County Highway Engineer David Betts came before the county board on Tuesday, April 12 with a special event permit application for the 2016 Le Grand du Nord to be held May 28.
“This event will consist of two separate [bicycle] races, a 100-mile route and a 50-mile route,” said Betts.
Because the routes use county roads, Betts’ staff and the Sheriff ’s Office staff will make sure intersections are monitored to help with safety.
Both races start on Broadway Avenue in downtown Grand Marais. The event coordinator, Jeremy Kershaw of Heck of the North Productions LLC, in Duluth, requested use of Croftville Road, Lindskog Road, North Road, Arrowhead Trail, Gunflint Trail, Devil Track Road, and County Roads 6, 7 and 48. The race will finish at the Cook County Community YMCA.
Betts said an estimated 200 riders are anticipated. County Administrator Jeff Cadwell said he will be a participant, but added, “There are very few people racing this. Most people are gravel grinding and can’t wait to get to a growler of beer at the end of the ride.”
When questions arose about event safety, Betts said Kershaw had run other biking events in St. Louis and Lake counties with success.
Commissioners passed the resolution to grant the permit 5-0. Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk added, “I am terrified and horrified” about the prospects of the race being run on the fishing opener and Mother’s Day weekend. Betts said he too was worried, but felt everything was in order and they could only hope bicyclists ride safely when they were near traffic. Lower speed limit on Gunflint Trail?
John McDonald, assistant district engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Jarrett Valdez, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) transportation director gave an update about the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (ATP).
The role of the ATP, said McDonald, is to work with eight counties to plan, prioritize, and make effective measurements on the use of federal transportation funds in northeast Minnesota. As part of its mission, ATP recommends four-year investment lists of projects for northeast Minnesota. McDonald went over those with the board.
One such project in Cook County this summer is the replacement of the Devil Track bridge on Highway 61.
Discussion turned to the Gunflint Trail.
“How much flexibility is there to lowering the speed limit on the Gunflint Trail?” Commissioner Frank Moe asked.
McDonald said MnDOT does speed studies to establish standards and minimal speeds on state aid roads like the Gunflint Trail but, because the Gunflint Trail is also a Scenic Byway, there might be other options to consider when setting the speed limit. He said he would look into those for the county.
Doo-Kirk said she doesn’t want to risk losing funding for the Gunflint Trail nor harm the relationship the county has with its highway engineer or MnDOT, but added that she would like to see the speed limit lowered without adding more signs to the trail.
“…We feel really strongly that adding more signs to notify motorists is not welcome,” said Doo-Kirk. ”Even if we can leave it at 50 M.P.H. without putting out more signs would be appreciated.” Side roads and dust control
Summer maintenance contracts for special service districts were awarded to the following low bidders: Mike Rose Excavating for Evergreen Road; LaBoda Grading, Inc. for Voyageur’s Point and Mile-O-Pine; Edwin E. Thoreson, Inc. for Rosebush Hill and West Rosebush Lane.
Highway Engineer Betts was given authorization to solicit bids for approximately
144,000 gallons of 38 percent calcium chloride solution liquid. Calcium chloride is used to keep the dust down on gravel roads. Working toward Safe Routes to School
Cadwell introduced the updated Safe Routes to School Plan on behalf of the Safe Routes to School Committee (SRTSC).
Cadwell said SRTSC was requesting support from the county for the continuation of Safe Routes to School programming, which would help obtain future grants, and help fulfill the committee’s vision of children walking and biking safely in the community.
Following his brief presentation the board passed a motion of support and thanked the SRTSC for its work. Comprehensive Trail Plan
Land Use Permits and Wetlands Supervisor Dave Demmer presented the recently completed Cook County Comprehensive Trail Plan which has been worked on for the last nine months.
Demmer said many individuals, user groups, the U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), City of Grand Marais, Cook County, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa all contributed to the plan. He also said that outside of public meetings, over 80 comments were received with many of those ideas implemented into the plan.
While the plan looked at current trail uses (motorized and non-motorized) Demmer said emerging activities like skijoring and fat tire biking were also identified.
The goal is to “Try to connect people and places,” Demmer said.
Strategic trail hubs have been identified that when developed will help expand trail use, said Demmer.
Commissioners thanked Demmer and all of the people who worked on the plan and unanimously adopted the plan.
In other business
. Commissioners passed a motion to accept a 2016 Boat and Water grant for the Sheriff’s Office of $11,716. This is an annual grant that comes from the state, said Cadwell.
Money from the grant will be used to supplement wages, purchase equipment, provide education and perform boat and water enforcement.
. Zoar Lutheran Church in Lutsen was granted a permit for bingo at the Tofte Town Hall on July 4, 2016. The value of winning prizes will be less than $1,500.
. A public hearing will be held on April 26 at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ room to consider changes to miscellaneous fees. Changes to the county’s permit to carry fees will be considered.
. Leah Ekstrom was introduced as the county’s new victim witness coordinator/paralegal. Ekstrom has been working as the office administrator in the county attorney’s office.
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