The long cold winter has caused the frost to go down as far as seven feet, deep enough to freeze pipes carrying water throughout the Northland, and Grand Marais is no exception.
But, as Grand Marais Water & Waste Water Superintendent Tom Nelson said at the Public Utility Commission’s meeting held on February 19, “We’ve been holding our own. For the most part it doesn’t sound as bad here as in some of the other communities.”
One of those communities Nelson was referring to is Ely. Their PUC crews have been called out 74 times so far this winter to thaw frozen water lines.
Nelson’s crews have been busy, however. Recently they had to twice steam a line behind the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op that feeds Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, and they have been called out to several homes to help thaw out frozen water or sewer lines.
“I also have to say that although many people don’t like those new narrower streets the city put in, I like them. Those water lines buried under the snow don’t freeze. Those streets might make the plow guys crazy, but they make us (crew) happy,” Nelson said.
In the “good news, bad news” category, PUC chairman Karl Hansen reported that one of the town’s power plant generators had to be repaired. At first it looked like a large crane would have to be brought in and the roof removed and the generator taken out for repair. That was estimated to cost $80,000. However, said Hansen, repair workers did the work on site without the aid of a crane and the final cost was $54,000.
“Still a lot, but not what it could have been,” said Hansen.
Cook County High School seniors are encouraged to submit an essay to the PUC explaining how public utilities affect their lives. Contest winners receive scholarships for post secondary school.
Meter readers will probably estimate meters for the next billing cycle, said PUC Secretary Tina Hansen.
“If people complain about it they can make sure to shovel a path to their meters,” said Hansen.
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