City Administrator Mike Roth reported to council Oct. 13 that he is still working to find a suitable location outside the city limits for use as a brush pile. Roth was tasked with that job following a public meeting last month during which about a dozen citizens spoke of the benefit of the burn pile, and the need to maintain it or another one in close proximity to Grand Marais.
Mayor Sue Hakes asked if the city could close its burn pile near the water tower, and simply let other sites absorb the volume. Roth said it’s a possibility, but most of the other sites, such as the one on Ball Club Road (which is the one nearest the city) are maintained by homeowner’s associations or volunteers from their area.
When Hakes asked, “Is it necessary to create another one?” Roth said no, and he is exploring the possibility of closing the present site and directing city residents to use another designated site that is already being monitored by volunteers or the Forest Service. However, he said, if that happens, the city should make some type of contribution for its upkeep, either in the form of manpower (staffing or maintenance) or money.
“We know what it’s like to deal with stuff that’s not ours,” Roth said. “We wouldn’t want to do that to them.”
In fact, he said, the city’s brush pile was burned earlier in the week on Monday, and already (by Wednesday) some illegal “inappropriate” material had been deposited. Calls continue to come in to City Hall, he said. “They want to know if the dump is open.”
Until a permanent solution is worked out, better signage will be placed at the Gunflint Trail site, and the city street department will continue to conduct burns more frequently in an effort to keep the smoke and smoldering to a minimum. A new site is being sought farther from town because of complaints generated primarily by the hospital and school about the lingering smoke and haze.
Planning commission
On the recommendation of the planning commission, council approved a conditional use permit allowing Crystal Nelson to conduct quilting classes as a home-based business at her West Second Street residence. Conditions include a limit of two three-hour classes per week; classes must end by 8 p.m.; off-street parking for four vehicles must be provided; and no retail sales are allowed. Nelson said the classes will be offered in the lower level of her home and will be held primarily during the day and early evening hours.
Councilor and planning commissioner Tim Kennedy reported that the commission is still working on proposed zoning changes on portions of Seventh and Eighth avenues west. The requested change, from C/I (Commercial/ Industrial) to MU (Commercial- Residential Mixed Use), has been under discussion by the planning commission the past two months, along with a lot of public input, said Kennedy.
Another option, he said, is to rezone the area R-1 (Residential), which would be a bit more restrictive than Mixed Use. “It’s a complex issue,” Kennedy said. “There are various uses there now, but it’s clearly a residential area.”
City Administrator Mike Roth said there is agreement among the residents and planning commissioners that the existing zoning is inappropriate. The city will send out one more packet of information including maps and a chart illustrating the differences between the proposed zones, before a public meeting and final decision is made, said Roth. “We want to make sure everybody understands the different zones,” he said.
Pool boiler
A vote on a park board request to replace the swimming pool boiler at a cost of between $15,000 and $20,000 was put on hold in order to gather some more information.
Dave Tersteeg, park manager, said the central boiler that heats the building, domestic hot water, big pool and hot tub has developed cracks in two of its seven heat exchangers. Repair of the boiler is estimated at about $5,000.
Tersteeg said he has heard from contractors that a new high-efficiency boiler would result in annual energy savings of 20-25 percent, but he has seen no facts or figures to back up those claims. He also said it is not a “crisis” situation, because there is a functioning back-up boiler, and even a back-up to the back-up.
Roth said the system in the 30-yearold building is definitely at the end of its life. But, he also pointed out that five years ago, the pool didn’t have a back-up boiler at all. And, added Kennedy, a new boiler may pay for itself in four years, “but will the pool still be there?”
Asked for his recommendation, Tersteeg said he will let the back-up boiler run, and in the meantime try to get more information or a guarantee on the fuel savings and payback time of a new unit. If the back-ups fail, he said, a new boiler can be obtained within two days.
Roth said that was a good approach to the problem. “The risk is pretty low. If you’re not comfortable with spending $20,000, let’s take a little time to investigate further.”
A pool will be included in the plans for a new community center near the school campus, scheduled to open in fall 2012. There was consensus among councilors that as little money as possible should be used to maintain the current building. The subject will be put on council’s agenda next month.
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