At the request of downtown businesses, Grand Marais city councilors said they will reserve a portion of their next meeting to discuss the city’s snow removal policy.
Eric Humphrey of the Lake Superior Trading Post, who was also representing the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association, led off council’s Jan. 13 meeting by speaking during the open forum. He said it was important for both locals and visitors that the city have “safe and clear” sidewalks, but observed that as of late, the sidewalks have been anything but.
“We would like to see some progress— what can we do about this?” Humphrey asked. “People do
comment on this.”
City Administrator Mike Roth said the city’s ordinance requires property owners to maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their buildings, and that includes removal of ice and snow. However, he said, it’s been the practice of the city to clear the sidewalks early in the morning. That way, he said, the snow can be pushed into the street before the plows go through, and all of the snow can be removed at once.
But, said Roth, the city doesn’t normally have the time to do the detail work: it’s still the responsibility of the owners to do a higher level of clean-up if they so desire, he said.
Humphrey said he understood the policy, but said it was inconsistent and lacked enforcement. For instance, nobody clears the sidewalks in front of his store, he said. And while he wasn’t advocating a “heavy-handed” approach to enforcement, Humphrey suggested that perhaps a letter could be sent to downtown merchants reminding them of their responsibilities and urging compliance. “That might be invite Lenny Bloomquist of the Street ” a good first step to inform them in a positive way,” he said.
Following a brief discussion, councilors decided to add the topic to their Jan. 27 meeting agenda, and Department to participate and offer his suggestions. Roth warned that the city may have to “force compliance” if the city is serious about solving the problem. But, said Mayor Sue Hakes, even if there isn’t 100 percent compliance, “we’re making progress.”
In other business:
George Wilkes and Buck Benson of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) asked council for support of two projects.
The first was a letter of support to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which will in turn apply for a grant through the federal Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the local organization. Wilkes said the $60,000 grant would help fund an administrator for CCLEP over the next three years. “We’re just asking you to vouch for us and say we’re an effective organization for promoting energy efficiency and renewable resources,” Benson said. “We’re not asking for much of a commitment from the city.”
The second request was more vague, and was described as a notice of intent to apply for a grant from the state Department of Commerce for renewable energy projects. Wilkes said he believed the funds could be used for some projects already discussed, such as solar-powered hot water heating units at the Rec. Park bathhouses, renovation of city buildings for better energy efficiency, or pursuit of a feasibility study for a biomass district heating facility.
Council supported both requests, with the exception of Mayor Hakes, who said she was frustrated by being asked to support things brought before council at the last minute. (Theletter of support was due two days after the meeting, and the letter of intent for the state grant is due Jan. 29.) Benson said “we were surprised ourselves” to learn of the grant availability, albeit on short notice, and neither really required a commitment on the part of the city. Still, said Hakes, “I like to know what I’m supporting when I sign my name.”
On the recommendation of the planning commission, Steve and Monica Lack were granted a variance allowing creation of a buildable lot on their Harbor View Trail property. Although the lot size is bigger than required, it is of an irregular shape.
The planning commission’s recommendation to deny a variance request from Great Expectations School was also upheld. The school was requesting permission to install two 35-square-foot signs on their property (one on each street frontage), rather than the maximum 24-square-foot signs allowed under the ordinance governing R-2 zoning. Theplanning commission members reasoned that they didn’t want to set a precedent by allowing oversize signs, and council agreed.
Chamber of Commerce Director Bev Wolke presented a Storefront Loan application from Jill Terrill, owner of “Threads,” in the amount of $15,000 to make renovations and improvements to her building on First Avenue West. Plans call for new lighting and doors, new signs and siding, and installation of a metal tree sculpture in the sidewalk in front of the former Lind Chevrolet building. Council approved the loan.
Council made a number of appointments to the city’s boards, all for three years: Walt Mianowski, park board; Dawn Byholm and David Quick, library board; and Bob Spry, Public Utilities Commission. One person is still needed to fill a vacancy on the park board, as Lindsay Mielke has declined re-appointment.
Councilors decided not to change their assignments as representatives on the various city boards, and elected Jan Sivertson as acting mayor. Mileage rates for 2010 were approved at 50 cents per mile (down from 55 cents) as per IRS guidelines, and the News-Herald
was chosen as the city’s newspaper of record.
Councilors directed Roth to require some evidence from the Grand Marais Hotel Company that a new “Shoreline Motel” sign is in fact in production, and to seek a quote from a sign company to remove the existing dilapidated structure if the owners do not do so on their own.
The topic was brought up by Hakes, who said she was “sick of it” following a recent phone call to the sign owners. Theowners have promised on three separate occasions that they would replace the sign, and most recently were granted a $15,000 loan by council to purchase a new one. But, said Hakes, the sign at the intersection of Broadway and Highway 61 has become more and more dangerous and unsightly, and there are legitimate safety concerns.
The city threatened legal action in a Nov. 30 letter that gave the owners 30 days to repair or remove the sign, or face criminal charges. The check for the loan was cashed in mid-December, but there is still no evidence that anything is happening, said Hakes.
“We’re just looking for it not to be dangerous and ugly,” said Councilor Jan Sivertson.
Noting that the city has approved applications twice for a new sign, and even granted a low-interest loan for purchase of a new sign, Roth said, “They’re running out of reasons not to replace it.”
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