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Gunflint Hills Golf Course Superintendent Paul Jones came before the Grand Marais Park Board on Tuesday, August 3, with an update on the city-owned golf course.
Jones told the park board that business this July was up almost 20 percent higher than last July. But he noted the course was dry and badly in need of rain. The greens have been watered and are in good shape, but the fairways are receiving less water because the ponds on No. 2 and No 4 aren’t large enough to sustain pumping a lot of water from them to feed the fairway grass.
“We can only minimally water the fairways. So, we are really concerned about them,” noted Jones.
This coming weekend three different families are scheduled to play family tournaments at Gunflint Hills, and a Beset Ball tournament has been scheduled for August 28. Jones encouraged golfers to sign up for the August 28 tournament.
Grand Marais Rec Park Director Dave Tersteeg gave his 2021 August Parks report. Tersteeg said that while the hot, dry weather was tough on the golf course, it was ideal for campers and boaters. “The staff has been really solid and able to handle the nonstop pace of daily operations,” he said. As far as the financial side of the business, Dave explained that because of the hectic pace at the campground no one has had time to look at the July numbers yet, but he added, “They (numbers) are really good.”
Phase One work on the Parkside public water access project is going well, and fishermen have gotten used to using the boat launch at the Coast Guard station, Dave said. Work on the boat launch will be completed next fall, but the crew toiling away right now will be finished September 28, and boaters will be able to use the Rec Park launch after that until next summer when work begins anew.
Currently, the concrete is being poured for the new break wall and for the barrier free, accessible sidewalk. Once completed, the sidewalk will feature a parapet knee wall for seating and a topping for wave protections. In addition, Phase Two will feature work on the parking lot and other land projects to enhance the public water access.
A day-long strategic planning session was recently held with staff and city councilors. Tersteeg noted that these meetings are held every two to three years and prioritize capital projects for the city. Each department head reported the state of their department’s significant assets (road, water and sewer lines, building, etc.) When the day was completed, Dave said the top priorities for the city were the water treatment and wastewater plant, the city’s proposed new city hall/liquor store, repairs to roads, and updating the cities utilities. He said the city council continues to support the Rec Park Master Plan but that the board also recognizes that the plan must be revisited and updated and include the marina.
During the park board reports, city council representative Craig Schulte said the city council had written a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard asking them to reconsider closing the station here in town. Under the current orders, the coast guard station will be closed by the end of 2021, and the U.S. Coast Guard plans to service our area through the coast Guard station located 110 miles away in Duluth.
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