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Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 5:11 AM

Roads, beavers collide in Morse

Concerns over roads and beavers collided at Tuesday’s Town of Morse board of supervisors meeting.

Chip Hanson owns land on the Schaeffer Road where there is a large beaver pond and a dam that has broken loose several times.

One time it washed out both Schaeffer Road and a portion of Grand McMahan Boulevard. This past year the dam let loose and damaged the road, causing the township to repair it again.

Hanson was present at the meeting and urged the township to put in larger culverts.

Township employee Butch Pecha said the three culverts there now are just above the ledgerock and he has already raised the height of the road.

“I understand where you guys are coming from. It’s just like, I really like having the beavers there, and they did a great thing on that property and they’re good for the environment,” said Hanson.

“I know, it’s just it’s gonna be pointless. It’s just annoying that when things butt up against infrastructure, then the answer is just kill it all.”

The board also voiced concerns over the city water line that runs from Burntside Lake through that area along with a power line on the other side of the road.

Hanson said he lowered the dam this fall and believes special leveling pipes could help keep the water level lower.

“But you know, that’s not a guarantee that it doesn’t blow up,” said Hanson.

“I know I’m gonna lose the fight, but it’s private property, it’s nature. So I know where you guys are coming from which I get it, and I knew it would be a pointless exercise,” said Hanson.

The board thanked Hanson for lowering the water levels recently.

“I’ll get out there in the spring and make sure it’s down too. You probably can’t kill what beavers are there right now because you can’t get to them,” said Hanson.

He asked if the beavers were removed earlier this year. The board said the city had removed some this spring.

“I need to drive down the road to my neighbor and tell him he just needs to build a bridge,” said Hanson.

Hanson said when the dam was full of water there were 11 acres to paddle around on.

“My wife and I were back there canoeing every night and the ducks were nesting, the moose was standing in it, and I’m like this is fantastic. And then we had to kill all those beavers and I can’t even walk that part of the property anymore because it kind of breaks my heart,” said Hanson.

Pecha said he was open to options to keep the road from washing out and will look at making the ditch wider next year.

Board chair Bob Berrini asked Hanson to stay in contact with the township and hoped a better solution could be found.

Berrini was the only supervisor present with Supervisor Terry Soderberg on Zoom and Len Cersine phoning in.

The board did reach an agreement with K2 Towers to continue to lease township land with the revenues to be split between the company and Morse.

Previously Midco had leased the land for its tower but no longer uses the tower or the land for satellite dishes. K2 purchased the lease and hopes to find companies to rent space on the tower, located next the Ely Golf Course.

After some reservations were aired by the board, a motion was passed to support the Dark Skies Festival in Ely Jan. 10-11.

Hudson Kingston was present on behalf of Starry Skies North, the Chamber of Commerce and the Ely Tourism Bureau.

He proposed a proclamation for the board to pass in support of the event. He said other entities have passed the proclamation.

Soderberg said he had concerns over issues that have come up in the past with the township’s public safety facility and complaints over the lights there interfering with dark skies initiatives.

Treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz presented the board with a first draft of the 2026 budget and said it didn’t appear a levy increase would be needed.

The board discussed the Lindbeck property on the east end of Shagawa Lake that the DNR was trying to purchase. The board had approved of the purchase amid concerns for the snowmobile trail that connects to the lake.

Clerk Nick Wognum told the board the property is now up for sale but that the DNR is still trying to purchase it.

Berrini said the Ely Area Ambulance Service will be receiving $290,000 from the state in a special funding disbursement. He asked if a request had been received for Morse to contribute another $40,000 this year. No request had been received.


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