The Grand Marais Municipal Pool brought in more revenue in the month of August than any August in the 15 years records have been kept. June, July, and August revenue was 20% higher than those months last year, and year-to-date pool revenue is up 5½% over last year. “I’d say we’ve had a pretty good summer,” said Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen at a Tuesday, September 1, 2009 park board meeting.
That doesn’t mean the going will be easy as the park board plans for 2010, however. City Administrator Mike Roth reported that the city council has charged the park board with reducing the projected 2010 operating deficit by $50,000.
The city council will not accept a budget showing a loss of more than $225,000, Roth told the park board. Some of the $50,000 that needs to be trimmed from the projected operating deficit could include suggested capital improvements that could be postponed. This year’s loss is projected at about $208-209,000.
This year, pool revenue from campers was up by $4,558, even though 258 – or 15%— fewer park guests used the pool. The additional revenue was a result of campground guests paying $3 rather than $2 to get into the pool.
Park Manager Dave Tersteeg reported that the county board agreed to fund one-third of the pool’s operating deficit for this year and next, up to $75,000 in 2010.
Tersteeg said he would think about where the operational cuts could be made and will present his ideas to the board this fall.
One suggestion already made was to close the pool an hour earlier or even to close the pool entirely on Sundays because use is lowest on that day. Tersteeg said pool users are “not happy” with that proposition, although he said they could close at 7:00 p.m on Sundays with minimal impact on pool use.
Board chair Lindsay Mielke said closing the pool at 7:00 p.m. Sundays would be better than closing entirely. “To run a business, you need to have it open,” she said.
The park board passed a motion to close the pool at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. Last month the board had voted to close at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday as well, except during the summer.
Roth commended the staff for doing a good job tracking pool use so cuts could be made with minimal impact on users.
Fisherman’s Picnic group reservations
Park Manager Tersteeg conducted a survey of seven other campgrounds to find out if they impose limits on the number of campsites that can be reserved at one time. He surveyed Minnesota and Wisconsin state parks, national parks, and parks in Two Harbors and Bayfield and on Madeleine Island. Responses varied, with some having no limit and others having limits of two to six sites per reservation.
Last month, a family that brings about 50 campers for a week around the time of Fisherman’s Picnic spoke to the park board asking that they discontinue a new rule limiting reservations to three sites.
Tersteeg said, “…It’s a standard practice to limit campsites.” He said he is comfortable continuing the new rule into the future.
Groups wanting more than three sites could make separate phone calls on January 2 when reservations open, but getting through on the phone that day can be difficult. Tersteeg said that since the park office has three computer terminals and only two phone lines, several people from one group could show up at the park office at 8:00 a.m. and each reserve three sites.
Thefamily that spoke to the board in August had already talked about making a trip to Grand Marais to reserve sites as a festive New Year’s getaway, Tersteeg said.
Wetland delineation
A state-certified wetland delineator has delineated wetlands in the campground, Tersteeg reported. The delineator walked the property and took 11 soil samples. He delineated the borders of a wetland area near the shoreline between the city garage and Sweethearts’ Bluff. An area behind the ball field was sampled as well, but no wetlands were identified.
Boating author in harbor
Bonnie Dahl, author of Superior Way, a widely acclaimed boating guide in print for 25 years and currently in its fourth edition, had arrived with her husband in their boat, the Dahlfin II, for a visit to Grand Marais. According to Tersteeg, they approved of the marina’s new finger docks. Their endorsement will be good advertising for Grand Marais, he said.
Golf course
August 2009 revenue at Gunflint Hills Golf Course was down 21% from August 2008 revenue, and year-to-date revenue is down 11% over last year.
The Grand Marais Lions Club is sponsoring a three-person golf scramble September 18. Walt Mianowski recommended that course manager Mike Kunshier advertise the event to Thunder Bay golfers. Kunshier said he expects the event to be full, but they could make room for more golfers.
Mianowski also wondered about the possibility of getting money for capital improvements through the proposed 1% countywide sales tax coming to a referendum this fall.
Budget
Year to date income in the campground is up 7% over last year, Tersteeg said, although use of the primitive sites is down. “We continue to feel the pressure for big rig sites,” he said.
Marina revenue is up 50% over last year, Tersteeg reported. He projects a $30,000 deficit overall among the park, pool, marina, and golf course. Tersteeg plans to set aside $42,000 for capital improvements next year, $12,000 more than the amount spent this year.
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