Breitung Police honors Jim Hill
By Terry Carlson – Thursday, December 19, 2025
SOUDAN, Minn.—The Breitung Police took center stage at the December town meeting Thursday evening as officer James Hill was honored. Police Chief Dan Reing Declared December 19 “Jim Hill Day.”
In his statement, Reing said:
“James Hill served the communities of Breitung Township, Soudan, and tower for over 30 years. It is a tremendous accomplishment to spend your whole career with one agency. He led the department into the modern era. I want to personally thank Jim for his contributions, hard work, and dedication. I am declaring today Jim Hill Day at the Breitung Police Department. Badge Number 136 is permanently retired and will not be worn by another Breitung Officer. Godspeed Jim, the department is in good hands. We will take the watch from here.”
Hill began as a parttime officer in 1980. During his career at Breitung, Hill has worked as a full and parttime officer, and was the town’s longtime Police Chief.
In other police business, Chief Reing requested the board approve $1,200 to comply with the state’s requirement to change police badges and patches to display the new state seal which was changed by legislation in May 2024. The state statute says agencies and departments in Minnesota using the seal should make every effort to update it by Jan. 1, 2025. The board unanimously approved.
Reing also reported an applicant for the Breitung Police with experience as a fulltime officer in Babbitt. Hiring, of course, is pending a background check per statute and the department is now waiting on the background package. The board approved, 3-0, to extend an offer of employment.
In addition, Reing suggested the board might begin to think about obtaining a new squad car, as the current vehicle’s mileage is nearing the point where the township will likely be facing decisions regarding ongoing expensive repairs and decreasing trade-in value.
The Fire Department reported the November training was for the Helicopter Landing Zone conducted for the Breitung, Tower, and Greenwood fire departments by an outside agency. However, due to bad weather, the helicopter was unable to land so the training was moved inside in a classroom setting.
The Fire Departments rescue vehicle, out of service for several weeks, needed several labor-intensive repairs to function properly and, in the process, several issues that needed repair were discovered with the pump system, driving the already expensive job higher. Chair Tim Tomsich said instead of paying for such repairs out of the Fire Department’s already tight budget are typically paid out of the township’s Equipment Replacement Fund.
The department received three calls for November: a structure fire in Tower, a vehicle in the ditch in Greenwood, and they placed the Fire/Rescue Boat in winter storage.
In other business:
- The Road and Bridge put snowplows on equipment, performed average plowing and sanding, did maintenance on equipment, put up a snow fence at Echo Point, and flooded ice skating rinks.
- There were two resolutions concerning the town’s water management: One was the dissolution of the town’s water commission and placing it under the direct control of the township; and authorizing an agreement with Treasurer Jorgine Gornick to pay her a wage of $900 per month for services as the water accounts manager until after the township election when her current term expires on March 31, 2025. Election Both resolutions passed unanimously. The job description for the Accounts Manager will be reviewed, changed, and approved in the next three months.
- There have been no recent meetings with the ambulance commission, which is in hiatus until sometime in January.
- The Tower Area Collaborative (TAC) met on the 11th and received word funding via the Strengthening Rural Communities Grant (SRCG) is no longer available, thus lowering the request to IRRR to $7,200. The TAC team will proceed with soil borings and an Environmental Survey and will further discuss the planning of a community meeting once the testing results are done.
- Details on the Loop Trail Connection were discussed on Dec. 6. If the funding request from MnDOT (now at $697,000) is approved, then it’s on to the IRRR.
- Bidding is set for Spring for the Thompson Road project.
- The police contract with Tower has been approved. Tower pays half. The board approved, 3-0.