September Gunflint Hills Golf Course sales were up 15 percent over last September, but overall year-to-date sales are down 18 percent from last year. The very late spring and cold early summer had a big effect on golfing.
Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier told the Grand Marais Park Board on October 1 that he was hopeful that October sales would be better than last year, which was “really bad” because of the weather. “We’ve got room for improvement there!” he said.
Pool revenues through the month of August were almost the same as those of last August. Because the pool will be closing when the YMCA pool opens, only one-month memberships will be sold from here on.
Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen told the board that the YMCA would be starting up a swim team. The team would be part of a YMCA club that has its own meets. He thought participation might not be as high as expected right now because Cook County kids are participating in so many other activities. “And it’s about $200 plus the cost of membership,” Park Manager Dave Tersteeg said. The YMCA website lists a range of prices from $145 to $285.
The board discussed the closing of the Grand Marais Municipal Pool, which is expected to be sometime around the end of the year when the YMCA is expected to open. Manager Tersteeg suggested that they have a big party to celebrate all that the pool has meant to the community for over 35 years. “I know it would be bittersweet,” he said, however.
“The pool has served this community well,” said Sally Berg.
Park revenue
September campground revenue was up about 6.6 percent over last September. Year-to-date campground income of $894,752 was almost dead even with last year, a record year. Slip and buoy income was down 16 percent, and fuel sales were down 28 percent.
Daily site sales were up 1½ percent over last year, and monthly site sales were up 4.2 percent over last year. Manager Tersteeg attributed some of this to the work of Office Manager Samantha Wallner, who called people up to let them know when there were vacancies. The waiting list for monthly rentals has 100 people on it. Tersteeg said many people are hoping to be able to purchase a full season when sites become available. He said lakeside sites are always in demand.
Community Connections
The Community Connections trail and bridge project is almost complete, with a roof on the bridge and trees planted. “The site is starting to look restored,” Tersteeg said. The project has cost $38,000.
Negotiations with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) about the top of the trail in MnDOT right of way will not be pursued for now, Tersteeg said. They will wait until completion of the Moving Matters street planning effort, which will include plans for the Highway 61 corridor, before making decisions about the top of the Community Connections trail linking downtown Grand Marais with the recreation area.
Winter prep
Park staff will be removing buoys and docks throughout October, although dock services such as the fuel station will be open through October 15. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Clean Vessel Act grant of $4,200 will allow the replacement of the waste pump-out on the fuel dock. The city will be matching that amount with a $1,400 match.
Tersteeg said the park makes about 25-30 cents a gallon to sell boat fuel, but that does not reflect the time employees spend when customers are filling up. The board talked about the possibility of moving the fuel dock to a place that would be easier and safer to reach.
Tersteeg hoped to keep bathhouses open through Moose Madness the third weekend in October. “We never close,” he said. “We just turn the water off when it freezes. Park staff will start to winterize and close down the bathhouses the week of October 14th.
Community Garden lottery
Ten people entered the lottery for the 10 community garden plots, so everybody won. Tersteeg said he thought about half were park residents and half were city residents.
Beavers
Beavers continue to reside in the harbor. Manager Tersteeg said he had been seeing them over by the yacht club dock area. “They’re still active,” he said, “but I haven’t seen any trophy trees missing.”
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