Although a similar sign was erected at Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais last month with little fanfare, there was a Cook County Planning and Zoning meeting regarding the installation of an LED-illuminated sign at Lockport General Store in Lutsen. The Lockport sign was also considered by the county board meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.
County Zoning Administrator Bill Lane brought forward the request for a conditional use permit (CUP) from Deb Niemisto and Nan Bradley of Lockport for a sign with internal illumination. Although the county is in the midst of updating its sign ordinance to address internally-lit and LED illuminated signs, Lane said the Cook County Planning Commission recommended approval of the CUP, in part because a CUP had been granted to another Lutsen business, Clearview General Store in 2014. Lane said that CUP “kind of set the precedent” for others.
He explained that Niemisto and Bradley recently underwent a change of gas distributors, from Spur to Calumet, warranting a sign update. The new sign would be a freestanding sign in the same place as the previous one at Lockport. The existing lamps would be changed to LED lighting and a wireless price changer with a digital display would replace the current price board that must be changed by hand.
In their request, the Lockport owners wrote that they will continue with their philosophy of having a small footprint and would be sensitive to the use of light. Lane said unlike the Buck’s Hardware sign in Grand Marais, the Lockport sign would not have a scrolling marquee. And the sign would only be lit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., when Lockport was open.
Commissioners asked about the status of the county sign ordinance revision and Lane said the committee was nearly finished with its work.
Commissioner Jan Sivertson said it is important to complete the ordinance revision. She said, “I remember 20 years ago the serious concern was neon…Then it was moving neon…So that is what is here now…It didn’t turn us into Las Vegas…”
Commissioner Ginny Storlie said she supported the CUP, noting that none of the neighboring property owners expressed concern about the new sign.
A unanimous motion was passed to grant the CUP for the LED sign with the conditions suggested by the planning commission, such as no moving light LED displays may be integrated; all components of the display, including color and safety parameters must comply with sign ordinance requirements and LED displays shall only be visible during business hours.
Septic ordinance change reflect county’s geology and geography
Planning and Zoning Director Tim Nelson appeared before the county board to explain a change to the county septic ordinance that will satisfy the concerns of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Nelson explained that Cook County Planning and Zoning staff and the septic system ordinance committee recognized the difficulty for property owners to establish two “Type 1” septic sites for newly created residential lots. Nelson said considering the “geology and geography” of the county, the county ordinance was created with language that would give property owners the ability to designate one “Type 1” site and one “Type 3” site, which would be more fitting for Cook County.
Unfortunately, Nelson said, the MPCA said the language was not suitable for a countywide ordinance. He said MPCA instead wants a case-by-case review of sites that do not have two “Type 1” septic sites, which would require a public hearing and would put more of a burden on anyone developing new residential lots.
Nelson said his staff and the Septic Advisory Committee formulated language that they believe will be accepted by MPCA that would be less quite cumbersome for landowners. The ordinance amendment allows for an administrative variance for any lot that cannot meet the two “Type 1” sites. The administrative variance could be completed by the Cook County Environmental Health Department, which would “impose conditions in the granting of the variance to insure compliance and to protect adjacent properties and the public interest.”
Commissioner Frank Moe thanked Nelson for the language change. He said he believed this is a good solution for a “frustrating process.”
Commissioner Garry Gamble noted that the MPCA had rejected the language of the previous county ordinance and asked Nelson if MPCA had weighed in on the change. Nelson said, yes, unofficially. He said he wanted the county board’s approval before holding an ordinance amendment hearing and taking it back to the MPCA.
The board agreed to hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the septic system ordinance language change on March 9 at 5 p.m. in the commissioners’ room.
In related business, commissioners approved the appointment of Commissioner Moe as primary and Commissioner Doo-Kirk, alternate on the Septic Appeal Panel that was created in the recent County Septic System Ordinance. The panel consists of the Environmental Health Director, County Attorney and a county commissioner. The panel would meet as needed when an appeal is under way in accordance with the ordinance.
Safety and security at courthouse still a concern
County Attorney Molly Hicken asked the county board to support funding the “Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative,” which has been brought forward by the Statewide Courthouse Security Workgroup. Hicken is a member of this workgroup. She explained that the group is asking the legislature to fund the initiative, which would provide $20 million to help improve courthouse safety and security across the state.
Hicken said there are still security improvements or updates that could be made to the Cook County courthouse. She said she didn’t think any of the current commissioners were seated at the time of the December 2011 courthouse shooting, but said, “It certainly doesn’t feel that long ago for those of us who were involved in it…It’s a real situation. We are under threat, especially those of us who work upstairs, but certainly in other offices in the courthouse. There is just an increase in violent acts against government workers in general.”
Commissioners agreed to advocate for this legislation at their upcoming Association for Minnesota Counties meeting. Commissioner Jan Sivertson added that she would like to see any funding received used not just for equipment, but also for any necessary training.
Hicken was then joined by Sheriff Pat Eliasen, Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) Director Sue Futterer and Information Technology Director Rena Rogers to request the purchase of equipment for recording child victim and witness interviews. Hicken said the equipment currently in use is 17 years old.
There is a room at PHHS that is used for such interviews and equipment could be installed there for a cost of approximately $5,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Hicken also asked for a commissioner representative for the county law library trustee board. After discussion of her past work as a librarian, the board unanimously approved appointing Commissioner Ginny Storlie.
In other business
The county approved the satisfaction of mortgage for a revolving loan fund taken in July 2013 by the Fireweed Brewing Company, LLC for $26,500. The loan was for 20 years but was paid in full this month.
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