Although the planning was spur of the moment, about 120 men and women heeded the call of Berta Bauer to come and march with her in Grand Marais on Saturday, January 21. “It was hugely successful, much more than I expected,” said Bauer of the turnout. The Women’s March in Grand Marais was one of at least 673 that were […]
Numbers in for 2016 children’s services
Cook County commissioners listened in silence as Cook County Public Health and Human Services worker Grace Bushard read the 2016 year-end Children’s Services Report. In 2011 the number of child maltreatment reports in Cook County was 28. In 2016 that number jumped to 220, an approximate 300 percent increase in documented findings. Of that 220 number, 132 children were recipients […]
Three sign up so far for vacant county commissioner seat
Three east end residents are running for the District 1 commissioner’s seat vacated when Cook County Commissioner Frank Moe resigned in December 2016. Hoping to fill the vacancy are James Vannet, Robert Deschampe, and David Keller. Moe, who left for health reasons, served two years of his four-year term. The primary election will be held April 4, and special election […]
Commissioners hold another spirited county board meeting
Lately, there has been more action and excitement at Cook County Board meetings than at most football games. And on Tuesday, January 24 the meeting was no different, with a friendly crowd once again gathered for the opening of the public comment period. The hot topic this week was a discussion of the financing package for the Cook County/Grand Marais […]
City wraps up first phase of visioning process
The Grand Marais Community Visioning and Comprehensive Plan Update is wrapping up phase one of the community engagement process. The online questionnaire available at www.GrandMaraisVisioning.org will be taken off line after January 31. So far over 500 questionnaires have been completed, including over 400 from Grand Marais and Cook County residents. “The committee is pleased with the response from the […]
Comparing Minnesota’s Price of Local Government
Part One: From the Perspective of Property TaxWhile the public often hears commissioners and public figures reference Cook County’s Property Tax Rate as being one of the lowest in the state, property tax is only one of four perspectives to be considered when comparing Minnesota’s price of local government. To better understand this, I’ll use an analogy (surprise! surprise!). The color purple, for example, is derived from […]
A prayer of thankfulness
From God our Creator we have received much. Let us share more fully than ever before our gifts and talents. Let us have a deepening FAITH in God, ourselves, and each other. Let us have within us a stronger HOPE in God, ourselves and each other. Let us have an enriched practice of CHARITY shared by God, within us, and […]
EDA housing project is not viable
The EDA is requesting that the county commissioners okay a plan where, if the rental units in the West End do not provide enough money to pay the loan, the taxpayers of Cook County will be liable for the $106,000 per year. The EDA has already “given,” or committed $140,000 to the project. EDA money comes from the same taxpayers. […]
Shame on you, Sen. Klobuchar!
The U.S. Forest Service just signed off on transferring 6,650 acres of public lands in the Superior National Forest to PolyMet. That’s where the ore body is located that the company wants to mine – on public land, your land. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has some explaining to do. She sits on a committee that directly oversees Forest Service actions involving […]