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During public comments, Marja Erickson came before the city council with a request for a letter of support from the City so the Cook County Historical Society could apply to the state for approximately two million dollars in grant money. Among other things, the money would be used to build space to store artifacts to keep them safe. Grand Marais Mayor Jay DeCoux said he could write the letter of support on behalf of the City, and Council had no objections to DeCoux’s offer of help.
When public comments ended, DeCoux opened the meeting requesting the meeting agenda be modified because the Cook County Tennis Association had met its funding and didn’t need funding from the City at this time, and the 4th street rain garden required more work on the document language before coming before the Council.
Cook County Soil and Water requested approval for making a rain garden in the right-of-way along West 4th Street. The adjoining landowner agreed to contribute 25 percent of the project’s costs and offered to maintain the garden for the next ten years.
• * Next, Council discussed Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District’s request to close the gullied alley eroded portion of 4th Avenue West at 1st Street and construct a permanently vegetated swale. Council approved this project in 2019 but asked two questions: “How will soil stay on top of the bedrock in this area and not be washed away? And “How much more runoff will be diverted through the Wannebo property?”
To answer the first question, sandy clay loam soil will be used along with a turf reinforcement beneath the soil surface to prevent soil erosion. To answer the second question, the runoff will no longer be diverted into a natural existing runoff channel in the Wanebo property. Therefore, Council approved the project, the City will be responsible for 25 percent of the matching funds, and the SWCD will provide 75 percent of the project’s eligible costs.
• Council accepted a draft RFP for liquor store designs from architectural firms. In 2019 the City completed a liquor study and a predesign concept for the City Hall/Liquor Store. The idea included public restrooms in 2020. The concept was to build one story (approximately) 14,400 square foot building on the existing site of the City Hall Liquor Store. City Administrator Mike Roth said the City would work with McGough as the Construction Manager. All proposals must be sent to the City by September 21, 2022. The City will reserve the right to reject any proposals or to negotiate a contract that is in the best interest of the City at the absolute sole discretion of the City Council.
• Council approved a bid by KTM to apply a twoinch bituminous overlay to the east and west sections of the roadway in the Rec Park. The east section is above the park office and bath house #1 and totals about 540 feet, while the west stretch is the lower road that accesses the lakeside tent sites and is about 1,030 feet. The cost to complete both sections is $57,329.
• Cook County Curling Club applied for and received a liquor license for on-sale liquor, wine or beer.
• Cassidy Gecas was approved a liquor license for UP Yonder, LLC, the previous Harbor Light Supper Club.
• Council had a lengthy discussion about the North House proposal to purchase the city land that houses the main campus on the waterfront.
Mayor Jay DeCoux excused himself because he works for North House, so Craig Schulte took over as acting mayor. In short, councilors seemed to agree that the City needs to maintain ownership of the property to preserve it for future generations, and most agreed the lease should be revised. However, Councilor Tracy Benson wondered if North House might have outgrown the space and said some folks have told her they think the land is already overdeveloped.
City Administrator Mike Roth suggested inviting North House to present its Master Plan to the Council so the Council could better understand the school’s longterm plan to add more class space and address parking issues, among other things. Schulte thought that was a good idea for the future and called for a close to the meeting.
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