Roadwork and sewer rates are on the rise

The spring season has Thomson Township board members and township engineer Joe Jurewicz busy planning improvement projects.

The Riverside Road project, which has been discussed by the town board and community members since early 2021, was approved by the board at its April 21 meeting. It involves paving the unpaved section of the road in 2023. This year, preparatory work will be started by the township’s utility and maintenance crew.

Jurewicz said the preparation will consist of minor dirt work, adjusting grades, and adding gravel to portions of the road. The township will begin paving the road in the summer of 2023, in order to give the road time to stabilize after the prep work.

The project will cost the township $15,000, which includes the fees for the study, report, and final design phase of the project done by AE2S, the township’s engineering firm. With the approval from the board, Jurewicz will begin coordinating the project with Logan Saline, the township’s utility and maintenance supervisor.

Jurewicz also informed the board that he is continuing to work with the Carlton County engineers about other various projects in the township, which will be discussed in later work sessions.

Rising rates

The board and Jurewicz also discussed the “inevitable” and “substantial” rise in sewer rates for township residents. Jurewicz assured the board and residents that no changes will be made without public input. The math in calculating the increase will be presented by Jurewicz at the township’s next work session and residents will be given a chance to give their input.

Esko fire chief Kyle Gustafson reported to the board that the department’s mutual aid agreement with other departments in Carlton County is about to expire. The agreement, which expires every 10 years, ensures that the department will have support from other departments in the area if needed. Very little change was made to the agreement.

Gustafson informed the board that the Cloquet Area Fire District has not signed the agreement in the past, and has chosen not to again this year.

When seeking verification from CAFD chief Jesse Buhs, Buhs said the two fire departments do commit to mutual aid with each other, a more comprehensive agreement drafted by CAFD that “affords both their department and ours more protection against liability.” Buhs said Esko Fire received mutual aid from the CAFD two times in recent months for structure fires.

Thomson township officials continue to look into the possibility of leaving or changing the township’s primary service area in order to avoid future tax levy increases for ambulance service from the fire district.