Rain gardens look and perform better when there is steward to take care of them. Cook County Soil and Water staffers Kerrie Berg and Ilena Berg do some clean up on the rain garden by the library.
Kerrie Berg of Cook County Soil & Water presented an update on the continuing process to develop rain gardens throughout the county to Grand Marais city councilors at their Feb. 25 meeting.
Specifically, Berg wanted to know if she should continue her efforts to plan for and earmark some of the available grant funds for construction of a proposed rain garden near the library, as was directed by council last year. Since there are a number of new councilors, and since the space targeted for a library rain garden may be under consideration for other uses, Berg said she wanted to re-visit the matter before proceeding.
After giving a rundown of the existing rain gardens and a brief explanation of how they work, Berg fielded a number of questions. The purpose of the rain gardens, she said, is to improve water quality, and to control erosion and flooding by slowing and filtering rainwater runoff. This is especially important in areas near large bodies of water such as Lake Superior. The gardens capture the runoff and allow it to gradually soak into the ground with the use of drain tile and pipe, topped by native plants with deep roots.
Although the process to build and establish the gardens may be a little involved at the beginning, Berg said, once established the rain gardens need minimal care and attention. That care and attention is preferably supplied by a steward who looks after the area, which is typically located in a city right of way. Under the terms of the grant with the state (Clean Water Fund Community Partners), Berg explained that the steward agrees to care for the rain garden for 10 years. The city and/or county provide the needed supplies such as mulch and suitable plants, site preparation and expertise with design layout. If the site is not maintained properly for 10 years, the grant money must be returned.
Because experience has shown that those rain gardens maintained by a steward – as opposed to those for which the city is responsible for the upkeep – not only look better but tend to function better, too, Berg said it was important that a steward be found for the proposed rain garden near the library. City Administrator Mike Roth agreed that the city simply doesn’t have the staff necessary for proper care of the gardens and said he has spoken with staff at Coldwell Banker, owners of the building on the east side of the city library, about volunteering to care for a new rain garden. “They haven’t said ‘no,’” Roth said.
As proposed, the new rain garden would be designed to funnel rainwater that now pools behind the library – sometimes causing flooding – through a channel between the library and the Coldwell Banker building, under the sidewalk, and into the rain garden. Roth and Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux pointed out that one way or another, the city has to deal with the excess water on the property, and a rain garden would also benefit the library’s neighbor.
“It gets super-sloppy there….something has to happen,” said Arrowsmith DeCoux, who also serves on the library board. “Let’s work to get a commitment for a steward. It’s up to us to make it nice.”
Roth noted that if efforts to secure a caretaker for the area fail, a more simple design can be used, such as creation of a swale filled with appropriate native plants that can be mowed by the city’s staff.
Council encouraged Berg and Roth to continue their efforts at establishing the rain garden near the library, noting that if other plans under consideration for the area materialize, for instance in conjunction with the Highway 61 corridor improvement plan, the rain garden could likely be incorporated into that.
Berg said the grant money that the city applied for for rain gardens in 2013 would expire at the end of this year, but it won’t be a problem to re-apply if the project isn’t finalized by then. “There will be more grant opportunities after 2015,” she said.
Berg noted that seven rain gardens were constructed in the county last summer with the state grant money, and there are currently plans for creation of two more this year.
In other city news:
. Mayor Arrowsmith DeCoux reported that he has taken part in meetings with nearly all prospective customers of a proposed biomass district heating plant in an effort to answer questions and secure commitments to the project. While “nobody said no,” Arrowsmith DeCoux said almost everybody wanted more information and expressed some degree of interest. More details will be provided once known, said the mayor. According to the timetable, signed contracts are needed by the end of May.
. Councilor Tracy Benson said she would prefer that future meetings start at a later time than the current 4:30 p.m. There was a brief discussion, with the mayor concluding that the starting time of 4:30 “is not superideal, but it’s not breaking us.” Roth pointed out that the City Code designates the time of council meetings as 4:30 p.m., and an ordinance revision would be required if that changes.
. Councilor and EDA board member Anton Moody reported that the housing subcommittee is working on potential zoning changes in Cedar Grove Business Park to include residential uses. The board also heard the “somewhat depressing” results of a countywide housing study that indicate the net loss of young people, but overall growth, said Moody.
. Benson said she had a problem with the way the bill payments are presented to council to approve, with no context or details provided. Roth said anybody was welcome to come into the office and look over the statements and question the expenses, and noted that a system of checks and balances exists to ensure accuracy, although the ultimate responsibility is in council’s hands. Roth said it would be difficult to provide a summary as Benson suggested, but he would welcome any ideas councilors had on providing more information if desired.
. Councilor David Mills said he attended the YMCA board meeting, where talk centered on a new prediabetes program being offered. Mills also went to a meeting of the North Woods Food Project, which he said included “nothing major, but lots of ideas.” The group is working to learn where our food comes from, and where needs lie, he said.
. Arrowsmith DeCoux said he recently attended a meeting of local doulas, the purpose of which was to discuss how to work with the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic to procure a grant to train doulas. The mayor said it’s an important need, especially considering the recent decision of the hospital board to terminate childbirth at the Grand Marais facility.
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