Randy Ekroot of Grand Marais is another step closer to opening Big Lake Marine in the Cedar Grove Business Park (CGBP) in Grand Marais. The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved the sale at a Tuesday, July 26 hearing to accept public comment. No one attended the meeting or sent correspondence, so the EDA took that as a sign that there was no reason for opposition and the board passed a unanimous motion to proceed with the sale.
Ekroot, with Realtor Jack McHugh of Red Pine Realty, attended the July 12 EDA meeting to make an offer of $27,000 on CGBP lot 6, block 4. On the EDA website, the lot is priced at $55,000. It is the site that was used temporarily as a stable and horse tour business, next to the lot belonging to Como Oil & Propane.
McHugh explained that the adjacent lot was purchased by Paul James of Cook County Towing in July 2014 for $25,000. The lot purchased by James had been listed at $45,000.
The EDA ultimately accepted $30,000 for the lot with a unanimous motion.
Ekroot started fixing small engines at Midway gas station (now Buck’s Hardware Hank) in high school. He owned and operated Big Lake Marine in Grand Marais for 15 years before moving to Florida and working on boats there for several years. He came home to Grand Marais in 2003 and worked a variety of jobs before becoming co-owner of A&E Marine in 2011.
Ekroot told the EDA he lost his lease at the A&E Marine site. Reached by phone after getting the go-ahead for the lot purchase, Ekroot said he is ready to have his own inboard/outboard motor repair shop again.
He will be building a 30×60-foot building with one-third of the building used for retail. He won’t be selling boat motors as there isn’t a large enough market here for that, but he will be offering all sorts of boating accessories such as lights, ladders, dock bumpers, life jackets, anchors—all the things that frequently get left behind or lost. He will also offer a wide range of parts. The rest of the shop will be used for boat and motor repairs.
Ekroot said he hopes that Big Lake Marine will be open for business this fall.
For more information about Big Lake Marine, contact Randy Ekroot at (218) 370-2139.
Bike event assistance
Also at the July 12 meeting, Mike Larson approached the EDA with a request for financial assistance for local bicyclists.
Mike Larson told the EDA that it is “no secret” that Cook County is becoming a bike destination. He said credit goes to Mark and Melinda Spinler of Superior North Outdoor who got things started with the first biking events in the county. He also credited Visit Cook County and the Gitchi Gami Trail Association. He said it is incredible the work they have done to promote biking.
Larson talked about the major biking events now hosted in the county, the Lutsen 99er, Le Grand du Nord and the Sawtooth Challenge. He noted that the Lutsen 99er grew from nothing to 1,600 participants in six years. He said 36 states were represented at the last Lutsen 99er and said the event gives Cook County national exposure.
Also important to all this has been the Superior Cycling Association, said Larson. He said that group has raised $200,000 to start a connecting route between Briton Peak in Tofte and Pincushion Mountain in Grand Marais. He said Grand Marais City Councilor and bike enthusiast Tim Kennedy did an amazing amount of work on that.
Larson said the sport of fat tire biking is also growing and plans are in the works for a winter festival, part of the Great Lakes Race Series, in January 2017.
County Commissioner and EDA Board Member Heidi Doo-Kirk said there is also an effort called “Route 41” to create a bike path from the Twin Cities to Canada.
Larson said all of these things have improved the occupancy rate at lodging establishments at slower times of the year. He said this brings economic benefit to the county, stating that research has been done that for every biker that comes to an event, there are two other people. So, for the Le Grand du Nord with 400 people, that meant there were 1,200 people visiting the county.
Larson said so far the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association has been providing the race director, logistics person and volunteer coordinator for the 99er. Larson said the biking group was part of the recent Cook County Comprehensive Trails Plan and as part of that plan, the county has stated that a person is needed to coordinate all of the trail efforts in the county—trail maintenance, grants, etc. for all trail users, not just bicyclists.
Larson said the bike group is at the point where it desperately needs a coordinator for its events and trail work. He asked if the EDA would consider adding $20,000 to its budget to help fund this position.
EDA Chair Howard Hedstrom asked if there are any license fees for bikes for use of trails as there are for snowmobiles, ATVs and horses. Larson said no.
Hedstrom said the EDA has a $10,000 business line item that could possibly be used. He suggested that Larson “do a little legwork” and talk to county commissioners. “They are the final arbitrageurs of the EDA’s budget,” he said.
EDA Director Mary Somnis said the EDA applauds Larson and the biking community’s efforts.
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