“Just when we thought we were in the clear, we got the report back from Environmental Trouble Shooters and we found out there is a trace of asbestos in the white caulk of the rim joints,” Parks Department Manager Dave Tersteeg told the Grand Marais Park Board on June 3, 2014.
Plans were to have the old Grand Marais Municipal Pool building down and the grounds cleaned up before June 1, but the inspection took longer than expected and Tersteeg moved the teardown and cleanup date to July 1.
That date is now entirely off of the table.
The caulk will have to be removed by workers who are certified in asbestos removal. “This is an extra step and probably at a great cost. I’m no longer optimistic that we will have the building down and grounds cleaned up before the end of the summer,” said Tersteeg.
He added that the pool parking lot would be used for overflow traffic this summer.
Tersteeg also said he would remove the pool sign and put up a sign that points people to the Cook County Community YMCA.
Busy summer ahead for Rec Park
Tersteeg gave an overall report to the park board. “Things have been hopping at the front desk the last couple of days. May was a little down from last May,” said Tersteeg. “But overall, we are up 2 percent for the year,” he said.
“Full service hookups are pretty much booked for July and August. I pretty much expect a busy, busy summer.
“‘Pop-up’ ideas for Boulder Park are proceeding. I don’t know when we will put in the temporary sidewalk, but maybe sometime in late July, early August. I know that there will be a problem when the parking is gone, but we will see how it goes.”
At this time most of Boulder Park is used primarily as a parking space for people who want to stop and comb the beach or get a bite to eat at Sydney’s Frozen Custard.
Golf course in good shape
Gunflint Hills Golf Course Superintendent Mike Kunshier gave an update about the golf course. “We’re up $10,000 over last year at this time. Most of it is in season pass sales, but the course is also in a lot better shape this year than it was at this time last year,” Kunshier said.
“The course is in beautiful shape,” said Park Board Chair Walt Mianowski.
Kunshier said he has seen a lot of new faces. “I think these are people taking up golf or just getting back into it.”
The golf course has added three gas-powered carts picked up from Superior National at Lutsen and Kunshier said he hopes to spray for weeds if the weather conditions are right.
“How many times do you spray a summer?” Park Board Member Reid Dusheck asked.
“We only spray once a year, and some people have problems with that,” Kunshier said.
League play starts soon and membership is down, said Kunshier “but golf is hurting a little bit right now.”
He said twilight golf is $15 a round, the best deal in the Northland. Twilight hours start at 4 p.m.
New park employee
Dave Hepler was introduced to the board as the new parks facilities manager. Hepler is originally from Virginia and last lived in Idaho before moving to Cook County two years ago.
Dave said his wife replaced Steve Schug as the recreation supervisor for the eastern half of the Superior National forest and they moved to Cook County for her job.
“I have been working at Lutsen Mountains for the last year and a half. I have worked at eight national forests and five parks, so this is right up my alley,” he said.
Beavers are back
Tersteeg said beavers are back in the harbor. There is a beaver dam near the Coast Guard station and beavers have been seen swimming with sticks and other building materials. While they are entertaining to look at, they are also great at deforesting the shoreline.
“Well, all of our trophy trees are still fenced from a year and a half ago,” said a weary Tersteeg, reminding the board about the last battle the park had with the industrious beavers.
A Duluth company spent four days processing the 60 cords of firewood that will be sold over the summer to campers, said Tersteeg.
Tersteeg said the new canopy tent to be used at Harbor Park has arrived and it is blue.
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