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The Fall Lake township annual meeting was held Tuesday night.
The polls had closed at 8 p.m. and the board of canvas and declared Sheila Gruba supervisor for the next three years.
Gruba received 61 votes. Several write-in votes were cast with two for Dean Barrett, two for Nancy McReady, one for Emily Seliskar and one for Rod Gruba who Sheila Gruba is replacing on the board.
The annual business meeting reconvened at 8:15 p.m. with Teresa Sagen appointed as moderator.
Treasurer Don Stock recapped township disbursements and receipts, going through each line item of the proposed budget.
The recommendation of the board was to increase the levy from $400,000 to $500,000 with $267,000 designated to the general fund; $150,000 to roads and bridges; $80,000 to the fire department; $3,000 to PERA. The levy was approved.
Wages were increased across the board for supervisors, clerk and treasurer due to inflation. An increase in the amount for elections was also made.
The Ely Echo was designated the publication for all township legal notices, and March 11, 2025 was set as the next annual meeting date.
The dozen citizens present approved $3,000 for the Ely Public Library for 2025.
There was no increase in recreation funds, as Lake County sets the amount Fall Lake receives at $10,400. A miscellaneous fund of $2,000 will continue for community celebrations, honoring individuals, plaques, flowers, etc.
In other business, Morse/ Fall Lake First Responder Mike Harri recapped their 178 service calls in 2023, up from 156 in 2022.
Morse had 81; Fall Lake had 70; Stony River had 0; Winton had 7, and 3 mutual aid to Eagles Nest. Morse/ Fall Lake First Responders had two mutual aid calls to Ely. A total of 15 calls were made in six unorganized areas.
Lake County Commissioner Joe Baltich asked Harri about the increase in service calls.
“Each year the number of service calls throughout the area have increased,” said Harri.
The type of calls addressed included 40 falls and 29 general medical calls; 11 motor vehicle accidents; 35 rescues, including BWCA rescues; 14 lift assists; seven water emergencies and seven weather related emergencies.
“This year there were 13 mental health issues,” said Harri.
Harri also had a summary of the Morse/Fall Lake Fire Department 87 service calls. Morse had 38 calls; Fall Lake had 30; 10 mutual aids to Eagles Nest; one mutual aid to Babbitt; six in unorganized areas; and one to Winton.
Supervisor Eric Hart thanked Harri for doing a great job for the Morse/Fall Lake Fire Department and First Responders.
Baltich said he talked to the North Shore Journal about Fall Lake residents receiving the paper. The Journal has not been sending the free paper to residents who have a P. O. Boxes in Ely.
“I had to tell them that Fall Lake doesn’t have its own Post Office,” said Baltich, “they get their mail in Ely.”
The comment was made that residents receive their tax statements at Ely’s Post Office. Baltich said the Journal will see about making this change for their paper.
Baltich said he spoke with Lake County Commissioner Rich Sve about the Forest Service meeting they had attended.
Sve referenced the article that was in the Duluth News Tribune. Baltich said he was surprised at the information in the article because there had been nothing shared at the meeting about $20 million allocated to the Superior National Forest.
There was nothing in the article about reducing underbrush and balsam for this year, but the Fernberg Trail will be addressed next year.
Janelle Hart said she would like to see a new multi-purpose building for the township.
“We need a community center with maybe an indoor pickleball court,” said Hart. “There are grants available and we should have a committee formed to look into these grants.”
The residents attending agreed to move forward with a committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
