Plans to put up a memorial flagpole in Harbor Park are still up in the air.
Gene Erickson, who is spearheading the effort to erect the flagpole memorializing Richard Joynes, visited Grand Marais City Council Aug. 25 to discuss the situation and make a formal request. Erickson explained that he and a group of Joynes’ friends who regularly get together for coffee at the Blue Water Café began collecting money for some type of memorial shortly after Joynes’ death in 2001. Those funds, which total about $1,300, have been sitting unused in lieu of a good idea.
Erickson said as he came into the harbor one evening this spring, he got an idea. “As I was looking around, I thought a flagpole would be the thing to have,” he recalled. And, he added, Harbor Park seemed like the ideal location due to its central location, for both town visitors and those coming into the Grand Marais harbor by boat.
The group of friends gave its approval to the idea, and soon thereafter the city’s park board endorsed the plan. However, City Administrator Mike Roth cautioned council about giving final approval because of design guidelines established for Harbor Park when construction began in 2006. Council directed Roth to come up with some alternative locations for the flagpole, which he did and
” presented at the Aug. 11 meeting. Those sites included Joynes’ parking lot, Compass Park and the Coast Guard station at Artists Point.
Erickson told council last week that the Coast Guard location “didn’t ring any bells with us” when discussed amongst the committee, due mainly to its location and the government’s obligation to provide a flag there (the existing pole is in disrepair and needs to be replaced, according to Mayor Sue Hakes). Erickson said the Compass Park location may be acceptable, but Harbor Park is still the group’s preference. “We want to try for that first,” he said.
Addressing concerns that the flagpole would cost the city income in the form of lost sales of cityapproved memorials such as teak benches with a plaque ($5,000) and plaques on concrete wall benches in the park ($750), Erickson suggested the flagpole could be designed with enough space at the base to add other names in the future, in a more affordable way. That way, he said, the flagpole would be a continuing source of income. “That’s more for the park,” he said.
Furthermore, said Erickson, since the original account of the flagpole proposal before the park board appeared in the newspaper, an additional $400 has been received for the cause. “People are supporting this big time, in my opinion,” he commented.
Roth said there may be other hurdles to the Harbor Park site, such as the terms of a conservation easement imposed by the DNR, as well as any restrictions put in place by the local committee when the park was being designed. Councilor Jan Sivertson described the planning process as “long and arduous,” and said council has “an obligation to honor that process.” Mayor Hakes said she likes the idea of a continuing memorial. “I just don’t want to see people start fighting over it,” she said.
Council directed Roth to check with the DNR about the terms of the conservation easement, and to look into what restrictions, if any, the Harbor Park Design Committee may have placed on the site. Erickson said he didn’t think the DNR would have any problems with the flagpole proposal, because based on his previous dealings with that agency, the staff is easy to work with. “I doubt there will be any trouble with them,” he said.
Roth said he would look into the matter and report back to council.
In other business:
. Council adopted the 2010 update of the Cook County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, presented by Cook County Emergency Services Director Jim Wiinanen. The plan was originally approved five years ago,
and Wiinanen said having a good plan in place improves the chances of
qualifying for FEMA mitigation grants. . Councilor Tim Kennedy and Mike Roth were appointed to represent the city and work with the Cook County Local Energy Project. Spokesman George Wilkes said the group is working on a list of
concepts and projects that will benefit both the city and county. Wilkes
also introduced Don Grant, the new energy plan coordinator. . Councilor and library board member Kay Costello reported that the library staff is reviewing proposals and architectural drawings for its
building addition. . Councilor Bill Lenz questioned the city’s consistency regarding lease agreements for use of city property. Lenz pointed out that a lease signed two weeks before allowing use of the city beach for a temporary kayak storage rack charges the business $50 per month. However, a lease allowing the East Bay Suites use of five parking spaces in the city lot year-round does not assess a fee. Lenz also noted that the East Bay lease prohibits storage of items including trash and refuse in the parking area, but there is a Dumpster stationed in one of the parking spaces. Roth said he would discuss the lease agreement with East Bay management; the terms can be changed with 180 days notice.
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