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With the polls closed at 8 p.m. at Fall Lake Township, the Board of Canvas declared Craig Seliskar supervisor for the next three years.
Seliskar received 36 votes. There were two write-in votes. One for Sheila Gruba and one for Carolyn Dehnbostel, a Town of Morse resident.
The annual business meeting reconvened at 8:15 p.m. with Janelle Hart appointed as moderator.
Treasurer Don Stocks recapped township disbursements and receipts, going through each line item of the proposed budget.
The recommendation of the board was for the overall levy remain the same, at $500,000 with $261,000 designated to the General Fund; $150,000 to Roads & Bridges; with an increase of $5,000 to the Fire Department, bringing it to $85,000, and an increase of $1,000 to PERA, bringing the amount to $4,000. The levy was approved.
The Ely Echo was designated the publication for all township legal notices, and March 10, 2026 was set as the next annual meeting date.
A motion was made by Ernie Seliskar to increase the donation to the Ely Public Library for 2026 to $3,500. An amendment to Seliskar’s motion was made by Robert Graves to increase the amount to $4,000.
Hudson Kingston said he was on the Library Board and agreed the increase was needed. Teresa Sagen said the donation to the library was from the general fund because recreation funds could not be used for this purpose, even though reading and going to the library is a form of recreation for many people. The donation of $4,000 to the Ely Library was approved by the two dozen residents present.
There was no increase in recreation funds, as Lake County sets the amount Fall Lake receives at $10,400. Commissioner Joe Baltich said if the township had a special project, more funds could be requested by Lake County.
Miscellaneous funds of $2,000 will continue for community celebrations, honor ing individua ls, plaques, flowers, etc.
Morse/Fall Lake First Responder Mike Harri recapped their 180 service calls in 2024. He said the EMS calls have gradually increased since 2018. Morse had 96; Fall Lake had 48; three mutual aid calls to Eagles Nest; three mutual aid calls to Stony River; Winton had 17; one mutual aid to Ely; and a total of 12 calls to surrounding Unorganized areas.
Harri reported there were a total of 79 fire calls. There were 37 in Morse Township; 28 in Fall Lake; three mutual aid calls to Babbitt; two calls to Eagles Nest; two calls to Winton; and a total of seven calls to unorganized areas.
Supervisor Eric Hart thanked Harri for doing a great job for the Morse/Fall Lake Fire Department and First Responders.
With no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
