After a long delay while the state responded to objections from the counties regarding new Minnesota Pollution Control Agency septic system rules, the Cook County Planning & Zoning Department has revised a septic ordinance it drafted several years ago in accordance with state law and will be seeking comment on it from the county board and the public.
Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson said that the state changed its rules in 2008, 2010, and 2011, with the new rules placing more responsibility on counties without more funding. He testified before legislators in St. Paul regarding a bill that would have given counties more flexibility in determining their own septic standards. The state finally allowed counties to keep their old standards, adopt new ones, or adopt a combination of old and new.
Each county now has until February 2014 to get its own septic ordinance in place. In the meantime, counties must enforce the state’s rules.
Cook County’s previous draft ordinance would have required property owners to have their septics pumped every three years whether they needed it or not. The currently proposed ordinance allows people to postpone pumping as long as their septic tanks pass an inspection, which must be done every three years.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked if the county could extend the inspection period to four or five years instead of three. Nelson said the state allows only inspections to remain valid for three years, except for newly installed systems, which can remain valid for five years before requiring another inspection. After that, they would need their tanks inspected every three years.
County Attorney Tim Scannell wondered if the proposed ordinance includes any standards more stringent than the state’s. Nelson said no, although it outlines the process of working with contractors more specifically than state rules do.
Scannell said he would like to see the ordinance deal with violators through the process of civil action rather than prosecution for misdemeanors.
The board will discuss the proposed ordinance in a work session Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at the courthouse. The public will have time to comment on the ordinance before the board takes action to adopt it.
EDA loan requests
The board authorized an advance of $60,000 on the Cook County-Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) levy. This will be deducted from the amount that the county would otherwise have sent the EDA in June.
The EDA’s total levy for this year is $150,000. The request was made by EDA Treasurer Scott Harrison, who described his job as “heavy on the responsibilities and light on the privileges!”
The board also agreed to add to the amount it loaned the EDA last fall for Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course. Every fall, the board has been loaning the golf course $200,000- $250,000, and the golf course has been repaying that loan the following fall. Last fall, the county loaned the course $225,000, and at Harrison’s request, the county loaned the course another $50,000.
Harrison said the extra money would be used to increase marketing efforts. The course has been spending $20,000 a year on marketing in recent years but should have been spending $75,000, Harrison said.
Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk said she hoped the extra marketing efforts would help the golf course make enough money to operate without borrowing money next fall to carry it through the winter. “We’re hopefully not going to do this again,” she said.
Harrison said he would provide the county board the golf course’s marketing plan for this golf season. Although people were golfing here in April last year, Harrison said that’s not going to happen this year. “We’ll be lucky if that happens by June!” he said.
Revolving Loan Fund requests
The board approved three requests that had been approved by the Revolving Loan Fund Committee on April 15. The first was a loan of $48,000 to Randy Sjogren for improvements to the mini-golf course in Grand Marais, which he has purchased.
The name of the business will be Putt ‘n Pets, and it will include domestic animals such as goats, chickens, and pheasants for viewing. Improvements include seating areas, more food offerings, improved landscape, and lighted balls, holes, and clubs for evening use.
The second loan was for $16,000 to David Rak and Don Bertolini to supplement a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development grant of $38,500 for the Mangy Moose Motel. The $56,000 project will include new windows, sidewalks, railings, lighting, interior insulation, energy efficient heat pumps and water heater, and handicap accessible bathrooms. The beauty salon building will be upgraded as well.
The third loan was for $17,000 to Bruce Block for a $51,000 addition to Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Pizzeria. The extra space will include an interior seating area and additional deck space. The interior seating will allow the business to sell beer and wine.
After these loans, the Revolving Loan Fund balance will be $99,869.
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