Thanks to the efforts of a group of Gunflint Trail residents, two unnamed islands on West Pope Lake may soon have names.
Gunflint Trail resident Tom Bettenhausen, who has spearheaded the project, presented a signed petition to the Cook County commissioners July 22 asking that the federally-owned islands be named, along with a summary of the steps required by the state in order for the county to take such action.
Bettenhausen said he has observed the islands over the course of about 20 years, and described them as “sort of a moose maternity ward.” Thus, the names suggested for the islands have been appropriately chosen: “Moozoogitaanesing” and “Moozoogitagaaning.” Bettenhausen said he chose Ojibwe names that are “fitting and just.”
The name chosen for Island 1, the smaller of the two, translates into “Garden for young moose to be born”; the second island’s name means “Big garden for young moose to be safe from danger.”
Bettenhausen and County Administrator Jay Kieft said all of the required steps have been followed so far. Some of the guidelines spelled out by the state in naming islands and bodies of water are that a name cannot change if it’s been in existence 40 years.
A petition signed by at least 15 registered voters must be submitted; verification must be provided that the islands do not have a name, and the proposed name; the reason for the name; the county board must hold a public hearing and publish notice at least 30 days from the date of the motion initiating the process; notice of the hearing must be served to the state Commissioner of Natural Resources; and the DNR must be notified of the proposed action.
Commissioner Sue Hakes said the undertaking was a “sweet idea,” and supported the proposal along with Commissioner Bruce Martinson, who said the plan appears to be non-controversial. Accordingly, the public hearing was set for 10 a.m. Aug. 26 as part of the county board’s meeting by unanimous vote.
In other board action:
. On the recommendation of the planning commission and Bill Lane of the Planning & Zoning Office, the board voted to give Stan Bautch 60 days to develop a comprehensive “pit plan” to bring his Meridian Road gravel pit into compliance with county open area and environmental regulations, or risk being subjected to fines or closure. Lane said there have been ongoing problems and violations at the 100-acre site over the years and said current practices threaten to turn it into a wasteland. “It’s a fairly bleak landscape,” Lane said.
. Also on the recommendation of the planning commission, the board denied a request from Greg Olson of Rogers for an interim use permit to allow a recreational vehicle for habitation on his Devil Track Lake property. Lane said there has been a long pattern of denial and avoidance, along with issues of “problematic permitting” over the past several years; for his part, Olson said he is in the middle of a divorce and may not retain the property much longer, but he is not trying to skirt county regulations.
. Sheriff Leif Lunde presented a request on behalf of the Courthouse Security Committee for purchase and installation of signs in and around the courtroom and adjacent corridors. The signs will bring the Cook County building into conformity with others in the Sixth Judicial District. The cost of the signs is not expected to exceed $700, Lunde said. The request was approved.
. Virginia Danfelt and George Wilkes of the Cook County Local Energy Project gave an update of the projects the energy efficiency organization is working on and shared plans for future efforts at sustainability. Two new locally produced informational videos were also debuted. They will soon be available on CCLEP’s and other relevant websites – watch for them!
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