At the September 10, 2013, meeting of the Cook County-Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA), housing program administrator Nancy Grabko of Community Fundraising Solutions (CFS) said she needed help from West End communities to complete an application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for funding to rehabilitate homes in Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder. This week Grabko contacted the Cook County News-Herald, noting that help is still needed.
To expand the EDA housing program offerings beyond the city of Grand Marais, Grabko said a survey of housing needs in other areas of the county must be completed. Surveys were sent out to West End property owners in September. Grabko told the News- Herald that surveys have been slow coming in so the deadline for their return has been extended to October 10.
The survey results will be used to seek DEED Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grant funds for single-family home rehabilitation.
At the September meeting, Steve Grabko of CFS also gave a report, focusing on recent Small Cities Development Program housing projects. Six homes have received grant funding and have had safety and energy improvements completed with SCDP funds this year. There is one more project in the works. Grabko said inspections had been completed on the two final homes selected for this grant cycle and one was deemed “not feasible.”
EDA Board Member Scott Harrison asked why the home was determined not to be feasible. Grabko said the home didn’t meet DEED Home Quality Standards.
EDA Board Chair Mark Sandbo asked, “So, in other words, it was in such bad shape, we don’t have enough money to fix it?”
Grabko replied, “Yes.”
Nancy Grabko distributed a pamphlet about the Business Energy Retrofit/Energy Improvement Program, which is part of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Grabko said this program could help low-to-moderate income families who don’t qualify for other programs. Grabko said, “If you hear from someone who says ‘I don’t qualify for energy improvement programs because I make too much,’ tell them about this program.”
In other EDA business:
. Superior National at Lutsen Manager Bob Fenwick gave an update on the EDAowned golf course, reporting that there may be a delay in construction because Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permitting could take up to 30 days. Fenwick said LHB Engineering had expected permitting to only take three days. Fenwick said the longer time period was because it had been determined that more than 50 acres of wetlands would be disturbed. He said Golf Course Architect Jeff Brauer of Golfscapes, Inc. and LHB Engineering are in discussion with the MPCA and it is hoped the permitting will be done quickly.
Fenwick said the firm hired to complete the golf course improvements, Mid-America Golf, would not bring its equipment to Lutsen until the permitting was in place.
. Mid-America Golf was awarded the golf course improvement project as low bidder at $4,625,115.92. That is $262,032 over the $3,897,982.50 budgeted by the EDA. The EDA discussed ways to cover the shortfall, including a possible sales tax exemption for materials. At this time materials purchased for the Superior National project are not tax-exempt because the EDA is a joint entity. EDA Board Member and County Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk said the Association of Minnesota Counties was working to change the law so joint entities like the EDA could take advantage of the taxexempt privilege.
EDA Board Member Scott Harrison said that would be really significant for the golf course project. “That would be significant for this project. This could be a savings of $160,000 for this reconstruction.”
. EDA Chair Sandbo said the EDA has done its due diligence financially with its budget planning and said he thinks it is time to find a director. He said too many things are slipping through the cracks without a director. Heidi Doo-Kirk said before the search for a director begins, the EDA should figure out what it wants in a director and what it sees as the future of the EDA. Mark Sandbo said everyone should bring their ideas of what they want in a director to the next meeting. A committee to seek a director was formed with Mark Sandbo, Scott Harrison and Heidi Doo-Kirk on the committee.
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