TOWN OF KABETOGAMA
ANNUAL MEETING
MARCH 11, 2025
DRAFT
The annual meeting of the Kabetogama Township was called to order by Clerk Manninen at 8:15 pm on March 11, 2025. There were 7 people attending this meeting. Those attending the meeting recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk Manninen called for nominations for a moderator. Tim Tomczak nominated John Stegmeir as moderator. No other nominations were made. Marlene Tomczak moved to have John Stegmeir as moderator, Tim Tomczak seconded the motion, a voice vote was taken for John Stegmeir as moderator. All voted aye, no nays, John was voted as moderator.
Agenda: The agenda was reviewed by all. Marlene Tomczak moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Tim Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
The Clerk was asked to read the 2025, for the year ending 2024, Board of Audit Minutes from the March 4, 2025 meeting. The Board of Audit minutes were approved at the meeting on March 4th.
Old Business:
The minutes from the 2024 annual meeting were reviewed by all. The minutes were approved at the April 2, 2024 board meeting.
The moderator read the dates for the next Annual Township Meeting. The annual meeting will be held on March 10, 2026, at the Kabetogama Town Hall at 8:15 pm. The alternative bad weather date is March 17, 2026, same location and time. A motion by Tim Tomczak to approve the next annual meeting, seconded by Marlene Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
The next Annual Township Election will be held on March 11, 2026, at the Kabetogama Town Hall from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. The alternative bad weather date is March 17, 2026, same location and time. A motion was made by Marlene Tomczak to approve the next annual election, seconded by Betsey Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Election Results – Moderator Stegmeir asked for the results of the Annual Township election held March 11, 2025. Election Judge Betsey Warrington read the election results. For the position of Supervisor 3-year term, Tim Tomczak received 11 votes and there were no write-ins. For the position of Treasurer 2-year term, Deana Callais received 11 votes with no write-ins. Marlene Tomczak moved to accept the 2025 election results, seconded by Larry Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Lake Kabetogama Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report for 2024
Fire Chief Bryan Wichner gave the following report –
The Fire Department is doing well, we currently have 16 members with the recruitment of 2 new members in 2024. Thanks to David Brown and John Dompier for their commitment and dedication to this Department. The department responded to 7 fire calls, 4 vehicle accidents, 5 search and rescues and numerous medical assists. We continue to have our in-person business meetings and hands-on training. We provided lunch for the BASS Nation Tournament in May, we have been asked to do it again this year in August. We had the Hunters Supper and Raffle in November. We continue to apply for available Grants, as well as other incentives which have made some of our equipment purchases possible.
We would like to congratulate Rusty Lehto and Niles Wilkins on their retirements from the Fire Department. Rusty served 33 years and Niles 22 ½ years. We wish you the best and thank you for your service.
On February 5, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modernize the agency’s “Fire Brigades” standard with a proposed new “Emergency Response Standard.” This NPRM’s publication triggered the beginning of a public comment period that concluded on July 22, 2024. An informal public hearing was then held from November 12 to December 4, 2024. A second public comment period closed on January 17, 2025. OSHO is now reviewing the public input received.
While many of the proposed provisions in the Emergency Response Standard would be helpful and Improve the safety of emergency responders, many of the new requirements would be very burdensome, and in many cases impossible, for volunteer fire and emergency service departments so comply with. If the standard is adopted in its current form, many departments would be forced to shut their doors or else operate outside of the federal standard, leaving themselves open to fines, citations, and huge civil liability exposure.
National Volunteer Fire Council
Projects completed in 2024:
Vehicle maintenance and pressure testing $19,560.38
Training and CPR for Firefighters
Purchased a new 2024 Polaris 6x6 $12,568
Purchased a 4-gas monitor $2,952.98, floor jack, 10 new helmet lights $995
Purchased 4 new pages and 8 batteries $1,700
Heliport maintenance
Future projects 2025:
Receiving a donation of 8 air packs and 16 bottles from St. Paul Park Fire Department
Purchasing 3 new sets of turnout hear for our members who have completed their 1-year probationary period.
Front end repairs on our Brush Truck $4,984.52 completed
We have been asked to serve lunch at the Bass Tournament in August
We will be having another Hunter’s Supper in November
We are also preparing ourselves for additional ATV accidents once the new trail is completed
The Fire Department is asking the Township for a 1.5% increase up from $44,300 for 2025 to $44,965 in 20026
I would like to thank the Kabetogama Township and the community for their continued support of our department on behalf o all the Fire Fighters and EMS personnel
Respectfully,
Bryan Wichner, Chief LKAVFD
There was no medical report.
New Business
The 2026 proposed levy was reviewed by all. The levy was increased by $865.00. Larry Warrington moved to approve the 2026 levy in the amount of $103,665.00, seconded by Tim Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
John Stegmeir gave a report on the Cook Hospital. Budget wise they are short. They are struggling to keep and replace staff. There are two new doctors coming in late summer or early fall. They upped their levy to our residents by 20 to 50 percent, which we will see on our property taxes.
Tim Tomczak moved to adjourn the annual meeting at 8:43, seconded by Larry Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk
Kabetogama Township
ANNUAL MEETING
MARCH 11, 2025
DRAFT
The annual meeting of the Kabetogama Township was called to order by Clerk Manninen at 8:15 pm on March 11, 2025. There were 7 people attending this meeting. Those attending the meeting recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk Manninen called for nominations for a moderator. Tim Tomczak nominated John Stegmeir as moderator. No other nominations were made. Marlene Tomczak moved to have John Stegmeir as moderator, Tim Tomczak seconded the motion, a voice vote was taken for John Stegmeir as moderator. All voted aye, no nays, John was voted as moderator.
Agenda: The agenda was reviewed by all. Marlene Tomczak moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Tim Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
The Clerk was asked to read the 2025, for the year ending 2024, Board of Audit Minutes from the March 4, 2025 meeting. The Board of Audit minutes were approved at the meeting on March 4th.
Old Business:
The minutes from the 2024 annual meeting were reviewed by all. The minutes were approved at the April 2, 2024 board meeting.
The moderator read the dates for the next Annual Township Meeting. The annual meeting will be held on March 10, 2026, at the Kabetogama Town Hall at 8:15 pm. The alternative bad weather date is March 17, 2026, same location and time. A motion by Tim Tomczak to approve the next annual meeting, seconded by Marlene Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
The next Annual Township Election will be held on March 11, 2026, at the Kabetogama Town Hall from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. The alternative bad weather date is March 17, 2026, same location and time. A motion was made by Marlene Tomczak to approve the next annual election, seconded by Betsey Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Election Results – Moderator Stegmeir asked for the results of the Annual Township election held March 11, 2025. Election Judge Betsey Warrington read the election results. For the position of Supervisor 3-year term, Tim Tomczak received 11 votes and there were no write-ins. For the position of Treasurer 2-year term, Deana Callais received 11 votes with no write-ins. Marlene Tomczak moved to accept the 2025 election results, seconded by Larry Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Lake Kabetogama Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report for 2024
Fire Chief Bryan Wichner gave the following report –
The Fire Department is doing well, we currently have 16 members with the recruitment of 2 new members in 2024. Thanks to David Brown and John Dompier for their commitment and dedication to this Department. The department responded to 7 fire calls, 4 vehicle accidents, 5 search and rescues and numerous medical assists. We continue to have our in-person business meetings and hands-on training. We provided lunch for the BASS Nation Tournament in May, we have been asked to do it again this year in August. We had the Hunters Supper and Raffle in November. We continue to apply for available Grants, as well as other incentives which have made some of our equipment purchases possible.
We would like to congratulate Rusty Lehto and Niles Wilkins on their retirements from the Fire Department. Rusty served 33 years and Niles 22 ½ years. We wish you the best and thank you for your service.
On February 5, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modernize the agency’s “Fire Brigades” standard with a proposed new “Emergency Response Standard.” This NPRM’s publication triggered the beginning of a public comment period that concluded on July 22, 2024. An informal public hearing was then held from November 12 to December 4, 2024. A second public comment period closed on January 17, 2025. OSHO is now reviewing the public input received.
While many of the proposed provisions in the Emergency Response Standard would be helpful and Improve the safety of emergency responders, many of the new requirements would be very burdensome, and in many cases impossible, for volunteer fire and emergency service departments so comply with. If the standard is adopted in its current form, many departments would be forced to shut their doors or else operate outside of the federal standard, leaving themselves open to fines, citations, and huge civil liability exposure.
National Volunteer Fire Council
Projects completed in 2024:
Vehicle maintenance and pressure testing $19,560.38
Training and CPR for Firefighters
Purchased a new 2024 Polaris 6x6 $12,568
Purchased a 4-gas monitor $2,952.98, floor jack, 10 new helmet lights $995
Purchased 4 new pages and 8 batteries $1,700
Heliport maintenance
Future projects 2025:
Receiving a donation of 8 air packs and 16 bottles from St. Paul Park Fire Department
Purchasing 3 new sets of turnout hear for our members who have completed their 1-year probationary period.
Front end repairs on our Brush Truck $4,984.52 completed
We have been asked to serve lunch at the Bass Tournament in August
We will be having another Hunter’s Supper in November
We are also preparing ourselves for additional ATV accidents once the new trail is completed
The Fire Department is asking the Township for a 1.5% increase up from $44,300 for 2025 to $44,965 in 20026
I would like to thank the Kabetogama Township and the community for their continued support of our department on behalf o all the Fire Fighters and EMS personnel
Respectfully,
Bryan Wichner, Chief LKAVFD
There was no medical report.
New Business
The 2026 proposed levy was reviewed by all. The levy was increased by $865.00. Larry Warrington moved to approve the 2026 levy in the amount of $103,665.00, seconded by Tim Tomczak, all voting aye, motion carried.
John Stegmeir gave a report on the Cook Hospital. Budget wise they are short. They are struggling to keep and replace staff. There are two new doctors coming in late summer or early fall. They upped their levy to our residents by 20 to 50 percent, which we will see on our property taxes.
Tim Tomczak moved to adjourn the annual meeting at 8:43, seconded by Larry Warrington, all voting aye, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Manninen, Clerk
Kabetogama Township
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