Courthouse to get new phone system
Twenty-three thousand eight hundred sixty dollars may seem like a lot to pay for a telephone system, but according to Rena Rogers, it’s a bargain. Cook County’s communications director told the county board Sept. 16, 2014 that it is past time to replace the outdated system that was installed at the courthouse in 2003 at a cost of $33,000. “The […]
City sets maximum 2015 levy increase at 1.9 percent
Grand Marais city taxpayers will see a 1.9 percent – at the most – increase in their tax levies next year following city council’s decision to pass a preliminary levy of $839,783.92. The unanimous vote Sept. 10 means the 2015 levy cannot increase, but could go down before final certification at year’s end. City Administrator Mike Roth told councilors the […]
Commissioners learn about complicated wetland credit process
When a construction project impacts a wetland, the landowner must pay to replace it with wetland credits purchased from a wetland bank. Sounds simple enough, but to many people there is confusion over what a wetland bank is. Or what mitigation credits are, for that matter. State and federal law require public agencies, developers and home owners who destroy wetlands […]
Townships agree to support tax abatement bonds for Superior National
When the Cook County/ Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) appeared before the county board on Tuesday, August 26, 2014, asking the board to schedule a public hearing on the EDA’s proposal to have the county issue tax abatement bonds for $2 million to fund continued improvements at Superior National at Lutsen (SNL) golf course, the county board agreed to […]
Tasers needed?
Anybody else “stunned” by the county board’s approval of our law enforcement request for the purchase of tasers? Maybe I missed it – the discussion – but just because the price is right does not equate to a thorough investigation and presentation of need, not to mention the body of U.S. and Canadian data available on effectiveness (and death). Was […]
Tax abatement bonds should come with transparent reporting
As the county board continues to work on a plan to prop up Superior National at Lutsen (SNL), it seems to me that this would be an excellent time for the board to put into place some requirements that would protect the county and its taxpayers going forward—no matter who is running SNL. Whoever is running SNL, whether it be […]
Top ten reasons to allow naturalization
I enjoyed last week’s letter titled “Make use of a good weed” submitted by Dale Saethre. Her whimsical tale of the use of tansy as a child was enlightening. We will continue to spend many thousands of dollars annually in a futile attempt to control non-native plants, many of which have become “naturalized” into our environment. Why not learn to […]
Interpretation of Earth Charter and Agenda 21 is misguided
Everyone, including Marion McKeever, is entitled to their own opinions, no one, however, is entitled to their own “facts.” Nothing in Marion’s monologue goes beyond a misguided interpretation of reality. I won’t try to point by point dissect her opinion, but leave that for any one who wants to read Agenda 21 and form their own opinion. There is no […]
The “what if” game
I’ve always had an active— some would say overactive— imagination. I’m one of those people who creates little dramas in my head when someone I care about is overdue. If a friend or family member isn’t where he or she is supposed to be at a certain time, I don’t think that they are stuck in traffic or that they […]