Representatives of the Cook County Local Energy Project and the Grand Marais District Heat Task Force presented a report to the county board on March 12 of the results of a study on the feasibility of a biomass-fueled district heating plant in Grand Marais.
The study indicates that the project is technically viable, and while the system would be “capital intensive,” a range of federal, state, and regional agencies have expressed interest in helping finance it.
The county board had previously agreed to dedicate $355,000 of 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax revenue toward this project — $112,000 to determine if the plant was feasible and the rest if it turned out to be feasible.
At this meeting, the board authorized the release of the other $243,000, which will fund the development of a business plan, the design of the plant, and recommendations for how to move forward with the project.
Not a community of predators
During the public comments portion of the March 19 county board meeting, community member Tod Sylvester spoke to the board about a Facebook posting by Cook County Visitors Bureau (CCVB) Director Sally Nankivell that asked, “Would the venomous comments and the passion for protecting young teenagers from older, predatory men exist…if 1) [County Attorney] Tim [Scannell] were a ‘local’; and 2) if he hadn’t successfully prosecuted a ‘local’ man who engaged in predatory sexual behavior? I hope the locals posting here who appear to be so passionate about this topic will actually do something useful to change the longstanding local culture of predatory sexual behavior in this community….”
Nankivell was referring to reactions to news of a restraining order prohibiting Scannell from having contact with a local teenage girl and her family.
Sylvester said, “…For far too long the ‘local’ has felt we are not fairly represented. We feel the people this board chooses to put in power, and even members on this board, choose to be judgmental and choose to discriminate against us.” He said he had been treated in an unfriendly way at the CCVB and could not obtain their hours of operation or a list of their board of directors when he asked for them.
“This issue highlights the CCVB and its board of directors that does not look out for the best interests of Cook County,” Sylvester said. “We are not a community of predators. There is no proof to Nankivell’s accusations and the ‘locals’ feel it’s time to stop the lies and discrimination.” He called on the board to “clean up the crap it’s allowed to dump on ‘locals’ and their ancestors who built this community and courthouse.” He said, “I believe everyone who lives, works, or votes here is a local and there should be zero room [for] discriminating against segments of the population.”
North House thriving
Also on March 19, North House Folk School Director Greg Wright and board member Buck Benson gave the board an update on the organization. North House is “thriving,” Wright said, and after 16 years of operation, it continues to grow.
In 2012, more than 10,000 people attended special events and community programs, and class enrollment of 231 students this February, during the “off-season,” was greater than the number of students who attended classes during either July or August last year.
“It’s been a great journey,” said Wright, “and there’s a lot more years ahead, I’m sure.”
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