Grand Marais city councilors spent most of their time during the Jan. 9 meeting making appointments to various boards and commissions, with the majority of the positions being filled by incumbents who expressed interest in retaining their posts.
However, it was noted that vacancies remain (on the planning commission and park board) and interested residents are still encouraged to apply. There was a shortage of applicants following the first posting of vacancies at the end of 2012.
Citizens appointed to positions were Mark Sandbo, Economic Development Authority board; Walt Mianowski, park board; Dawn Byholm and Brienne Moody, library board; and Karl Hansen, Public Utilities Commission. Openings remain on the park board and planning commission (one each).
The list of councilors appointed as members to city boards stayed the same: Bob Spry, EDA; Jan Sivertson, library and public utilities boards; Bill Lenz, ARDC, North Shore Management and park boards; Mayor Larry Carlson, personnel committee and public utilities board; and Tim Kennedy, planning commission, PUC and safety committee.
In addition, Lenz was named liaison to Animal Advocates; Sivertson as liaison to North House Folk School; and Kennedy as council’s representative to CCLEP (Cook County Local Energy Project) and Active Living/Safe Routes to School. Kennedy was also re-elected acting mayor.
In other housekeeping matters, the Cook County News-Herald was retained as the city’s official newspaper, and designated as depositories were the Grand Marais State Bank, North Shore Federal Credit Union, Security State Bank, LMC/4M Fund and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. City Administrator Mike Roth said the latter arrangement works out well because none of the banks want to be the sole depository. “The city has too much money,” he said.
Turning to other agenda items:
Council approved some adjustments to the city’s Fire Relief Fund policy that improve the section governing Survivor Benefits. Members must accrue five years of service before the benefits take effect.
Mayor Larry Carlson reported that he has received a complaint about the blasting being done at the construction site at the high school. He said the caller didn’t like it that the blasting was being done until 8 p.m. Administrator Mike Roth said there is no ordinance prohibiting or restricting the hours of such activity, and the construction crews are doing the blasting between 4 and 8 p.m. so as not to disturb the students while school is in session.
“You would be hard-pressed to do something before it [blasting] is completed,” Roth said when asked about the possibility of drafting and enacting an ordinance before the construction is done. Councilors agreed that such action is not necessary. The blasting is being done to make way for the new YMCA swimming pool.
Roth said he had been notified by
Tim Corby, the city’s contact person with LHB Engineering, that he is no longer with the firm. Roth said the city has been working with Corby on its public works project but is otherwise “not deeply invested in anything with him.”
Council said it would prefer to continue working with LHB on the public works project and look at options with either LHB or a new engineering firm when it is time to consider the next project, since the city is under no contractual obligation with LHB.
Roth said he did speak with county highway department administrators to confirm that the county was not interested in partnering with the city on the public works project, and the city will now proceed on its own with a space needs study. Sites under consideration are the business park and an area between the hospital and water tower.
Councilor Jan Sivertson reported that plans to refurbish the historic Gunflint Trail signs near the library are “in a waiting mode” due to some type of misunderstanding between the Gunflint Trail Association and Yarrow Korf, who had said he would do the cleaning and re-painting this winter. Sivertson said she was told that the Gunflint Trail Association still has an interest in and wants to pay for the project, but must now find a new contractor.
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