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Grand Marais Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg reported year-to-date revenues for the Grand Marais Rec Park are trending up 20 percent versus 2020, despite the current July and August revenues falling short of those same months last year.
Tersteeg noted that during 2020 the park was effectively closed for the first six weeks because of covid, and once the park opened, the demand for travel and camping was unprecedented.
Marina operations and sales have also been robust this summer, with 2021 revenue up 40 percent over 2020.
“Overall, we are in good shape to meet (and exceed) our projected revenue budget,” reported Tersteeg. “Expenses are also tracking on (or below) budget.”
Work on the new breakwall is going well, he added, with the project due to be completed in mid-September.
“The fit and finish of the concrete work is impressive, and the view from the water is fabulous,” Tersteeg said.
Next, Phase 2 involves all of the landside and ramp improvements. KGM was the low bidder on this part of the project, and because they are in town and nearing completion of the Highway 61 work, the DNR is considering starting KGM’s contract earlier than next spring to save on mobilization and speed up the timeline for the work to be completed. Tersteeg said the DNR would let him know in the next week or so if KGM can start this fall.
Gunflint Hills Golf Superintendent Paul Jones reported that the golf course was having a good year despite the dry conditions.
“We are on an upward trend,” Jones said. “The course is in good condition. It survived the drought, and we kept the greens watered, so they’re in good shape.”
Next up, the course will be aeriated this fall. Jones said he hoped to acquire more gas-powered golf carts for next season, and he said he would submit for a wine and beer license permit for 2022. Plans are, said Jones, to make continued improvements to the golf course.
Landscape architect CJ Fernandez appeared via Zoom to discuss the Community Connections George Morrison Memorial. CJ said he talked with the Morrison family, and they suggested he incorporate a 1968 wood collage George made from found wood into the design of the community connection path.
The Park board reviewed several images CJ provided. One depicted the wood collage on a portion of the roof. The shadows reflected on the ground looked much like the wood collage, but park board member Frankie Jarchow asked about cleaning bird droppings from the plastic covering. Tersteeg said his department would be responsible for keeping it clean, and he wasn’t too keen on the idea. With that, the park board asked CJ to go with a side panel representing the collage, and he agreed.
The Park Board also gave CJ permission to proceed with the project estimated to cost $287,000. However, Tersteeg said the Creative Economy Collaborative (CEC) had received a $50,000 grant for the project, allowing the park board to stay within the $250,000 budget it had set earlier.
Rita Hinchman, board chair, announced her resignation from the park board. She told Tersteeg she was too busy traveling, so her spot now opens for someone living within the city limits to fill. Check with city hall if you are interested in applying to serve on the park board.
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