“ It’s going to be a nice facility for the next couple of years. Rec Park Manager ” Dave Tersteeg
After the late October storm that tore the roof off the municipal pool in the Grand Marais Recreation Area, contractors have begun repairs that are expected to take until January to complete.
Park Manager Dave Tersteeg reported to the park board December 7, 2010 that fierce winds had slowed contractors down, but they had worked right through the previous weekend. Tersteeg characterized the effect of the wind as “two steps forward, three steps back.”
The result will be good for poolgoers, in light of the fact that the county is in the planning stages for a new facility and some wondered if the City of Grand Marais would want to pay the $10,000 insurance deductible to repair the aging pool building. “It’s going to be a nice facility for the next couple of years,” Tersteeg said. The inside walls, also damaged by the recent storm, weren’t as rotten as some had thought they were in previous assessments of needed repairs.
Tersteeg said the park office has been getting a couple of calls a day on the status of the pool. Being closed “certainly doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said. The earliest the pool could be ready to reopen would be mid-January, and routine annual maintenance usually done in the spring will be done while contractors are doing the repair work. “Staff-wise, we’re making really good use of the down time,” he said.
Tersteeg said he was aware that groups and families who come up and use the pool over the holidays every year would miss it being open. The board gave him authorization to hold a grand re-opening celebration with balloons, cupcakes, and free admission.
A 20% off ticket book sale is coming up, with 10 passes for $24 plus tax. They make great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. This is quite a discount off the individual daily pass, which is $3.75 in the off-season and $4.95 from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
2011 camping rates
As it does every year, the board spent considerable time discussing its rates for the upcoming camping season and how they could bring in enough income to keep things running without discouraging visitors.
Tersteeg said they try not to risk setting rates too low and consider what they might need to charge if gas went up to $4.00 a gallon and the summer were filled with 50-degree days. He pointed out that the park generally has no vacancies during its two peak months, July and August. “We have an exclusive location – unparalleled,” he said.
Park board member Todd Miller said we can charge higher rates because we have no competition, but should we? Tersteeg said he thought they should keep daily rates under $40. If rates went over that amount, people would expect more amenities such as free WiFi, cable TV, and concrete pads.
If prices got too high, board member Paul Anderson said, tenters might go to state parks and other more forested camping areas.
“Our bread and butter here,”
” Tersteeg said, “is really RVing.”
In order to generate more income, Miller said, he would prefer creating more sites over raising rates. “Just because we can get more doesn’t mean we should take it.”
Anderson has camped across the country and said prices above $30 usually come with 50-amp service, cable TV, free WiFi, concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire pits. Board member Bill Lenz pointed out that they have to be able to pay wages and insurance. “I think there should be an increase,” Lenz said. “The question is, how much?”
“I don’t think it should be a lot,” board member Robin DuChien said.
Theboard decided to keep Monday through Thursday daily rates the same next summer but charge an extra $2.00 for Friday and Saturday nights, when most of the income is generated, according to Tersteeg. In 2008, the board had decided to charge peak rates for September, but at this meeting they went back to charging nonpeak rates for that month. Families looking for cheaper rates will also find them in May, June, and October.
By a vote of four to one (with Robin DuChien voting no and Carol Backlund absent), the board also voted for a 3 percent increase in monthly rates, with a three-or-moremonth seasonal rate $50 less than a newly implemented two-month rate and $100 less than a one-month rate. Peak rates will be charged for June, July, and August.
Other changes the board approved include the following: Some higher value trailer sites will need to pay for four months of occupancy instead of three in order to keep their trailers onsite all year. Theypay a much lower storage fee for the other months. Some other sites allowing storage all year will require a minimum of three months of occupancy at the peak rate no matter which months the occupants are there. Trailer storage will be increased from $62 to $64 a month.
This last summer, a new charge of $6.00 a night for a second car in the park was instituted, but the board voted to bring that down to $2.00, with seasonal residents paying a $30 seasonal fee.
2011 marina rates
Daily marina rates will remain the same next summer, but seasonal rates will increase by 3 percent. If they pay by June 1, boat owners will receive a 3 percent discount. A $100 deposit is required by March 1.
Boat owners who pay for six months in the marina or on a city mooring will be allowed to store their boats in the park at no charge over the winter.
2011 pool rates
Tersteeg said pool rates have not increased for a couple of years. For two years several years ago, campground guests were not charged for pool use, bringing annual revenue down about $10,000 or $12,000, he said. When they started charging campground guests again, fewer guests used the pool, but it still made more money. The board voted to charge campers $4.00 to use the pool instead of the $4.95 charged the general public during the summer months.
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