In meeting after meeting, the Superior National at Lutsen golf course has been discussed. It will be on the agenda of the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) again when it meets on Tuesday, October 12. At its September meeting, after hearing reports on golf course conditions and marketing efforts and discussing golf course finances and management, the EDA board agreed to put future management of the golf course on its October agenda.
EDA Board Member and golf course committee Chair Mark Sandbo gave a golf course update, following up on last month’s decision to go to the county board seeking funding from the 1% sales and use tax for Superior National. Sandbo said he was confused by the county board’s response to the EDA. Referring to a September 9 meeting of the City of Grand Marais, Cook County, and the EDA, Sandbo said his understanding was that he was supposed to bring an application to the county. However, Sandbo said, they refused to accept the application at that meeting.
EDA Board Member and County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said a committee had been set up to look at applications for use of the 1% sales tax. Martinson, Commissioner Bob Fenwick, County Attorney Tim Scannell and Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers are on the committee. He said the committee was going to look at all the applications and may ask the EDA for more information. “It is very important for the board to have all the information before the meeting,” said Martinson.
Sandbo distributed to his EDA colleagues a copy of the application he had created, explaining that it asks for $1.2 million from the 1% sales and use tax. He said it’s not what the golf course committee originally sought, but the golf course staff has been doing a great job with what they have. Sandbo said, “You can look at this and say, ‘It’s not enough,’ but knowing the guys at the golf course, they can do a lot with this money.”
Regarding the other thing the EDA requested from the county— assistance in paying off the golf course bonds, Sandbo said the county wants to first hire an independent golf course consultant to look at the Superior National business plan before making any commitment. EDA Chair Mike Littfin asked, “How do you find a consultant—and who pays for it? TheEDA doesn’t have the money to pay for that.”
Martinson agreed and said he had discussed the idea with Auditor- Treasurer Braidy Powers. He asked if the cost of an independent consultant could be added to the EDA levy. Martinson said it could be considered.
Hal Greenwood said he was optimistic. “We weren’t rejected. I came away thinking we are moving forward,” said Greenwood.
“It’s moving slow,” said Sandbo.
Greenwood grinned, “We’re on the road though!”
Jim King, a Friends of Superior National at Lutsen representative, asked to speak. He said the last couple of months have been quite frustrating because no one really knew what it was that the county wanted. However, he said it seems that the county is now providing some direction and it is time to move forward. “We spend an inordinate amount of time trying to place blame—who did what; what decisions were made— the county, the EDA, the RMC, etc.— they all made mistakes. We need to go forward. We need to let go of the past.”
EDA board members nodded and Sandbo said, “In four years the bonds will be paid off. If we get this $1.2 million to limp along until then, after the bonds are paid off we will be in good shape.”
Questions about the management of the golf course have been brought up over and over, said EDA Board Member Jan Sivertson. To Golf Course Manager Greg Leland and Grounds Superintendent Mike Davies, she said she was sorry for some of the language used at the September 9 joint city-county meeting regarding “mismanagement of the golf course.” Sivertson told Leland and Davies that they should not take that personally. Davies said it is hard not to, as they are members of management. Leland reminded the EDA board that Superior National was rated the No. 1 municipal golf course in Minnesota for 2009-2010. “We must be doing something right,” said Leland.
Martinson agreed and added, “If we mismanaged, it was in not going to the county for assistance seven years ago.”
Martinson said his understanding from the September 9 meeting was that the EDA needs to establish independent management of the golf course. He suggested that the EDA solicit applicants for management of Superior National. He said the people who submitted the business plan proposal would be welcome to apply. Martinson said the EDA may not get any other applicants, but it would look better to the public if it made that effort. Mike Littfin suggested putting the topic of management on the agenda for the next EDA meeting to be held October 12 at Grand Marais City Hall at 3:00 p.m.
.
In other business, the board
accepted the recommendation of its housing coordinator, Nancy Grabko, and authorized up to $2,500 for a study of the senior housing market in Tofte. The
town of Tofte has committed
$3,000 to this study.
.
The board also accepted the
low bid of $152,399 from KTM Paving Inc. to complete the final paving of the roads in the Cedar Grove Business Park. At the last meeting, Director Geretschlaeger told the board the EDA was $50,000 short of the engineer’s estimate of the work, which was $150,940. However, at the September meeting, he reported there was enough money in the business park account to complete the project.
Leave a Reply