After a sometimes-contentious process, Stan Bautch received a conditional use permit on Tuesday, June 23 to operate his 55.3-acre gravel pit off the Meridian Road in Grand Marais.
Bautch’s conditional use permit, originally approved in 1995, had been revoked in May 2015 because of several stormwater and open space concerns. However, Zoning Administrator Bill Lane said the Office of Planning and Zoning OPZ now recommended approving the CUP.
Lane said that Bautch and his engineering firm had developed a plan that addressed the concerns of his office as well as the planning commission. In his report, Lane said, “At this point, Mr. Bautch has organized the pit into verifiable sectors and addressed both stormwater and extraction allowances. This represents a positive directional shift for him as the owner and the county as the benefactor of his commercial operation.”
Lane noted that one change to Bautch’s permit was the removal of hot mix plant operation. Lane said if Bautch wants to engage in asphalt production in the future, he could apply for an interim use permit at that time.
Lane thanked Bautch for being cooperative in the latest process and said Planning and Zoning can’t pat itself on the back, because the Soil & Water Conservation District were involved in the process.
Commissioner Frank Moe said, “I’ll pat you on the back.”
Moe thanked Lane and Bautch for cooperating to find a solution. Commissioner Jan Sivertson added kudos and said, “Instead of more conflict, a peaceful solution is good.”
County Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk agreed, noting that because of Bautch’s gravel pit the county now has a better definition of open area for gravel pits. “That’s a good thing,” she said.
The county board unanimously approved the conditional use permit. Highway department work in Hovland
Highway Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad came before the board with an update on the work to be done in the east end of the county. Klegstad said the highway department is ready to install a culvert on County Road 17 (Mineral Center Road).
Klegstad said the department has had the culvert since last fall but was unable to install it because the water was too high because of a beaver dam flooding the area. He said the highway department could not do anything about the beaver because the road is on Grand Portage tribal lands. Grand Portage personnel have trapped the beaver and the water is now low enough to allow the culvert installation, said Klegstad.
He said a bigger pipe is being installed which will handle the flow better—if beavers don’t plug it up again.
Klegstad said the highway department would also be installing two culverts on County Road 23 soon.
For the driveway that keeps flooding at Otis Creek, Klegstad said the highway department would be putting in a driveway culvert as soon as possible. He said Kerrie Berg of Soil and Water is working with the landowner and designing a drainage plan that will improve the situation.
Klegstad said some work will also be done on County Road 69 this summer. He said the highway department will be putting a little lift on the roadway to prevent flooding on a corner that frequently floods.
Commissioner Moe said he knows the landowners in the area are very appreciative of the highway department’s efforts. He said they hope these things will all be done before freeze-up.
Moe added, “I appreciate you and Mr. Betts [Highway Engineer] working with Soil and Water to find a solution.”
In other highway department business, Klegstad requested authorization to sell some equipment and some used culverts. The equipment to be sold includes a 1985 CAT 936 loader, a 1992 Sterling LT9000 lowboy truck; and a 2002 Trail King lowboy trailer.
Klegstad said the highway department would like to use the State Surplus Services website to sell these items. He said the department has had success using this service in the past. The board gave him the go ahead to sell the equipment.
Klegstad said the department has a number of excess culverts—“some good, some not so good”—that he would like to advertise for sale. He said someone might have a use for them. The board also approved the sale of the culverts.
Finally the board approved the letting of bids for 2,500 cubic yards of sand for winter. “I know it seems early,” Klegstad said, but noted that the county gets a better deal by seeking bids earlier. The board agreed and passed a motion to authorize the bid request. Norpine Trail Association gets loan
Bob Pranis of the Norpine Trail Association approached the board requesting a line of credit from the county for up to $15,000 to build a storage/ maintenance garage for trail and grooming equipment. Norpine maintains and grooms 57 kilometers of cross country skiing trails west of Cascade River State Park and up to Lutsen Ski Hill.
Pranis said the organization is confident they can pay the loan back in eight years.
Pranis said the total cost of the building was estimated to be about $40,000, with $21,000 in materials and direct labor and $19,000 in in-kind donations of time.
Commissioners asked Auditor Braidy Powers where funds would come from if the line of credit were granted. Powers said the money would come from the general fund, as it has in the past for loan requests from local fire departments.
Commissioner Moe said the loan seemed to be consistent with what has been done for other organizations. He noted that it is improving assets in the county.
Commissioner Sivertson asked if there was a policy regarding loans like this. Powers said there is not. Commissioner Garry Gamble asked Powers if he could bring a report of where money has been lent in the past.
A motion passed to grant the line of credit to Norpine Trail Association with all but Commissioner Doo-Kirk voting yes.
Temporary road closures announced
The Cook County Highway Department has scheduled the replacement of a culvert on Mineral Center Road approximately 2.6 miles west of Highway 61 (0.8 miles west of Hollow Rock Road).
Also scheduled is the replacement of two culverts on Store Road just north of the intersection of Mineral Center Road and Store Road.
These roads will be closed during construction. Work is scheduled to begin on July 6 and be completed the following day, weather permitting.
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