In keeping with their goal of preparing a citywide Capital Improvement Plan, Grand Marais city councilors met July 29 to discuss a list of projects prepared by City Administrator Mike Roth. The plan is a prioritized list of capital projects, their estimated costs, funding sources and a tentative schedule. Development of the plan was included on the two-year priority list set by council this spring.
Roth began by going over the capital improvements identified as the top five projects in 2001. Four of the five have been successfully dealt with: Gunflint Trail/ Creechville sewer and water; downtown sewer and water; Business Development Area; and electrical power plant. Thelone outstanding project is extension of sewer and water utilities to Old Shore Road. About a dozen other projects not included on the top-five priority list have also been completed since 2003.
After discussing the projects on the list, Roth said his goal is to have a functioning Capital Improvement Plan in place by the end of next year in order to turn it into a 10-year schedule. Council will await further details and look at the list again in a few months.
Projects discussed as possible priorities for the next decade include: » Library expansion — Estimated at $850,000, which will possibly be funded through implementation of a 1 percent sales tax if approved by voters in a fall referendum. Library Director Linda Chappell said she and the library board are still considering different options, and a memorial donation may also be forthcoming to help pay for the project.
» Maintenance facility —
Much more information should be available in the next six months, said Roth, for the six-agency project, and the cost to each involved. The project has been talked about since 1992, and the interested parties are finally beginning to develop a plan. Once the costs to each agency are known, the city can begin a more detailed planning process and budget for its construction.
» City Hall —
The building on Broadway is still underused, in bad shape and expensive to maintain and operate, said Roth.
» Alley water mains —
Replace within five years the old water lines with new fourinch mains. The project should be relatively simple, because work in the alleys will not involve as many obstacles and resurfacing work as similar projects on streets.
» First Street —
Resurfacing and utility replacement that could cost as much as $2.5 million. Roth said the project, which may run the length of the street, “may be as large as what we just completed” on avenues adjacent to County Road 7. The old water and sewer lines, which date to the 1930s, are in disrepair, as is the pavement in many areas. Although the project is on the list for completion within 10 years, Roth said it may be moved up if problems such as collapsed lines occur.
» Rec Park paving and bathhouse —
Most of the areas in need of resurfacing require only overlay, and this is not considered a “big” project, said Roth. The largest section in need of repair is the road between Eighth Avenue and the ball field, estimated at $30,000, and several other areas estimated at about $70,000. Roth said the projects are not urgent, as the park roads carry little traffic, but the vehicles that do use them tend to be extremely heavy. Also, he said, some users of the park say they prefer that the roads not be in perfect condition; they add to the “funky” nature of the campground. Bathhouse 3 is in need of some serious repairs or replacement, and based on the most recent bathhouse construction, the cost is expected to be about $500,000.
» Municipal swimming pool —
This is the biggest project on the list (estimated at at least $4 million) and also the most “fluid,” according to Roth and council. There are just too many unknowns to come up with a very
detailed plan or estimate, said Roth, noting it is still unknown if and where a new facility will be built, and who will pay to build and maintain a new pool. It is also not known if a pool will be included in a sales tax referendum, and what the outcome of the park’s master planning process will recommend.
In other business:
» Public Library Director Linda Chappell presented her
2010 budget proposal, which shows a zero percent increase over the current budget. She said that as usual, wages accounted for a large percentage of the expenditures, but because the Arrowhead Library System will pick up $7,500 in automation fees, no increase was needed. Chappell said the only way she can see to further trim the library’s budget is to reduce services (the book budget has already been cut) or cut operating hours. That option is not advisable, she said, because the library continues to be very busy, especially during the summer.
With council’s approval of the 2010 budget and its $246,111 operating expense request, Chappell will now
present it to the Cook County commissioners; the county
splits the cost of operating the library with the city.
» T he firm of Flaherty & Hood of St. Paul was chosen as
the new city attorney. Four firms were interviewed, but Flaherty was chosen based on their experience in municipal law. It is expected the city will be billed for about 10 hours per month for civil legal services; the county attorney’s office has been contracted to handle the criminal prosecution portion of the duties. City officials are also looking into setting up a camera or some other device to allow video teleconferencing of council meetings in an effort to reduce costs incurred by the attorney. Councilors have said previously they would like the new attorney to attend their twice-monthly meetings. Flaherty & Hood will bill the city at a rate of $95 per hour for the remainder
of this year, and $100 hourly in 2010 for handling general
municipal matters.
» Council authorized Roth to prepare the assessment roll
for the $2.5 million 2008 streets improvement project, which affected about 85 property owners on Fourth Avenue in Creechville, and First, Second, Third and Sixth avenues south of County Road 7. The list was approved, and a public hearing was set for Aug. 26.
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