Grand Marais city councilors approved a modest 1.48 percent levy increase for the current year collectable in 2020 at the council’s December 18 meeting.
In dollar amounts, the city will collect $973,177.72.
Gunflint Hills golf course superintendent Paul Jones and Grand Marais Recreation Park director Dave Tersteeg came before the council with a request to purchase two fairway mowers.
The recreation park board approved the request at an earlier meeting and recommended to the city council that they approve the money to pay for the two fairway mowers, which would replace the city’s one failing fairway mower.
Jones found the two, 2013 Toro 3550 mowers for sale in a golf superintendent’s magazine. The mowers are located in northwest Iowa, he said, and after the park board gave its okay, he visited the Iowa golf course and inspected the mowers.
“I went down and checked them out and they looked great,” Jones said.
Each machine has less than 2,000 hours operating time, he said, adding that these mowers typically run well up to 4,000 hours before declining.
Sold new, each mower would cost $50,000, Jones said.
Toro has a re-sale program for used equipment and if the mowers were purchased through that program, said Jones, they would run around $26,000 each. The private golf club in Iowa, which often replaces its equipment for new equipment, was asking $ 25,000 for both mowers.
When mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux asked Jones what kind of warranty the city might be giving up by not going through Toro, Jones replied there was some risk, but added the course superintendent in Iowa told him that if the city had any initial problems with the mowers, they would help to mitigate those problems.
Jones was also asked what the plans were for the current fairway mower and he replied, “I think we should try to sell it.” Or, he added, sell it for parts. “We have no use for the old mower.”
As for the new mowers, Jones pointed out that because they are smaller than the current unit they are more versatile and could also be used to mow around tee boxes, greens, and other tight areas.
“I think this is a good find,” said councilor Kelly Swearingen.
Councilor Tim Kennedy added, “We need quality equipment to do a good job.”
Councilors Anton Moody, Kelly Swearingen, Tim Kennedy and Mayor Jay voted for the purchase. Councilor Craig Schulte wasn’t in attendance at the meeting due to a medical condition.
Council also held a second reading of the seasonal Calendar Parking Ordinance, with some changes made to the original reading of the ordinance.
A big change to the first reading was exempting people with handicaps from moving their vehicles when parked in handicap parking spaces during business hours. The amended ordinance reads as follows:
• At the council’s December 11 meeting Trace McQuatters was added to the Grand Marais fire roster. McQuatters has already completed the Fire Fighter I and II classes that are required before someone can participate in fighting an active fire.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND MARAIS DOES ORDAIN Section 1. That Chapter 70 of the City Code of Grand Marais, Minnesota, which chapter is entitled “Traffic and Vehicles,” Sec. 70-29. Snow emergency regulations, be amended as follows: Sec. 70-29. Snow emergency regulations. (a) All persons parking vehicles on the streets or highways of the city must park vehicles according to the following system from November 15th through April 15th of each winter season. (b) Beginning 12:01 a.m. on November 15 and alternating each day until midnight April 15, vehicles must be parked on that side of the street or avenue which abuts the premises that are or would be identified by odd-numbered and even-numbered street addresses. On the days of the month which are odd-numbered days, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, vehicles must be parked on the side of the street which residences have odd-numbered street addresses. On the days of the month which are even-numbered days, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, vehicles must be parked on the side of the street which residences have even-numbered street addresses.
(c) The City Council or its designee may declare a snow emergency before November 15 or after April 15 in their discretion to provide for snow clearing operations due to weather events outside of the typical season. (d) Provisions of this subdivision must not be enforced from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. (e) For purposes of this subdivision, the term “day” means a period beginning and ending at midnight. (f) Along the streets and avenues of Broadway Ave. south of Highway 61 and 1st Ave. W. south of Highway 61 and 2nd Ave. W. south of Highway 61 and Wisconsin St. east of Highway 61, and 1st St. east of Highway 61, on-street parking is prohibited between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Alternate day parking regulations in subsection 70-29 b. do not apply to the area described in this subsection.
(g) Subsections 70-29 b. and f. do not apply to Highway 61. (h) In all areas of the city, a motor vehicle displaying a qualifying plate, certificate, hang tag, or equivalent insignia shall be exempt from the provisions of this section when parked at a space signed in accordance with Minn. Stat. 169.346 Subd. 2 for use by persons with physical disabilities.
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The ordinance also covers provisions for towing and recovery of stored vehicles if they cause snowplow operators too much trouble. However, councilor Swearingen and Kennedy both noted that so far most people have been complying with the new calendar parking, and Kennedy said the roads have been looking better than ever after the snow plows have done their work.
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