Grand Marais Mayor Larry “Bear” Carlson told city councilors April 27 that he has been getting comments and complaints about the general run-down and shabby appearance of some businesses and asked what could be done about it.
“This is a tourist town, and people think we should look better than we do,” Carlson said. He asked Roth if there was anything the city could do to persuade the owners in question to spruce up their properties.
Council agreed that, rather than enacting or enforcing ordinances, the city administrator should first speak with the owners and stress the importance of presenting a neat appearance. Councilor Bill Lenz observed that perhaps it’s time for the city as well to take a serious look at cleaning up its own property, particularly in the area of the old power plant on the Lake Superior shoreline in the Rec Park.
The site is littered with old equipment and still serves as a garage and storage area for the city’s public utilities department.
Roth and council said they were well aware of the problem and the incompatible uses at the site, and Roth said efforts to build a joint garage/storage facility with the county have been dropped because the county has withdrawn its interest in the endeavor. “Right now, cost is the biggest factor with relocating, but it’s definitely something we can spend time on if we want to.”
Mayor Carlson also said he has concerns about campers, motor homes and boats being parked on streets for long periods of time, sometimes creating traffic hazards where the road is “significantly narrowed.” City Attorney Chris Hood said he would look into the question of who has authority to enact ordinances restricting parking when the infraction is on a county road but within the city limits.
Housing Report
Nancy Grabko, director of the Lake and Cook County Joint Housing Initiative, gave an overview of the program’s 2010 annual report. She pointed out that of the $483,500 allotted for operating expenses, only 14 percent went for program administration. “We are working hard to procure additional funding,” Grabko said, noting that an application from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to rehabilitate 16 residential and commercial properties is still pending.
“We hope to have word on that by late May,” she said, noting that even if the requested $548,000 is reduced due to budget cuts, any amount received will be a benefit to the program — there will simply be fewer projects undertaken than were originally planned.
Grabko also pointed out the positive return on the investment the city and Cook County have received since its inception in 2008: 15 owner-occupied rehabs in Grand Marais; three in rural Cook County; and seven Cook County (Creechville) assessment abatements. There are 83 households currently on the waiting list.
“There’s no doubt this program has done everything it was hoped it would do,” said Councilor Tim Kennedy. “It’s been a big success story.”
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