to start communicating with them,” said interim treasurer and Fire Chief Jeff Maus.
“Nothing has changed on our side,” said Drobac.

Other business
In other business the board:
• Heard the town hall water supply is again basically arsenic-free, after the installation of a new filtration unit. The board also is doing the required maintenance on the water softener.
• Approved a $100 donation to the Tower-Soudan Historical Society.
• Approved a $500 donation to the Tower-Soudan Joint Powers Recreation Board and appointed Jim “Jet” Galonski as the township representative.
• Approved sending flowers to First Responder Krystal Strong, who is recovering from an injury. Strong is one of the department’s top two responders on medical calls.
• Convened a meeting immediately after the regular meeting to perform the township’s annual Board of Audit.