Work will soon be under way on a $79,500 rehab project at the GunFlint Tavern. Scheduled work includes window replacement, tuckpointing of all exterior walls and installation of new doors and air conditioning units. City council has approved a loan of $9,500 to go toward the project from its IRRRB revolving loan fund.
The Grand Marais City Council approved a $9,500 commercial rehab loan request from the GunFlint Tavern June 12.
GunFlint Tavern owner Jeff Gecas attended the meeting along with Housing Administrator Nancy Grabko and Hal Greenwood of the Grand Marais – Cook County Economic Development Authority. City Administrator Mike Roth explained that the loan comes from a commercial rehab revolving loan fund established through a grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. A similar loan was recently granted for a rehab project at The Garage; overall the program has funded about $234,000 worth of improvements for downtown Grand Marais businesses.
Grabko said the loan recipients are chosen by an independent community review committee comprised of Greenwood, Vicki Wentz and Jan Sivertson. The GunFlint Tavern was one of four applicants ranked.
Plans for the GunFlint Tavern project call for replacement of window units, tuckpointing of all exterior walls, and installation of new doors and heat/air conditioning units. Total cost of the work is estimated at $79,500 which will be funded by the city IRRRB grant, the Cook County Revolving Loan Fund ($26,500), an EDA Small Cities Development Program grant ($38,500) and a $5,000 commitment by the business owner.
In other business, council approved an updated job description for the park maintenance worker position. Roth said the duties and minimum requirements have not changed, rather the description (written in the 1990s) has been revised to conform with the city’s current format. The new position description will allow the park maintenance staff to be used in a more flexible manner, said Roth, adding he doesn’t expect any problems with the revision.
Councilor Bob Spry, who manages the city’s fireworks displays, asked that a new multi-year agreement be signed with the fireworks supplier in order to qualify for a 15 percent discount. Council had no problem with the agreement, but it was unclear who had the authority to sign it. The agreement was referred to the city attorney, who will review it and have it ready for approval at council’s next meeting.
Finally, councilor and library board member Jan Sivertson reported that the budgeting process for the library is under way, with costs of the recent expansion and renovation being factored in. The board is also working with an interior designer to complete the purchase of new furniture for the building.
Sivertson lastly reported on a recent incident in which kids were skateboarding on/off the library roof and asked if council thought some type of warning signs should be put up. It was quickly agreed that that was not necessary, as long as law enforcement officials were contacted.
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