At a special meeting on March 25, the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) decided to offer the position of general manager for the EDA-owned Superior National at Lutsen golf course to former Cook County Commissioner Bob Fenwick. The EDA golf course and personnel committees were tasked with negotiating salary and benefits with Fenwick to bring back recommendations. Those recommendations will be discussed at the regular EDA meeting on Tuesday, April 12.
Although the EDA golf course committee was unanimous in its recommendation to offer the job to Fenwick, the EDA motion to accept that recommendation was not unanimous. One EDA board member, Don Davison, spoke passionately in favor of the candidate ranked just behind Fenwick, Todd Gervais, arguing that despite his lack of managerial experience, Gervais had more than adequate experience at other golf courses. Davison also said Gervais brings a new outlook to the position as opposed to what he termed Fenwick’s “political baggage.”
Golf course committee members stressed that all of the candidates interviewed—Fenwick, Gervais, and current Assistant Golf Pro Heath Ekstromwere excellent candidates.
Since the meeting, a number of citizens have joined Davison in asking the EDA to consider Gervais instead. A number of people have also questioned the salary and benefits being offered to the person who accepts the new position. At previous meetings on the golf course budget, the EDA included an increase in greens fees of 3%, up from $641,740 to $643,995. The budget also includes a reduction of the golf pro salary and benefits, from $56,375 to $54,794.
After that meeting, EDA Board Member Bruce Martinson contacted the News-Herald to ensure that the public understood that the salary range was not $60 – $70,000. Martinson said that amount included employment expenses such as social security and workers comp. Martinson said the salary and benefits package is closer to $50,000.
Martinson also said the estimated impact on the 2011 budget, prorated because the general manager would not be starting at the beginning of the calendar year, would be approximately $35,000 (including benefits and employment expenses).
Reached at press time, golf course committee member Mark Sandbo said the committee had met with Fenwick and said that the outcome of that meeting would be discussed at the meeting on Tuesday.
Apparently in anticipation of the public’s desire to speak to the EDA on its decision, a public comment period has been added to the agenda for the April 12 meeting following the joint personnel/golf course committee hiring negotiation report.
The EDA meeting will be held at Grand Marais City Hall at 3:00 p.m.
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