A room full of visitors greeted the Grand Marais City Council on July 10, 2013.
Leading off the proceedings was Mark Privratsky, a representative from Congressman Rick Nolan’s Duluth office. Privratsky had hosted a “Congress Comes to You” meetand greet session earlier in the day at City Hall, and said he just wanted to stop by and introduce himself to councilors and listen in on the meeting. Although the afternoon meeting with citizens was well attended, there were no comments or concerns from city officials. Privratsky distributed business cards with his contact information and urged anybody with a problem or in need of assistance to call the local office. The number is (218) 464-5095.
Grand Marais Public Library Director Linda Chappell and Audrey Stattelman, president of the library board, next presented the library’s 2014 budget proposal. The library budget is usually the first to come before council because both the city council and Cook County commissioners must approve it; under the terms of a joint operating agreement, each entity pays half of the library’s operating expenses.
As usual, said Stattelman, there are still a number of unknown factors that may influence the final budget, making projections a bit difficult.
For example, the union contract, health insurance, public utilities costs and a propane contract are still awaiting finalization, she said. The 2014 budget also includes the cost of carpet cleaning, which should be done about every 18 months.
Chappell said the library has been seeing “hordes of people” who are enjoying the newly renovated building. There are some new services the library staff will concentrate on next year, said Chappell, such as an online magazine service, portable devices for public use, and an electronic book service offered through the Arrowhead Library System.
“People love the new services,” said Chappell. “But they don’t want to give up the old ones either.”
Despite the new offerings and plans for even more services, there is good news about the budget. Chappell said that, due mainly to a librarian’s retirement earlier this year, she anticipates a less than 1 percent increase in the 2014 budget. By comparison, the 2013 budget was an increase of 4.4 percent over the prior year.
What that means is the city’s half of the 2014 budget will be just over $130,000, a figure that pleased council. “That’s amazing to have only a 1 percent increase,” commented councilor and library board member Jan Sivertson. “That’s pretty good work!”
Council approved the library budget, and Chappell said she will now take the proposal to the county board.
Hal Greenwood of the Cook County-Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) was up next, asking for a $10,000 loan from the city to the EDA. The money is needed to pay a $30,000 settlement the EDA owes the engineering firm Short, Elliot, Hendrickson (SEH); the EDA agreed to pay SEH $30,000 instead of the $142,000 SEH was charging for a housing project in the Cedar Grove Business Park that has been discontinued.
Greenwood said that since the EDA has limited funds and the agreement is to pay $10,000 for each of the next three years, the loan will be used to make the first payment. “We don’t have much of an option to fight it out,” said Greenwood in explanation of the settlement.
Council approved the loan, with the stipulation that the county will pay the city back directly from the EDA’s levy next year, and the money will not go through the EDA.
Greenwood thanked councilors for their support and said he believes the EDA “has turned around the image it had before, which was not very good…Our outlook is greatly improved.”
Finally, a group from the Grand Marais Lions Club, led by President Bill Hennessey, appeared before council to present plans for this year’s Fisherman’s Picnic and request a Street and Sidewalk Use Permit for Aug. 1-4.
Of note, said Hennessey, is that the Lumberjack Camp will not be part of the fun this year, but organizers still plan to put up a tank and hold logrolling competitions and demonstrations near the Harbor Inn, as has been done in the past. Al Taenzer said some of the vendors have requested more space on Wisconsin Street, and with the absence of the Lumberjack Camp and some reconfiguring, about 20 spaces have been gained over last year. The streets will also be closed about a half-day later than usual on Wednesday, owing to the new arrangement of vendor booths and set-up time required.
There was some discussion about alley closures and affect on deliveries to businesses on Wisconsin Street and beyond before council approved the street use permit.
In other business:
. A Street and Sidewalk Use Permit was approved to allow the North Shore Federal Credit Union use of Second Street for its annual member appreciation cook-out on July 17.
. Council approved the annual renewal of the Curling Club’s Consumption and Display Permit for their events at the Community Center.
. City Administrator Mike Roth reported that the results of a detailed space needs study will be available for council review at the July 31 meeting. The proposal calls for a 15,000 square-foot facility, but of course that can be downsized or otherwise modified, said Roth.
. On the recommendation of the planning commission, a variance requested by Jim and Francie Beaster allowing them to sell a portion of their property on West Second Street to an adjoining property owner was approved. The action allows the neighbor, Maria Carlson, to build a garage on her property in accordance with setback requirements.
. Mayor Larry Carlson said he has received a letter and noise complaints from the Mangy Moose Motel regarding trucks parking overnight off the highway nearby with their engines running. There is an ordinance on the books, said Roth, but signs cannot be posted in the state right of way without permission, or in the parking area (which is privately owned).
Calls to the sheriff seem to get no results, said the mayor, and Roth said he will talk to the property owners who allow the truckers to park there before taking the matter up with law enforcement again.
Leave a Reply