At its September 11 council meeting Grand Marais city councilors passed a resolution for a 2020 preliminary levy of $997,010.94, a 3.96 percent increase over 2019 if it gets finalized at that amount.
Making up the 2020 levy are four funds: Revenue $659,017.05; G.O. Refunding EDA $65,230.59; G.O. Refunding 2013A $111,220.64; and G.O. CIP Bond 2017A $127,163.38.
The proposed 2020 property tax levy is up from the 2019 levy of $959,021.32.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux noted council could lower the levy before it must be submitted to the state, but it can’t raise it higher than its preliminary 3.96 set point, which was submitted to the Cook County Auditor’s Office.
Council has until the mid-December meeting to set the final levy for 2020 and get it into the state auditor’s office before the end of the year.
Calendar parking ordinance
Council also held a second reading of the Calendar Parking Ordinance and passed it unanimously 4-0. Councilor Kelly Swearingen couldn’t attend the council meeting because of a prior commitment.
Cook County Highway Engineer Krysten Foster came before council with an explanation of calendar parking versus calling for snow emergencies, as some cities do.
Compared to towns or cities that use calendar parking, where only a few road signs need to be posted, cities that use snow emergencies need far more signs placed along roadways in areas that use the snow emergency system, she said.
Also, someone has to be in charge of contacting the media and calling employees in to work when there will be a snow emergency, and currently there is not enough staff for that, noted Foster.
One frequently asked question, she said, was, “Will I get a ticket if it isn’t snowing and I haven’t moved my vehicle?”
There are no plans to enforce the calendar parking ordnance on those days, she said, unless a vehicle is impeding plowing to get a road open.
“We are encouraging voluntary compliance,” she added, noting that enforcement lies with the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office.
Mayor Arrowsmith DeCoux said the city is planning for a “soft rollout” when it comes to enforcement. “I think that is an essential step.”
The resolution amended Chapter 70 of the city code and calls for people to alternate their vehicles parked on city streets or highways from November 15 through April 15 of each winter season.
The city will use odd-even days. On the days of the month that are odd-numbered, vehicles must be parked on the side of the street where residences have odd-numbered street addresses.
In the days of the month that are even-numbers, residents must park their vehicles on the side of the street where they have an even-numbered street address.
In the case of an early or late snowstorm, a snow emergency can be called by the city before Nov. 15 and after April 15, which will call for calendar parking.
People will not be asked to move their vehicles from 5 p.m. to midnight, but they must be moved to the correct side of the street after midnight to allow for snowplowing.
In the downtown area along the streets and avenues of Broadway Avenue South of Highway 61 and 1st Avenue West south of Highway 61 and 2nd Avenue West, south of Highway 61 and Wisconsin Street east of Highway 61, and 1st Street east of Highway 61, on-street parking will be prohibited from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m.
The penalty for people parked in the downtown area during snow removal might be towing under the guidelines of Minnesota Statute 168B.035.
Liquor license renewals
Liquor license renewals for the coming year for wine and beer at a cost of $440 were granted to: Harbor House Grille LLC, Sven & Ole’s Inc., The Crooked Spoon Café Inc., Northwind Sailing Inc. (Angry Trout); Seafood Markets LTD (Dockside); Holland Motel, Inc. (Best Western Suites); and Three families Brewing (Voyageur Brewing). Grandma Ray’s LLC and Larsen Brothers LLC (Birch Terrace Supper Club) paid $2,500 each to serve liquor.
Rec Park/ street department budget reports
Grand Marais Recreation Park Director Dave Tersteeg reported that the RV park would bring in about $1.2 million in revenue this year, maybe a little more and the numbers are in line with budget projections.
Gunflint Hills golf course is projected to bring in about $100,000 this season. Tersteeg said the clothing line has been dropped and staff will look for other retail items that might generate more income from clubhouse sales. Upgrades will be made to mowing equipment for next year as the golf course looks to become profitable.
The marina, said Tersteeg, generated $80,000 to $90,000 this season, consistent with numbers generated in the recent past. The marina is weather-dependent and large boats that fill up with fuel make a big difference in money coming into the marina, he noted.
Maintenance/ Street Director Lenny Bloomquist’s 2020 budget request was for $20,000. City Administrator Mike Roth said those funds mostly would go to cover increase in wages and insurance.
Sydney’s Lighthouse
Following a request from Sydney’s restaurant owner Bruce Block, council passed a variance for Sydney’s lighthouse structure that now serves as the entrance to the eatery. The structure was put entirely on city-owned land reserved for use of the city street and a sidewalk, which has never been built.
Block said he understands that if the city needs to use the land for its intended purpose, that he will move the lighthouse entrance.
There was some discussion about Block moving the lighthouse onto his property but he said there wasn’t enough room for that, and he would have to remove it in that case. Bruce said he thought an old easement he had acquired would allow him to put the lighthouse where it now rests.
Councilor Tim Kennedy said he supports the lighthouse staying where Block placed it, but called for a motion that specifies Bruce signs a lease or makes payments to the city to use the property. Bruce also must get insurance on the lighthouse in case of an accident. Bruce said he built it to withstand 100 mile an hour winds.
City attorney Chris Hood will draw up the necessary documents for Bruce to sign. Council voted 4-0 to allow the lighthouse to stay, but asked Bruce to come before them and ask before he builds anything else on the property.
Public comments
Bruce Block came before council and asked them not to pass a two-hour parking ordinance in town. He pointed out that parking is in short supply in the summer, and that many people park and then spend the day walking around town. By having a two-hour parking limit, people will be required to periodically move their vehicles from place to place, which will cause an undue hardship on them and make it even busier for traffic in the downtown area.
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