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Last week the Grand Marais City Council met virtually through Zoom with representatives of the county and Arrowhead Animal Rescue (ARR) to get an update on the plans for a dog park and to review law enforcement data as it relates to animals at the pound.
Also joining the meeting was Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen. Eliasen explained that since the dog pound at the rec park has been closed his deputies, “have done a fantastic job” of locating owners of stray dogs and reuniting them.
However, Eliasen said he expects problems to arise when more visitors come to our area and pets go missing and no one will know who the pet owner is. Also, Eliasen and Bev Green, who serves on the ARR, both brought up the problem of what to do when a pet owner dies or goes to jail.
Before being pulled away to another meeting Cook County Administrator James Joerke said the county wanted to partner with the city and ARR on finding a solution, but Grand Marais Mayor Jay Decoux said there are questions that need answers about cost sharing and at what level of service the city or county would be willing to provide to build and maintain a new animal shelter.
Councilor Kelly Swearengen asked why the county has taken the lead on this when the city has the leash law ordinance, and she questioned, “I’m a little confused about how we fell off the map?” adding she felt the city should be the lead on finding a new home for a dog pound/animal shelter that will be in city limits.
Next Swearengen asked about the agreement between the city and county as it concerns the dog pound.
“The service agreement between the city is very old and is in the process of being looked at right now, said Joerke.
Councilor Anton Moody asked Eliasen if the police pick up strays outside of the city limits and Eliasen responded “No, we don’t.”
Green said she thought it was very appropriate for the county to partner with the city and she cited a statute that called for the chief of police to be the pound master.
Eliasen said the county has a vested interest in seeing there is a dog pound because of the Dangerous Animal Ordinance (DAO). Eliasen pointed out that the DAO calls for law enforcement to remove biting dogs/ animals and those animals need to be taken to a pound.
Next the council discussed potential sites for an animal shelter. Currently local contractor Chris Skildum has said he would volunteer to build the 20×30 shelter that was designed and drafted by volunteer Mark Pederson.
Councilor Craig Schulte commented that there were many potential sites in the city because the shelter is a small building, and he noted that there might be a private landowner who would be willing to donate property for the site.
Mayor Jay asked the council to spend the next two weeks looking for a site that would be affordable, have access to public utilities, and meet the needs of the people and the animals.
“We need to push on this, set a deadline and pick our best option,” he said.
Council agreed and will investigate potential sites with the goal of picking one soon so budgets and timelines can be set, and work can begin.
In other council news:
* The Gunflint Tavern was approved to sell tobacco in 2021.
* Council also approved the IRS Milage Rate of 56 cents per mile for travel expenses and increased the pay for meals and incidental expenses to the following: $13 for breakfast, $14 for lunch, $23 for dinner and $5 for incidental expenses. The meal and incidental rates had not been changed in 20 years and had been set at $7 for breakfast, $11 for lunch, $18 for dinner and $3 for incidental expenses.
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