Bassing called out, asked to resign

Bassing called out, asked to resign

Two Greenwood residents cite the supervisor’s removal of an affidavit from a locked cabinet—then sharing the information over the internet.

By Terry Carlson – Updated on February 14, 2025

GREENWOOD TWP., Minn.— Board Supervisor John Bassing found himself on the hot seat in the opening moments of February board meeting, as two Greenwood residents accused him of file mishandling.

In the public comments portion of the meeting, Paul Thompson charged Bassing with removing his filing affidavit from a locked file cabinet in the town clerk’s office without permission and posting it online, an act which would appear to violate the Minnesota Association of Townships (MATS) Data Practices Act.

In response to this revelation, Thompson said he sent several emails to Bassing, to which Bassing did not reply or acknowledge receipt.

Thompson asked that the board publicly rebuke Bassing’s behavior, and then asked Bassing to resign from the board.

Next up was Steve Bradach. Bradach, a Greenwood resident, owns Classic Woodworks of Minnesota in Biwabik, where he also served 10 years as Mayor and on the City Council. Bradach asked Bassing to explain his actions related to the removal of the affidavit and posting it online. Bassing refused.

Bradach, characterizing Bassing’s behavior a “disgrace” continued his commentary, during which both Supervisor Bassing and Deputy Treasurer JoAnn Bassing giggled and snickered. Finally, Bradach had to interrupt his comments and ask them, “Do you think it’s funny?”

Both Bradach and Thompson are running for election next month: Bradach for board supervisor and Thompson for treasurer.

Both strongly support Option B, which would allow the board to appoint qualified individuals the treasurer and clerk positions versus the current practice of voters choosing them in what Thompson has characterized a “popularity contest.” Thompson quipped last month that if he wins the Treasurer position and Option B passes, “I’ll instantly be out of a job.”

Regarding the ongoing misbehavior of the Bassings, and the chronic foot-dragging and apparent obstruction by Treasurer Jeff Maus (not present), Bradach is on record as saying that with his pursuit of board supervisor he hopes “to stop the chaos in Greenwood Township, create some civility and common sense …”

Indeed, the public comment period—and more specifically the Bassings’ conduct and the reactions to it by resident attendees—highlighted the township’s desire for those values going forward.

MOVING ON to the business at-hand, after many months of testing, getting estimates, and various opinions, the board finally agreed unanimously to replace the town hall’s drinking water treatment system which has been plagued by high levels of arsenic. Chair Lois Roskoski said the township has gotten “a lot of letters from residents,” and it was also the topic of the resident who preceded Thompson and Bradach in the Public Comments portion of the meeting (“find a solution and put it to a vote.”). It will cost the township around $2,000 to get the Brassmaster treatment system back up and running. Supervisor Craig Gilbert suggested the new system should be tested a month after the new media is installed, and again after six months.

WITH A TOTAL FUND balance at the end of 2024 of  $539,913 and projected revenues of $407,500 in 2025, Chair Roskoski recommended a $300,000 levy for 2026, a figure residents voted for last year to cover the pickleball court donation, donations to the Tower Ambulance Service, maintenance costs for Birch Point Extension/Township Road 4136, and fire department equipment needs. The vote to approve both the budget and levy request was 4-1, with Bassing, who felt the levy was too high, voting against. However the board did agree with Bassing’s recommendation that $9,000 be added to the budget for snowplowing, attorney fees, and electric use.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

  • The board again would not approve the Treasurer’s report as being incomplete. The “no” votes came from Supervisor Gilbert, Supervisor Paul Skubic, and Chair Roskoski.
  • Thanks in large part to the aforementioned delays by the treasurer and deputy treasurer, the board did not complete their required board of audit, and will hold another special meeting between now and five days before the annual meeting on March 11.
  • It was Steve Lenertz’ opinion, speaking to  the board by phone during the meeting, that the property owner, in litigation with the township to vacate part of a platted road in the Birch Point Extension for personal use, has not followed the proper procedure. The board feels this would limit the township’s ability to safely maintain the road.
  • The board approved increasing the broadband speed at the town hall to 100 megabytes, at an increased cost of $72 a month, to allow livestreaming of township meetings.
  • The board approved $940 to service the fire department’s SCBA air tanks. Interim fire chief Steve Brian Trancheff also reported that MnDOT’s inspection of all the fire trucks but one (out for repairs and waiting on parts) has been completed.