In 2016, a local youth organization identified that the City of Grand Marais lacked action against the threats of climate change. In response, the Grand Marais City Council passed the Climate Inheritance Resolution in 2017 and began developing a Climate Action Plan that “significantly reduces Grand Marais’ greenhouse gas emissions to levels that would protect our community’s children and grandchildren from the risk of climate change.”
In 2018 a coordinator was hired to develop the plan along with a steering committee of community members, business owners, city officials, and local youth.
A Climate Action Plan, or CAP, is a roadmap that identifies a city’s carbon emission levels and aims to reduce them sustainably.
With much of the course still under snow immediate attention will be given to the clubhouse. “Paul’s wife is in commercial real estate, and she has agreed to work pro-bono for us on the clubhouse, helping us improve the layout and helping us get a better design,” Tersteeg said.
After presenting 2019 rate adjustments to the board, Tersteeg pointed out that they were comparable to the fees charged at the Silver Bay golf course.
“The latest logic on 2019 rate adjustments is to present relatively flat, base pricing versus 2018, but not include sale tax,” he said.
After going over the rates the board passed the following prices for 2019: . Yearly pre-tax memberships adopted are: singles, $419; couples, $699; students, $279; juniors (under 18) $99; family (same household, kids 18 plus) $799; and welcome back pass cost $399.
The welcome back pass is for a new member or for a person who hasn’t had a membership at Gunflint Hills for the last years or is ages 24-29. . Seasonal cart rates (pre-tax) are $299 for singles, $349 for couples; $499 for partners (2 different households); $99 for a private cart trail fee and $199 for private cart storage. . Greens fees (pre-tax) are $20 for 9-holes and $30 for 18 holes. Juniors (under 18) play for $15 for 9 holes and $25 for 18 holes. . Daily cart rentals are $16 for a single rider for 9 holes and $8 for an extra passenger. For 18 holes it will cost $25 to rent a cart with a fee of $12.50 for an additional rider. . Twilight golf, which will start after 4 p.m., will cost $12 for unlimited holes and $12 for the cart fee with a $6 charge for an extra rider.
A discussion was held about various ways to promote the golf course, and the board agreed that the current rates just adopted and any new promotions would be subject to review through this first rebuilding season.
Jones said John Burnett (Twinkie) would be returning to work as a mechanic and groundskeeper. He worked with Burnett last fall when he was hired to winterize the greens and put the golf course to bed for the winter. Tersteeg said it looked like half of the 2018 staff was returning, but one to two seasonal helpers would have to be hired to run the course this summer.
April parks report
Year to date revenues are up $17,000 versus 2018, noted Tersteeg. “This performance matches net reservation numbers, which are also up 17.5 percent over last year. These numbers prove camping on the North Shore is more popular than ever.
“I think online booking is really driving this trend. It’s quick, easy, and secure. A lot of our growth comes from online bookings, especially shoulder season bookings.”
One notable trend, quipped Tersteeg, is that in May and October, “two months that we typically had been talking people out of reserving when we were on the phone with them, are being booked online now without anyone talking to us.”
With spring emerging the park is slowly being “de-winterized.” Water will be turned on as the ground thaws, typically beginning in the last week of April, so the park is ready for full-service camping on May 1.
Most of last year’s staff is returning to work this season, especially front desk clerks and custodians. “But we do have some season openings, and we will be advertising for those positions throughout this month,” Tersteeg said.
The timber-framed picnic shelters erected last fall on Sweetheart’s Bluff by North House employees will be finished this spring, and the four bath house locks will be replaced with a “one-key” access for staff at about the cost of $1,600, said Tersteeg.
Softball is coming back to the park as soon as April 9 at 4 p.m., the date of the Cook County High School girls’ first home game, weather permitting.
The annual Adopt-a-Beach cleanup day is scheduled for April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tersteeg encouraged the park board to come and help clean up the downtown.
Trash will be collected throughout the downtown area and on the beaches. Prizes are awarded for the oddest item found and the most garbage collected. All in all, it’s a fun day and ties in with other Earth Day events scheduled during the weekend.
And finally, “This summer we will plant another 100 trees to satisfy the commitment to the DNR Citizen Engagement Tree Planting grant,” Dave said.
Last year the park staff planted 100 trees. Some Norway pine didn’t look very good over the winter, but Dave said he has been told by people in the know they will probably survive.
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