Several new Mutt Mitt stations are coming to Grand Marais. Local businesses have sponsored the stations with one-time donations and will have their business names on signs attached to the stations. Sponsorships are still available.
Local residents tend not to pick up after their dogs as well as visitors, Bill Lenz commented. Park Manager Dave Tersteeg agreed, saying that he sees local people bring their dogs to the park and let them out of their vehicles to run around. “It’s a little bit of that country living,” he said.
The Mutt Mitt receptacles are tall and thin in order to decrease the potential of people trying to put their household garbage in them. Tersteeg was optimistic that more litter, such as juice boxes, will be picked up from the ground once the Mutt Mitt receptacles are in place.
More Mutt Mitt station sponsorships are available, and help with the ongoing costs of maintenance would be appreciated, Tersteeg said. With more funding, more stations could be available in other locations.
Gunflint Hills Golf Course
“It was a bad year,” said Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier. The first six weeks of the golfing season were lost to a lingering winter and damage from ice on the course. Total revenue was $25,634, down 17 percent from last year. Last year was a record year, but this year’s revenue was still down 9 percent compared to the more average year of 2011.
Kunshier said a lot of people started golfing in August and September when the course was finally back in good shape. He said he and Rob Staples are the only staff on board at this point and are readying the course for winter.
“Hopefully, we’ll be open by April or May next year,” Kunshier said. He hoped the course would not have so much trouble with ice again.
The board approved several rate increases and two decreases. Season passes will go up by $5 to $665 for couples and $380 for singles. Season passes will remain at $100 for golfers under 18. Golfers between 18 and 29 and people buying a season pass for the first time will pay $299, one dollar under this year’s rates. The daily rate for nine holes will go up one dollar to $20 or $28 with a cart, and the daily rate for 18 holes will remain the same at $30 or $40 with a cart. A coupon for nine holes with a cart for $25 or 18 holes with a cart for $35 is available on the city’s website. Kunshier said the most important thing is to get people there.
Board Chair Walt Mianowski said his group of eight golfers has dwindled down as people have gotten older. He said now they’re lucky if they get three golfers at their Monday golf outing. Mianowski said he plans to be out on the course next year, getting his money’s worth for the price of his season pass.
“If we have a normal year next year,” said Kunshier, “our numbers will look really good!”
Grand Marais Municipal Pool
The pool was really busy the Friday and Saturday of Moose Madness, Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen reported. Twelve to 16 kids are participating in the Cook County Community YMCA swim team, most of them in sixth grade or younger. Older kids are really busy this time of year, he said.
The YMCA is planning a grand opening January 4 and a “soft opening” December 16. “Hopefully everything works out for them,” said Christiansen. He said YMCA Branch Executive Director Emily Marshall told him the pool would not be ready by December 16. The Grand Marais Municipal Pool will not close until the new pool opens. “We’re keeping everything going until it’s time not to,” said Christiansen.
With the city pool in its final months, the lifeguard staff is down to three: Charles Christiansen, Nick Sheehan, and Bethany Peterson. “I think the lifeguards should be commended for sticking with their jobs when they know they’ll be ending,” said Robin DuChien.
Campground and marina
The board discussed campground and marina prices for next year, deliberating over the balance between covering costs and attracting business with good prices. They will decide on 2014 rates at their December meeting.
This year’s park income was much the same as last year’s, a record year. Overall occupancy is 46 percent, Park Manager Tersteeg said, even though the weekends when major events are going on are very full. Fisherman’s Picnic is the first weekend to fill up, followed by the Fourth of July. He said he would like to increase that percentage.
RV sites with full water and electric hookups for a week at a time generally need to be reserved by January or February. Tersteeg said they want people to inquire about openings, however, because they do have openings even during busy times. Some people get into an open spot that is not their first choice and then move when a spot they want opens up, he said. The campground is open year-round, even thought the bathhouses are closed over the winter.
All the seasonal staff is done for the year. Robin DuChien asked if the park did anything for employees at the end of the year, such as have a party. Tersteeg said he would like to do that but has been told that funds cannot be spent on something like that because they are a public entity. He said he passes compliments on to the staff and thanks them for their work. Sometimes campground guests bring them cookies and even DQ cakes, which he shares with the staff.
Openings on park board
Two park board terms will be expiring at the end of this year: those of Tracy Benson and Paul Anderson. Benson can continue on the board for another term, but Anderson cannot because he will have served two terms. If Benson agrees to another term, two spots would still be open. A full board would have seven members.
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