Improvements will be made to the Grand Marais Recreational Park next year, but just how much money is available for those improvements and how far down the road the park board should look when setting its priorities were two main topics of discussion for the board at its first meeting of the New Year on January 8.
Grand Marais Park Board Manager Dave Tersteeg presented the board with a brief history of the park’s Master Plan dated 2009- 2010.
“Rough estimates of expenses indicate a $20,000 annual investment for ongoing site upgrades may be needed. Criteria for selecting sites to upgrade were established, first to high-value, in-demand sites and second to sites with pre-existing problems that need addressing,” Tersteeg said.
During 2011 approximately $80,000 was spent to upgrade 20 sites. About $60,000 was for design and installation of an entirely new sewer system, said Tersteeg, to provide this service at highvalue sites that previously only offered electric and water service. Electrical upgrades, including new pedestals and 50 amp wiring, totaled nearly $20,000.
In 2012, $5,000 was spent to purchase 10 new grills and 10 new picnic tables.
As Tersteeg noted, in 2011 the board spent $80,000 while budgeting $20,000 per year for site upgrades.
“That means we still have two more years until we are caught up with our 2011 spending,” he told the board.
The Master Plan calls for $50,000 to be spent on construction in 2012 and 2013, said Teersteg. But most of that money will be dedicated to paying for the Community Connections project ($50-$70k), to create a walker friendly entrance to the rec. park. In addition to that project, the park needs to “continue to pave worn out road sections.”
With little money left in the budget, Teersteg said, “Bottom line, if our annual budget is $50,000 for construction, we may not be in a position to re-invest in sites until 2015. More money may be needed in the 2014 capital construction budget if we hope to continue comprehensive upgrades.”
That said, the park board asked Tersteeg what was most pressing for 2013.
“Electrical upgrades are needed in the full hook-up island of 101W. Every summer we struggle with tripping the one 100-amp breaker that serves these 16 sites. Preliminary estimates indicate roughly a $20k expense for electrical upgrades only. The sewer and water systems at these sites is adequate, although aging,” Tersteeg said.
When asked how often the breaker trips, Tersteeg replied, “Four or five times a summer. It’s not so bad when it happens during the day and we can send someone right down there, but it’s not so great when it happens in the middle of the night and everyone is inconvenienced.”
After some discussion the board concurred with Tersteeg and voted to have the electrical sites upgraded for the 16 recommended sites.
Tersteeg also asked the board to approve the continuation of improving (leveling) gravel pad sites for trailers and to continue to replace picnic tables, citing these upgrades as a good “bang for the buck.”
“This costs approximately $500 per site and is, for the most part, incorporated into our annual maintenance (non-capital) budget. However, picnic table purchases should be considered ‘capital’ and an annual amount should be plugged into that budget,” said Tersteeg.
The board agreed that this was a good use of the park’s budget and agreed to purchase 10 new picnic tables and level 10 pads during 2013.
Although the board is faced with more projects then money to pay for those projects, Park Board Member and City Councilor Bill Lenz said all of that could change once the municipal swimming pool is removed.
“Next year the pool is coming down and that’s going to increase revenue. The reason the park doesn’t bring in money like the liquor store is because of the pool. Once the pool is gone the park will be run like a business. Then we should do a realignment of all of the sites.”
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