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The Grand Marais City Council held a short but productive meeting on April 26.
Shane Steele, Sustainability Coordinator, came before the city council to present two Stormwater Grant Project service agreements to the council and asked them to approve hiring EOR Inc. to do the work.
EOR Inc. is well aware of the city’s stormwater issues, noted Steele, adding, “They did write the city’s stormwater management plan.”
Steele said the city has received grant funding from the Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program to pursue two stormwater projects. Those projects include updating the city’s stormwater management model and conducting a feasibility study for the 1st Avenue stormwater pond behind the Cook County Co-op.
The city is seeking engineering solutions for the stormwater system and pond behind the Cook County Co-op and possibly some solutions for the stormwater that gathers in front of the co-op after significant rain, Shane said.
The pond in the back of the Co-op was designed to retain and infiltrate stormwater runoff. However, it has become a concern for the city and nearby businesses because of questions about water quality, erosion, and vegetation establishment issues.
Steele talked about a dry well located Northeast of the Co-op pond connected to the storm sewer system that needs evaluation.
To determine how effectively the Co-op pond works, the city is being advised to install a permanent level logger “so that the variability in water levels can be determined as this will inform the retrofit operations and concept plan.”
The second project involves the retention pond below Highway 61 off 8th Avenue West in the Rec Park.
Council unanimously approved the hiring of EOR Inc. to do the work outlined by Steele.
Steele said the city has collaborated with Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) on stormwater projects, greatly aiding the city.
In other business:
Council approved an updated job description for the Lineworker position.
An amended agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to add the Community Connector to the city’s limited issue permit was approved. The community connector will be built between North House Folk School and the City Rec Park this summer (just off Highway 61). The original permit with MnDOT was made for the recent Highway 61 reconstruction and allowed for planters, bike racks, and benches to be located in MnDOT’s right of way.
A second reading of the ordinance amending the animal leash requirements was read and approved. The amended ordinance states, “No domestic animal (including but not limited to dogs and cats) shall be permitted outside the owner’s property or other private property with the permission of the property owner, unless such animal is on a leash and kept under the control of the owner or person charged with its care. No unattended domestic animal shall be tethered or leashed so as to allow it to reach the public street or sidewalk. Domestic animals may be off-leash on the owner’s property or other private property with permission of the property owner, as provided in this Section, or to swim in Lake Superior so long as the domestic animal remains within 100 feet of their owner and is under verbal control of the owner or person charged with its care.
Off-leash activity as allowed in this Section shall not create a nuisance as defined in 90.006 or otherwise violate this chapter of other applicable law.”
A second provision allows dogs to be off-leash in a city-designated dog park in city limits.
Councilor Craig Schulte said the PUC had ordered and received a new work truck to replace the 2005 truck.
Schulte, the council’s liaison to the PUC, said the PUC had approved the purchase. As for the old truck, Schulte said, “We will auction off or sell the old truck.”
Councilor Michael Garry moved, and Councilor Aaron Carlson seconded to approve the final payment for the truck with ayes from Councilor Ben Peters and Mayor Tracy Benson.
Schulte said a company would come here in June to purge city fire hydrants and identify ones not working correctly. He said local firefighters would get some training from the company doing the work.
Mayor Benson complimented WTIP on its 25th anniversary. “They are the true voice for our community,” she said, noting she would post a proclamation honoring WTIP on the city’s website.
Benson said she recently had tea with U.S. Senator Tina Smith, who was in Grand Portage for meetings. Benson said they discussed finding federal funding for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Benson said the city has requested federal assistance, and both Smith and Senator Amy Klobuchar have said they will do their best to help the town get financial help from the government.
Councilor Michael Garry said he had a meeting with the YMCA and talked about log rolling. The local Y has discontinued allowing log rolling in the facility, but there have been efforts to bring the sport back to the community. Garry said Cook County Commissioner David Mills would continue the discussions with upper-level management at the Y about why the long-running program was canceled.
“We are going to keep pushing until we can get a clear answer,” said Garry.
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