KNOT notes

Man dies after truck falls on him

A 59-year-old Carlton man died Sunday as the result of an accident when he was working outside on a vehicle.

Sheriff Kelly Lake said the 911 call came in at about 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16.

Lake said two deputies arrived before the ambulance and were able to jack up the truck and pull Jeffrey Scott Ryan from underneath the vehicle. The deputies tried to revive him, then emergency medical personnel also tried lifesaving procedures when they arrived, but he was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

Services are set for noon Friday, Dec. 21 at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home.

Fire district will see $250,000 levy increase

Members of the Cloquet Area Fire District Board were set to vote Thursday, Dec. 19 on an increase of approximately $250,000 in the CAFD levy after hearing little from community members at the CAFD truth and taxation hearing Nov. 13.

CAFD Fire Chief Kevin Schroeder said there were no citizens present at the meeting, although the mayor of Scanlon and two officials from Thomson Township attended.

The levy increase over last year is approximately 10.4 percent for the fire district member communities, including Cloquet, Scanlon, Perch Lake and Brevator townships.

Schroeder said all of the increased levy dollars are dedicated to two new staff positions that were necessary to adjust for run volume, and building issues in 2019 as the fire district takes over the entire Cloquet Public Safety Building this spring after the Cloquet Police Department moves out.

The fire chief said Elhers Inc. did the financial analysis and the district’s 10.4 percent levy increase ($250,000) will impact the average residential homeowner as a 2.04 percent increase over last year, or about $7 on a median value home of $150,000.

“That is because the fire levy is spread out over the entire area of the fire district that receives the service,” Schroeder explained.

“We were able to actually decrease spending for all five stations in the area of operations,” he added.

Expenses to replace an ambulance ($200,000) and the lease payment on the newest fire engine ($100,000) were planned expenses and did not contribute to the increased budget/levy, Schroeder explained.

The CAFD Board acts just like a city council and approves budgets, policies, expenditures, etc. for the fire district.

Apply for SWCD District 5 supervisor seat

The Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is accepting applications for appointment to fill the unexpired term of SWCD Board Supervisor for District 5. Applicants must live within the Townships of Wrenshall, Blackhoof, Clear Creek, Holyoke, lower one-third of Mahtowa, or Barnum (see map on carltonswcd.org). Appointment will be made to fill the unexpired term ending December 31, 2020.

Applications may be picked up at the SWCD office at 808 Third Street in Carlton, MN or can be requested by calling (218)384-3891. Applications are also available online at http://www.carltonswcd.org.

Applications must be submitted in person at the SWCD office, or via email and are due back to the Carlton SWCD by 4 p.m., Jan. 3, 2019. Inquire at the SWCD office at 808 3rd Street, Carlton, with any questions.

Carlton is looking for a new city councilor

The City of Carlton will have a vacant city council position after Jan. 1, 2019. This vacancy will be filled by appointment for a two-year term. If you are interested, please submit a letter of interest to Carlton City Hall by 4 p.m. Jan. 18, 2019.

The Council members represent all citizens of the city and give direction for the future of the city. Consider serving the community by applying for this position.

Knot Notes are written or compiled by Pine Journal staff.