Road work approved

The Thomson Township board of supervisors approved crack sealing and restriping for both the town hall building parking lot and the fire department’s parking lot, along with other roads throughout the township, during their meeting Thursday, May 5.

The crack repair, sealing, and restriping of the parking lots has not been done since before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to township engineer Joe Jurewicz. Some board members were concerned about the price increase from previous repairs, but Jurewicz assured them the township is receiving a good rate and that higher prices had been expected.

The Esko fire department is continuing to stay busy during the rainy spring season.

Fire chief Kyle Gustafson told the board Thursday that the department finally received its new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs).

Gustafson reported that the big purchase for the department and township was needed and they will be putting the SCBAs in service for the department on May 16. He also reported the department is interviewing another potential addition to the department and will update the board at its next meeting.

Township representatives continue to attend Cloquet Area Fire District board meetings and are following the progression of the study that is being done by an outside firm to determine CAFD’s costs for providing ambulance services versus fire, after a proposed levy hike for ambulance members (which includes much of Thomson Township) was revised back to the previous year’s rate in December. The board and township attorney Dave Pritchett said they feel waiting for the study to be completed will be crucial to making a final decision for the township.

The Thomson Township board of supervisors meets on the first and third Thursday of the month.