Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg appeared before Grand Marais City Council April 27 to discuss progress on development of a pedestrian-friendly entrance to the Rec Park and planned upgrades for the campground.
The first item was a recommendation from the park board for award of a contract for planning and designing the community connection at the northeast corner of the recreation area. Tersteeg explained that 10 responses were received as a result of the request for proposals for Phase One issued in March. The park board reviewed those proposals and narrowed the list down to four firms, which were interviewed at a special park board meeting April 18.
Tersteeg said the consensus was to award the contract for $24,700 to Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. of Duluth. The first phase includes plan and design only. Tersteeg said the actual build-out of the project is a budget issue the city council will have to address.
City Administrator Mike Roth said there is no budget for project construction, partly because there is “no idea” of what it will entail until the initial phase is completed. The problem, he said, is that it is probably not a $10,000 project, but it’s not a $2 million project, either.
Tersteeg said the plan is to go ahead and start the three-month planning project and see what develops. The first part of the project will entail a site survey and concept design development. In the meantime, Roth said he would begin seeking funding through grants or other sources for construction. Council awarded the planning contract to SEH.
Next, Tersteeg presented the park board’s recommendation to hire Edwin E. Thoreson Inc. of Grand Marais to construct a sewer line extension in the campground to upgrade 20 campsites that currently have only electricity and water. Total cost of that project is $47,475.65.
The park board also wants to upgrade the electric hook-ups at the sites and is in the process of seeking bids for that work. However, if the funds are not available this year, the electric upgrades will be done in phases over the coming years as the budget allows.
Council approved award of the sewer line contract, and Tersteeg said it is hoped that that work can begin in May and be completed for the summer season.
Arts Festival is 21!
Amy Demmer, director of the Grand Marais Art Colony, led off the meeting with a request to hold the annual Arts Festival July 8-10.
Yes, she said, it’s hard to believe the event is actually 21 years old, but over that time the festival has grown to become one of the premier happenings of the year. The request, Demmer said, is similar to that of previous years and will include a similar number of participants (about 60). The request asks that Wisconsin Street be blocked off from First Avenue West to Highway 61, and Second Avenue West be closed from Wisconsin Street to the alley behind the Johnson Heritage Post. The closures will be in effect from 5 p.m. Friday, July 8 until Sunday, July 10. The city was also asked to provide garbage receptacles for use by visitors and allow use of electricity in Bear Tree Park and Harbor Park.
The Art Colony will provide proof of insurance and two satellite restrooms and will require artists to remove their own trash. The last item was the subject of a brief discussion stemming from problems in years past when vendors and artists left behind large quantities of trash the city had to pay to dispose of. Demmer said it won’t be a problem — those participants who are unable to haul their trash away will bag it up, and the Art Colony will arrange to have somebody haul it away for proper disposal.
Council unanimously approved the request.
Demmer also told council that the Art Colony has been awarded a $23,000 grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to advertise for the Grand Marais event.
Leave a Reply