Grand Marais city councilors reviewed revenue and expenditures before reaching a decision on the 2017 levy for city residents. The council agreed to set the levy at $919,769, an increase of 5.49 percent.
The council also looked at its five-year capital improvement plan, which includes the estimated $4 million public works facility in progress. Other capital improvements proposed are electrical system meter replacement in 2018; city hall/liquor store renovation or construction in 2018; electric digger/derrick truck in 2019; Highway 61 corridor project in 2019; First Street reconstruction in 2020 and Fifth Avenue Reconstruction in 2021.
Although requests from city department were met for 2017 and the public works facility is funded, Roth said no funds are earmarked for the other capital improvements. He said the five-year projection was primarily a planning tool.
Work on public works property
The former Tomteboda Resort/Gateway Lodge property now belongs to the City of Grand Marais and it will eventually be the site of the city’s public works facility. The property is being cleared by citizens taking the city up on the offer to purchase structures at bargain basement prices with the understanding that they be moved to other locations.
At the September 14 city council meeting, City Administrator Mike Roth told the council that the city had received a purchase offer from Gary and Ann Jorgenson of Grand Marais for the building that served as an information center/ restaurant for Gateway Lodge. Roth noted that the city hadn’t decided whether or not it wanted to keep the building to repurpose in some way.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux said if the council entertained the offer of $1,000 for the building, it would be moved for them. Councilor Tracy Benson pointed out that the city purchased the site for the land. “We don’t want to be in the property management business,” she said.
Benson made a motion, seconded by Councilor Anton Moody to sell the building to the Jorgensons. Roth said the family would be moving the building to their property east of Grand Marais to be converted to a residence.
Roth told the council that another offer had been submitted by Susan Krisecak for two small cabins, a fourplex building at the back of the lot and the garage. The interested party offered $107 for each structure. Roth said he had no qualms about the cabin or fourplex, but said the garage is part of the motel. He said he had some “misgivings” about letting the garage be moved off the site, leaving a hole in the middle of the motel.
Benson suggested approving the request, including the garage, with the caveat that Krisecak takes the entire motel structure. Her colleagues agreed and a motion passed to sell the structures as discussed.
In August, the council approved the sale of two log buildings at the site to Donn Eliasen of Grand Marais for $1 each.
In related business, the council passed a motion to approve advertising for a request for proposals (RFP) for a firm to act as construction manager for the public works facility.
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