On Wednesday, February 26 Grand Marais city councilors agreed to seek the lot above the Como tanks in the business park to use as space to install a dog run and dog/ animal pound.
For that to happen, though, a few things have to take place first.
The 1.1-acre lot is the same lot the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) wants to use for a solar garden.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux told the council he feels the solar garden and dog pound are compatible because the pound needs to be near the road while the solar installation could be further back on the lot.
Councilor Tim Kennedy, the city council liaison to the PUC, agreed, saying the solar garden wouldn’t take up much room and could be installed in the back of the lot.
First, the city must get permission from the county and make a request from the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA to transfer ownership of the land to the town.
For several years there have been efforts underway to find a new home for the dog pound. The current pound is located in the recreation park near the boat launch and will have to be moved because the boat launch will be undergoing reconstruction early this next fall or next spring.
In January, Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth and Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux met with Sheriff Pat Eliasen to discuss a plan. The plan included acquiring a new location, working with the local animal advocate group on funding, seeking assistance with material acquisition, and working with the high school industrial arts class on construction. Cook County Interim Administrator Rena Rogers wasn’t at the meetings, but was in the loop via e-mail, said Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux.
The lot near Como was chosen because it checks a lot of boxes. It’s close to the law enforcement center. It has easy access for the public. It’s pretty far away from private homes, and it has economical access to water and sewer and is also close to the new veterinarian, who has a clinic in the business park.
Councilor Anton Moody was 100 percent in favor of the project but noted that time was slipping by, and a lot of work needed to be done in a hurry. He said a building design would have to be selected, permits acquired, a storm retention pond dug (every lot in the business park needs to have a stormwater retention pond, he said), as well as clearing land, etc.
Councilor Craig Schulte wondered if the city should first identify potential partners, set a budget and decide what design the facility should be before anything else occurs.
Councilor Kelly Swearengen questioned if the county would partner on cost-sharing with the city because dogs and other animals placed in the pound come from all areas of the county, as well as from tourists whose dogs get loose and end up in the pound.
“Do we know how many dogs that is?” she asked the mayor.
Arrowsmith DeCoux said he didn’t have a count of how many animals from outside of the city ended up in the pound, but to date, the pound has always been Grand Marais’ responsibility. As far as partners who could share in the cost, he said those had been identified, and the city would work with them.
“We fully acknowledge there is a lot of work to do,” said the mayor, but added that if the council voted for the lot in the business park, a big piece of the puzzle would be in place.
With that, the council voted unanimously to seek to acquire the lot north of the Como tanks in the business park. Mayor Jay said he would bring back more information to the council at their next meeting. For now plans are to follow state standards and build a simple structure with a solar installation that would help heat the pound.
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