Big winds kicked up waves in the Grand Marais harbor on Monday, October 6, lifting this dock off its moorings in the harbor. The park crew rescued the dock—which wasn’t damaged—and put it away for the winter.
September Gunflint Hills Golf Course sales were down 29 percent over last September and overall year-to-date sales are down 4 percent from last year, reported Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier to the board on October 7.
The very late spring and cold early summer once again had a big negative effect on golfing, but a discussion was held about the decline nationally and statewide in the numbers of people who are golfing. Just what can be done to turn that trend around, however, is unknown.
In September of 2013 revenues were $20,768 while this September the course brought in $14,792. Last year the course brought in $124,011 while this year (with only a few open days left), revenues are $119,324. All staff will be gone Sunday, October 12, said Kunshier, although regular members can play the course as long as the weather allows.
A preliminary discussion about 2015 golf rates was held, but no decisions were made. Kunshier said he was happy with the 2014 rates.
Swimming Pool
The board discussed demolition of the Grand Marais Municipal Swimming Pool, which was closed last year after the YMCA opened its new pool. Park Manager Dave Tersteeg had hoped the pool building would have been taken down last spring before the June tourist season began, but asbestos was found and was cleaned up, delaying the process until fall. The park board has discussed making overflow parking in that location when the building is down. Tersteeg said Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth and city attorney Chris Hood are now working out details before sending out bid requests for demolition. Any plans for that space will have to wait until next spring, said Tersteeg.
Park revenue
September campground revenue was up slightly over last September. Year-todate campground income of $895,525 is, “about $400 more than last year,” said Tersteeg. Campground proceeds are flat the last three years, Tersteeg said, but three years ago the campground had its biggest year ever.
Tersteeg said year-todate daily/weekly fees were, “shockingly even with 2013 revenues at $572,813 versus 2014 proceeds of $572,885.
“This September we were down on daily occupancies. I think that had something to do with cool, wet weekends. That was also true in July. Mid-week traffic dried up after Labor Day, but overall I would say our season was busy and successful,” Tersteeg said.
Slip and buoy income was up over last year but fuel sales were down 15 percent. “Sport fishing was down this summer so we didn’t sell as much fuel,” said Tersteeg.
Marina fees were up 6.9 percent over 2013 with $41,724 generated this year versus $36,475 in 2013. Marina fuel sales fell from $37,341 in 2013 to $31,589 in 2014 while fire wood sales showed a 16 percent gain from 2013 with revenues at $21,840 compared to $18,853 in sales for 2013.
Once again there is a large waiting list for monthly rentals Tersteeg said, adding that lakeside sites are heaviest in demand.
Storage Policies
Park board member Bill Lenz asked the board to consider forming a written policy for storage at the campground. There are some boats stored through the winter on the grounds now, but there isn’t any policy about what can or can’t be stored or how long something can be stored in the campground. The board will continue to discuss forming a policy in upcoming meetings.
Winter prep
Park staff will be busy removing buoys and docks throughout October, although the fuel station will be kept open through October 15.
“This week we had a dock slip off its moorings for the third time this summer because the harbor is so full of water,” said Tersteeg. At times this summer the harbor has been like a coffee cup overflowing.
The staff has been busy pressure washing and draining some of the bathrooms, but Tersteeg said while 80 percent of the campground will soon be winterized, select sites will remain open through Moose Madness.
“Seasonal winterization work is under way with the crew focusing on bath house deep cleaning and fixing. Weather permitting, we hope to have full-service at select sites and bath houses 2 and 4 which will be open through the MEA/ Moose Madness weekend of the 19th.”
If the weather permits the park staff will put up the blue tent in Harbor Park on Saturday, October 18 for the 2 p.m. Michael Monroe concert.
“On October 20 we will have all of the water turned off in the park,” Tersteeg said.
Community gardening lottery
Last year 10 people entered the lottery for the 10 community garden plots, so everybody won. This year Tersteeg said there isn’t going to be a lottery for sites because current gardeners share space when asked and there hasn’t been any problem with requests to garden.
“Anyone that’s interested in gardening in the community garden should contact the office,” he said. Last year about half of the gardeners were from the park and half were city residents.
Possible donation
Tersteeg said a family is considering giving a gift of a granite, memorial bench to Harbor Park, but before submitting the proposal, would like to know if there is an additional sum of money that would be required, above and beyond the cost of the bench. Three other families have previously donated similar gifts to the city with no additional funds requested for upkeep from the city. Tersteeg said the park currently doesn’t have a policy in place that stipulates required donation amounts associated with gifts of public art. The board took this under advisement and will work on forming a policy at an upcoming meeting.
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