Wolf Lake makes annual appointments, designations for new year

By Matthew Johnson

Reporter

Wolf Lake Fire Chief Brock Anderson reported to the Wolf Lake City Council during its first regular monthly meeting of the year Tuesday, Jan. 13, that the Wolf Lake Fire Department (WLFD) responded to 66 total calls for service in 2025.

That is 30 calls above the 10-year average of 36, said Chief Anderson, and the most calls in one year during the 10 years he has been chief. Ten of the 66 calls in 2025 were as the lead fire department in fighting fires within the Wolf Lake fire district including structure, vehicle and wildland fires. The largest category of the 2025 calls was for assisting departments in other fire districts, otherwise called fire mutual aid, at 26 calls. 

Those included 10 assists to the Carsonville Fire Department, two assists to the Menahga Fire Department, five assists to the Frazee Fire Department, two assists to the New York Mills Fire Department and one assist apiece to the Sebeka and Callaway fire departments. 

The calls broken down by township and the city in 2025 were 16 calls in Wolf Lake Township, eight calls in Green Valley Township, six in Spruce Grove Township, four in Runeberg Township, five in Wolf Lake Township and one in the City of Wolf Lake.

“It was a very busy year for us,” said Chief Anderson.

The WLFD responded to a total of 15 landing zone calls for patient transport in 2025 where the department assisted the Wolf Lake Rescue, North EMS, St. Mary’s and the Becker County Sheriff’s Office.

“Four were cancelled but we actually landed 11 helicopters (for patient transport),” Anderson said. 

The council approved WLFD officers for 2026 along with firefighter compensation at $15 an hour. The officers and compensation are the same this year as last year. The officers are Anderson as chief with $900 for the office for the year, Neil Aho assistant chief with $700, Jason Makela captain with $500, Dave Keranen captain with $300, Brian Keranen captain with $300 and Rostin Aho captain/training officer with $500.

Chief Anderson went over his 2026 budget with the council and reported that so far in 2026 the department has responded to four calls including two chimney fires, including one in Wolf Lake, a motor vehicle accident and a smoke alarm issue.

Council names 

official 2026 offices, 

appointments

The council selected the official offices/appointments/designations for 2026. Vernette Gilbertson retains her vice mayor status, the city’s official depository is the Community First Bank of Menahga, the Review Messenger is the official newspaper, the Lakes Community Co-op is the official posting location and Councilor Cody Lake keeps his weed inspector designation.

Liaison appointments include Katie Lake and Curt Aho to the community hall committee, Katie Lake and Aho to the parks committee, Gilbertson to Wolf Pack Baseball, Gilbertson and Mayor Michelle Suhsen to the liquor committee and Suhsen and Cody Lake to the harvest festival committee.

In other news

• Discussed whether Wolf Lake will have a harvest festival this year. Andrea Yliniemi has stepped down as coordinator of the annual event but has agreed to run the pageant. 

• It was acknowledged that a sewer lift station replacement is needed. The council adopted a resolution accepting an $11,000 donation from the Wolf Pack Baseball Club (WPBC) for the purchase of a sanitation lift station pump.

• Adopted a resolution accepting a $10,000 donation from the WPBC for the Wolf Lake Fire Department’s major equipment fund.

• Acknowledged that water heaters at the community hall were recently replaced.

• Acknowledged that the aerators for the lake were turned on Dec. 11.

• Acknowledged that the snowmobile raffle is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 24.

• Regular monthly meetings of the Wolf Lake City Council are usually held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at city hall.