City councilors granted approval for construction of a new sign on city property and gave a green light to the Grand Marais community connection project at their Oct. 10 meeting. Plans to begin the process for a public works facility, however, were put on hold.
The first request was submitted by Sarah Hamilton of Trail Center Lodge. Speaking for a group of Gunflint Trail businesses, Hamilton asked if they could put up a ladder sign listing winter business hours on a city lot at the corner of Fifth Avenue West and the new Gunflint Trail.
The 10-foot by 5-foot sign would be on the lot, about 15-20 feet behind the curb, and is in compliance with the city’s sign ordinance. It is similar to existing signs posted along the Gunflint Trail. The sign would be temporary, going up Nov. 1 and coming down by early May.
In her letter to council, Hamilton explained that the restaurants on the Trail limit their hours during the winter months, which often creates frustration with visitors who don’t know when the businesses are open. There is no good way to advertise each business and its winter hours, said Hamilton.
The seasonal sign would include Trail Center, Hungry Jack Lodge, Windigo Lodge, Big Bear Lodge and Gunflint Lodge.
Council supported the sign plan and agreed it’s a great idea. “It’s a good thing to have,” said Mayor Larry “Bear” Carlson. “How many people have driven up there only to find things closed?”
City Attorney Chris Hood said he saw no problems with allowing the sign on city property, but recommended a license agreement before it went up. Sarah and Anna Hamilton, who are coordinating the effort, said they had no problems with that and expected the sign to be put up in time for this winter.
Dave Tersteeg, the city’s parks manager, presented the second request. On the recommendation of the park board, Tersteeg said he wanted the council to approve a list of firm quotes from contractors that will allow work on the community connection to begin this fall.
The list totals $41,884 and includes quotes of $9,664 from Skadberg Masonry for concrete sidewalk and steps, and Edwin E. Thoreson for the remainder – retaining walls, aggregate, channel stabilization, grading and stabilization, and bituminous trail (8 feet wide by 2 feet wide).
Based on contractor schedules, said Tersteeg, the timeline for project build-out has two phases: concrete and stormwater work with grading and creation of a compacted aggregate trail this fall; and spring completion which involves trail paving, bridge installation and landscaping.
Tersteeg said pending council approval, he expects work to begin soon and to be performed by the same crews who worked so well on the neighboring North House Folk School’s project. “We hope we can keep some of that good synergy going,” Tersteeg said before council voted unanimously to approve the quotes and get the project rolling.
The final request was presented by City Administrator Mike Roth to set the wheels in motion for a long-discussed public works facility. Roth handed out a scope of work and $10,844 pre-planning services proposal from LHB, but cautioned that the draft did not include some provisions and details that he and the city attorney believed were necessary. A revised draft containing the essential information has been prepared and returned to LHB for their consideration, Roth said.
Before approving anything, though, there were some questions about the city moving the project along on its own, rather than working with the county – which also has similar needs – to build a joint facility.
“This seems like duplication upon duplication here,” said Mayor Carlson. “It seems like a natural if we could combine with the county and the school, and build something we all need.”
Council member Jan Sivertson agreed. “It just doesn’t make sense that we wouldn’t want to save money and work together.”
Roth said that the last time he inquired of the county commissioners and engineer about the project, they were not interested in a joint facility, nor was MnDOT or the DNR (which has since devised plans for its own building). At the urging of council, Roth said he would ask the county and MnDOT one more time if they’re interested in collaborating with the city on the project. If there is no interest, he said, it’s time for the city to move forward on its own.
The city wants a new public works facility in order to remove old buildings and equipment from the waterfront at the Rec Park and consolidate PUC operations elsewhere. Possible locations for a new building include a lot in the business park, or city-owned sites on Fifth Avenue West (adjacent to the hospital) or County Road 12 (brush site).
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