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Grand Marais City Councilors set a preliminary 2023 levy of 5.91 percent at the council’s September 14 meeting.
Grand Marais Mayor Jay DeCoux mentioned that the number can’t go up but can go down before the final levy is set before the new year.
“There were a lot of moving parts for the levy this year (inflation, capital outlays, etc.), said DeCoux, adding, “There will be a lot more work on this budget, and we’re hoping to see this number drop.”
One significant factor in lessoning the current levy could be the revenues from the city campground Rec Park. Once the season ends in late October, the city will know how much money made from the park can be applied to the city budget to help lower the levy.
After 32 years of service to the residents of Grand Marais, Tom Nelson, water/ wastewater superintendent for the Grand Marais Public Utilities, retired. Tom’s last day was Friday, September 23.
Taking his place in the interim is Neil Hansen. As City Administrator Mike Roth said, finding a replacement outside the county for Nelson has been challenging. One person who has some experience and expressed interest can’t find housing. Roth said in the past, jobs at the wastewater plant have been filled locally. Still, local applications aren’t coming in so far. Roth said Hansen has the licensure needed to fill the supervisor job, and other city employees will assist at the plant until more help is found.
In other city news:
Paulina Backstrom was hired as a clubhouse attendant at the Gunflint Hills golf course.
Seth McDonald, owner of the Dairy Queen, requested and received a conditional use permit to install an internally lit sign at the Grand Marais Dairy Queen.
McDonald was present at the September 7 public hearing held by the Planning Commission to discuss his request. No comments were heard from the public at that meeting. Seth told the planning commission that the Dairy Queen is required to update the lobby of the building every ten years, including the lighting strip.
Councilor Anton Moody said the planning commission expressed concern about potential up-lighting on the building and discussed ways to mitigate any undesirable impact. McDonald told the planning commission he could install fewer bulbs for the up-lighting in the sign, and that would help lessen the impact on neighboring properties.
City Administrator Mike Roth reviewed the city’s lighting ordinance with the council, and Mayor DeCoux brought up the Dark Sky initiative, adding the Dark Sky project has all of the rules and ordinances laid out for a city to follow to meet the Dark Sky guidelines. The city has discussed Dark Skies in the past and may review the lighting ordinances in the future to try to comply, but not at this time.
Moody said the permit would expire in one year, and the planning commission will review and modify the permit’s conditions if necessary changes are found.
Annual Liquor license renewals approved for 2022-23 are as follows: Gunflint Tavern on the Lake LLC and Larsen Brother of Grand Marais LLC (Birch Terrace Supper Club), liquor/ Sunday. Wine and beer licenses were approved for Herring Heritage LLC, Hungry Hippie Tacos LLC, My Sister’s Place Inc., Northwind Sailing Inc., and Holland Motel Inc.; Three Families Brewing (Voyageur Brewing Company) received a taproom/growler license, and Gunflint Tavern received a growler license. Shop N Save Inc (former Grand Marais Marathon) received a beer-off sale license.
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