EDA to consider 2014 budget for Superior National golf course

Although the $4.2-million renovation of Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course has halted because of winter weather, planning for the next season is still under way. Golf Course Manager Bob Fenwick gave a report on the work done this fall at the November 12, 2013 meeting of the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the EDA board agreed the golf course budget and the topic of future staffing at the golf course should be on the agenda for an upcoming EDA meeting.

Fenwick reported that the groundbreaking at the golf course on Tuesday, October 22 went very well. Fenwick said it was good for the people who played a significant role in the development of the course— Senator Tom Bakk, Representative David Dill, IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich, the county board, township supervisors, the golf course committee and others—to be there to hear George Nelson’s thoughts on the golf course and its history and importance to Lutsen. Fenwick said it was good to be reminded that the golf course came to be because of a gift of land from the Nelson family. “To hear George speak was really, really meaningful,” said Fenwick.

Fenwick said he is very pleased with MidAmerica Golf, the construction firm working at the golf course. He said they are working quickly and they are good PR for Superior National. They are happy to talk to people stopping by to explain the process and promote the course. Fenwick said work has been done on seven greens areas, five tees and five fairway areas. A lot of soil was taken from #9 for erosion control in other areas and the hole looks dramatically different. Fenwick said all of the required permits have been completed.

He said there were some questions about the work being done on the Lake Superior Water District waterline, but all the parties got together and the issues were resolved. The plan for use of the waterline for golf course irrigation is progressing. If all goes well, seeding should begin in June 2014 on River 9. Fenwick said if it goes well, it should be ready for play at the end of the 2014 season.

Fenwick distributed a worksheet on rounds and revenue for October 2013. Rounds were up in October from 811 to 859. However overall for the year, rounds were down from 17,013 in 2012 to 15,234 in 2013.

Fenwick said it is good to look at what is different year to year and he said one thing that was definitely different this year was weather. He said about 30 percent of golf course business is on the weekend and he said 2013 saw some of the worst weekend weather Superior National has had in his time at the golf course. “June and July were significantly down,” said Fenwick.

On the positive side, Fenwick said Grounds Supervisor Mike Davies and staff did a great job keeping expenses down. He said in terms of expenses the course is down $60,000 from budget.

Fenwick said he is preparing the 2014 budget to be sent to the board for discussion at the December EDA meeting.

EDA Board Member Heidi Doo-Kirk asked that the EDA schedule a special meeting to discuss staffing at Superior National at Lutsen during the construction season.

In other EDA business:

. EDA Attorney Baiers Heeren told the board that the state had approved the waterline from Lake Superior to Lutsen Mountains via the Lake Superior Water District. He said the EDA has granted an easement for the Lake Superior Water District pipe to cross the golf course. The EDA has now received a secondary request, to also grant an easement to Lutsen Mountains for the pipeline.

Heeren said Lutsen Mountains was being very conservative and wanted to make sure they would still be able to pump water to the ski hill if for some reason the water district was ever dissolved. “Water for snowmaking is the lifeblood of their business,” he said.

Heeren asked the EDA board if it wanted to ask for a similar easement. He said if the water district went away for some reason, the golf course would also still want access to the pipeline for its irrigation needs.

Heeren said it was very unlikely that the water district would stop functioning or that the state would take the waterline out, so an additional easement would be added protection, like a “belt and suspenders.”

The board discussed seeking an additional easement at a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, but tabled a decision until its regular meeting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 10.

. Steve Grabko of Community

Fundraising Solutions, the EDA housing program provider, reported that only six residential rehabilitation applications were returned from the mailing to the

West End of the county. Grabko said that is not enough to seek

Minn. Department of Employment and Economic Development

(DEED) funding. However, the

EDA/CFS has found funding for a housing rehab in Schroeder.

Grabko said the EDA is partnering with Arrowhead Cooperative and using some of the balance of the

EDA’s HOME funds. The project will be about $25,000.

Superior National at Lutsen
end of season stats

* 2013 memberships include six four-year memberships totaling $25,385