Music in Grand Marais parks was a hot topic earlier this year, but was set aside during the busy summer months. At the October 4, 2011 Park Board meeting, Park Board Member Todd Miller said a group of local musicians would like to revive the discussion.
Miller said that Harris Mills initiated the discussion this spring, when he asked for permission to play guitar in Harbor Park. However, Miller said a group of musicians had talked about forming a musician collaborative a few years ago. He said that effort died out, but with Mills’ request, its members again became interested. Miller noted that Harris proposed that the music in the park be acoustic only. The earlier group sought to be more inclusive, Miller said. Harris has since ended his quest to create a committee to oversee musicians, but Miller said the resurrected musician collaborative would like to tackle the subject. “We’re working with what Harris brought forward, making it look more like what the collaborative envisioned. He wanted only acoustic, but we want to be more inclusive,” said Miller.
He said there is a group of artists who are willing to devote their time and energy to coming up with a plan for music in the park. Miller said they would be meeting with the North Shore Music Association as well. He said he will report back to the park board at the November meeting.
Cook County Historical Society Board Member Leonard Sobanja appeared before the park board to ask if the historical society could add a smokehouse to its interpretive structures on the waterfront in the recreation park. Sobanja said when the historical society asked, and was granted, permission to place the historic Neegee fishing vessel on the harbor, it also asked if it could eventually place a fishhouse, a smokehouse and an icehouse there as well, replicating the historic structures that once stood on the harbor. The Neegee and the fishhouse are there, said Sobanja, and the historical society now has a smoke house, which is being donated by Pat Zankman of Colvill. The 7×3½-foot smoke house belonged to her uncle. Sobanja said Zankman is also donating $500 to move the building.
The park board seemed agreeable, as long as the structure, like the previous ones, could be moved when or if a new marina was built. Sobanja said the problem is that the smokehouse has a cement base and it needs one. That is where the fire pit for smoking the fish was built. He presented a drawing of the cement base and said it could be removed, if needed.
Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg said the city would want an agreement stating that in addition to being willing to move the structure, the historical society would be responsible for upkeep of the structure. Park Board Member Paul Anderson made a motion to accept the addition to the historical society’s waterfront exhibit and the motion passed unanimously. The board directed Tersteeg to work with the historical society to determine the best location for the smokehouse.
Park Board Member Bill Lenz asked the status of the proposed ice house. “If we find one, we’ll come ask again,” said Sobanja.
In other business
. Parks Manager Tersteeg reported on a meeting of city officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding public water access to Lake Superior on the Grand Marais harbor. Tersteeg, Mayor Larry Carlson, Park Board member Todd Miller, City Administrator Mike Roth, and Parks Assistant Manager Amber Humphrey attended the meeting to discuss, said Tersteeg, “the overall vision for Lake Superior water access on the Grand Marais harbor.”
Tersteeg said the city of Grand Marais is the last public water access on the North Shore, and as such, could access federal funding to improve its harbor. However, Tersteeg said, funding comes with obligations, such as the requirement for adequate parking. There was a great deal of discussion about parking, as well as minimum lighting, toilet facilities, boat storage and more. Tersteeg said the DNR agreed to put together a preliminary draft for public access to be reviewed by the city for “fit and feasibility.”
. Tersteeg also reported that the lottery had been held for spots in the community garden at the Rec. Park. Tersteeg said 10 plots had been given out—five to park guests and five to community members. He said 12 people had signed up, so two people are on a standby list.
. Tersteeg also reported that September campground revenue was down about $11,000, which he said the park expected due to the economy. Board Member Bill Lenz said he had noticed that the new RV campsites were being used. Tersteeg said yes, adding, “We thought we might be ‘soft’ on our large RV sites, but we had a lot of happy campers.”
. Gunflint Hills Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier reported that golf revenues were up 20 percent in September and up 5½ percent for the year for a total of $138,142. He added that the golf course had put a new greens mower in its budget for next year. “Our last capital improvement was nine years ago,” said Kunshier, adding, “We’ve really been limping our equipment along.”
Board Member and avid golfer Walt Mianowski said, “We’ve heard nothing but positive comments from people.”
. The board reviewed a memo from SEH engineering on the recreation area “Community Connections Project,” which had been on hold because of the state shutdown. Tersteeg said SEH had put together a preliminary design based on the design charrette held in July with the park board and community members. He will schedule a meeting with SEH to review what they have put together and to talk about funding possibilities.
The next meeting of the Grand Marais Park Board will be Tuesday, November 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the Rec Park Office.
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