Whether or not the Farm and Craft Market (FCM) gives up its present location and moves across the street into the Grand Marais City Hall’s parking lot or not this summer, it was clear listening to the 24 people attending the Thursday, April 7 vendors’ meeting that people were surprised to learn that the city council had voted to move the market across the street to the city hall parking lot.
“We thought we were there [at the city council meeting held the night before] to discuss a potential move, and before we knew it, they voted on it,” said Hanna Senty, the managing member of the Cook County Farm & Craft Market.
Tom Crosby appeared at the city council meeting with Senty. Crosby, who sells his colorful blown glass art at the FCM, said the couple didn’t argue with the council at the meeting, because they didn’t feel they had a choice in the decision. “We didn’t feel they were giving us an option,” he said.
A vote by the vendors on whether or not to accept the city’s one-year permit to move the FCM across the street to the city’s paved parking lot was tabled after a lengthy discussion. A vote will be taken at a later date when the FCM board learns more and can chat with the FCM members.
The FCM has been in its present location for the last 17 years. It has high visibility from Highway 61 and throughout the summer it is a hub of activity on Saturday mornings. On holiday weekends, FCM members will often set up and sell their wares on Sunday, too.
But that “busyness” has also caused concern for Jack Stone, owner of Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. According to Crosby, Stone has clashed at times with Crosby and other members of the FCM over the placement of temporary signs and the lack of parking available to his customers during the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. sales event.
“It’s clear that Mr. Stone doesn’t like us and he wants us gone,” said Crosby.
When contacted, Stone said, “The effect on my business was more than just noticeable. It was pretty severe. But that is a discussion for another day. I tried to work with them but they closed down the lot at 3 p.m. every Friday…their permit said 6 p.m. And of course Saturday mornings were noticeably slow.”
That said, Stone said, “As far as I know this is resolved with their new home. I wish them well. I think it should work out better for all.”
Bev Green, director of the Cook County Senior Center, said the center would lose about $1,800 in yearly fees paid by the FCM if it moved across the street. Some vendors sell from senior center land, and some need to use electricity provided by the center. Green said the loss of revenue would have an adverse effect on the center that would be hard to replace.
At the meeting Senty said the city felt there wasn’t enough room for emergency vehicles to access the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op or Stone Harbor, both of which are located behind the Saturday morning market. According to the state code, a width of 20 feet has to be open for emergency vehicles to pass. But when Commissioner Garry Gamble, who was in attendance at the FCM meeting, checked with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal a couple of days later, he was told the alleyway that runs in front of the co-op and Stone Harbor would be adequate for those vehicles.
Vendors pay an annual fee to join the Farm and Craft Market, and they have to be approved by the board.
On a typical Saturday there are 18 to 20 people selling homemade or homegrown products.
Participants must live year-round in the county or own land or a cabin here and live here part-time to take part in the market, said Senty.
The City of Grand Marais issues a blanket permit that covers all of the Farm and Craft Market vendors. Some wondered what would happen if they questioned the council’s recent decision, speculating whether or not the city might retaliate and make everyone buy an individual permit.
Senty said she doubted that would happen. “The city council said they liked us.”
But she admitted the quick vote frustrated her.
“If we are going to fight this, Tom and I can’t fight this alone,” said Senty. “I basically have two full-time jobs. I don’t have time to do this without a lot of help. You will have to commit to come to meetings and help us if you want to pursue this.”
Crosby called for a show of hands from people who would agree to appear at the next city council meeting and 12 hands went up in the air. Gamble said he would draft a letter for the meeting if they can, as a group, get on the city council agenda.
On Tuesday, April 12, Gamble told the News-Herald that the group had been unable to get on the city council’s April 13 agenda. After reviewing the city’s permit ordinance, Gamble said he believes that vendors could move to the senior citizen lot and sell there without a permit from the city. The senior center property is comparable in size to the property offered by the city across the street.
Following the FCM meeting Hannah Senty said she talked to Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and he told her that the city council didn’t care which side of the street the vendors wanted to use.
“We will have a meeting soon and it will be up to the members to decide which side of the street they want to sell from. At this point the city is giving us a choice. Right now everything is up in the air,” Senty.
No matter what happens, time is ticking away. “We’re on the clock,” said Crosby. “We need to be selling on Memorial weekend. That is just six weeks away.”
As for Green, she said that if the Farm and Craft Market moves across the road, there are already people expressing interest in starting a Flea Market on the senior center grounds.
At the Grand Marais City Council Wednesday, April 13 meeting Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux said he would attend the FCM’s Thursday, April 28 meeting and try to get some clarity about the situation.
“I don’t care which side of the road they pick,” said Arrowsmith-DeCoux. “All I care about is keeping the Farmer’s Market happy and healthy and in the downtown area.”
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