Work continues on the outdoor recreation facilities at Birch Grove Community Center to hopefully have the new ice rink and warming house in place when school starts in September.
Birch Grove Community Center is seeing big changes. At the July 12, 2012 Tofte Township Board meeting, Alan “D.C.” Olsen reported that construction on the 1-percent-tax-funded recreational improvements has begun. “It looks like a different place,” he said. “It needs to happen fast. We’re about a month behind where we were hoping to be.” The work is expected to be done before the start of school.
All the contractors working on the project are local except for one. No local businesses bid on the construction of the pavilion, Olsen said.
On behalf of West End tennis players, John Wolf spoke up, urging the board to put a proper overlay on the new court instead of asphalt alone. It would not be used much if it had an asphalt surface, he said. “You won’t encourage people to play tennis if that was your goal,” he said. If they had a good court, he said, they would invite tennis players from other parts of the county to come and play.
Supervisor Paul James said he knows the current court is not good and people have not been playing on it for years. Supervisor Alan “D.C.” Olsen said he got a quote of $7,500 for a proper surface.
They have cut costs on the Birch Grove project wherever possible, James said, which has left them with a contingency fund of $70,000 to $75,000. He said they wouldn’t make any promises, but they might be able to use some of that on a good tennis surface. “We welcome your input,” he said, adding that knowing that this was important to the tennis players was helpful.
One of the projects is the relocation of the outdoor classroom building to a more accessible location. Birch Grove Foundation Director Patty Nordahl said she would like to see the building heated at some point so the school could use it all year. Supervisor Paul James said he thought a pellet stove would be a great way to heat it. He has one, and it is efficient and safe, he said. The stovepipe vents directly outdoors and is not hot.
Senior housing project
A senior housing facility in Tofte is getting nearer to reality. Supervisor James said a market feasibility study shows that 8-10 units would be ideal, and more could probably be added as needed. “They believe it’s very marketable and doable,” he said.
Project Manager Dick Grabko, at the meeting with developers Bob Bremer and Diane Watson, said 30 percent of Cook County’s seniors would not be able to afford the $900-1,110/month rent the units are expected to cost. “I look at that 70 percent as being a good sign,” said Supervisor Jim King. “I’m encouraged by that.”
Patty Nordahl said some seniors have expressed interest in being part of the decision-making process. Supervisor James suggested that Grabko, Bremer, and Watson show up on a senior lunch day at Birch Grove to meet some of the residents.
The board discussed who they could get to write grants to help fund the project. Grabko suggested that the “continuity” they could offer with the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), the county, and the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) could help ensure that the grant writing was done. Grabko has worked in the past as a consultant for the EDA.
People have asked whether they would be able to choose things such as carpet colors or the number of garage stalls if they signed up for a unit before the facility was built, Supervisor Jim King said. He pointed out that the project was being undertaken by a private developer working in partnership with public entities.
“The numbers and the budget have to work,” said Grabko. King agreed, saying he hoped they wouldn’t get bogged down with details that are not in their hands to decide.
The board passed a motion giving Bremer the exclusive right to develop senior housing on 29 acres at Birch Grove Community Center.
The board voted to hire DSGW Architects to evaluate the township property the facility will sit on and design the building. DSGW offered the lowest of four bids, but the board also liked the fact that they have done other large projects in Cook County, have a large staff of about 220 people, and offer expertise in finding funding. The work will be done between July 25 and September 7.
Supervisor James welcomed Bremer, Watson, and Grabko and thanked them for pursuing this project that the community has waited so long for. He said senior housing is part of the township’s long-term community plan, and it is expected to foster relationship-building between youth and older citizens. He said he also hopes new families will move here and buy the homes sold by the seniors moving into more modest homes that are easier to maintain.
Town park rental policy
The board spent considerable time discussing its policy on renting the park for events such as weddings. Some local businesses have been using the space for weddings, and the supervisors weren’t sure they wanted the park to be tied up for commercial ventures like that or whether they wanted it to be available to non-residents.
Supervisor James said area businesses are making money off destination weddings held in the park. He said he feels like they are using an asset of the township more and more in order to make money. Township Treasurer Mary Jane Huggins said eight to 10 weddings had already been scheduled for this summer.
Bluefin has put a limit on the number of weddings allowed at Bluefin, Supervisor King said, because too many would not be fair to the condo owners. John Nelson said a big tent would intimidate general park users from entering the park, which would still be open to the public even when it was rented out. Supervisor King suggested limiting the size of the tent.
The board also discussed how to get people to remove the tents in a timely way. Supervisor James suggested requiring a deposit that would be refunded in full only if the tent were removed within the time allotted.
“I like that we consider ourselves generous,” said Margie (Hansen) Hanno, who grew up in Tofte and returns to her family home every summer. She suggested that they allow the events and charge more for the bigger ones. “Let them enjoy a wedding,” she said. “A wedding is a beautiful thing.”
The board passed a motion to cease taking park reservations for any non-residents through the end of the year. The park committee will take up the issue for further discussion.
Diseased trees in cemetery
The cemetery committee is considering options for replacing the diseased trees that were recently removed from the cemetery.
Tofte cell tower
Some residents are requesting that an AT&T cell tower going up in Tofte be no more than 140 feet, Supervisor James said. The township has authorized a tower of up to 190 feet. Taller towers can sell more tower space and the signals are better, James said. Twenty feet makes a very big difference, he said.
The issue is in the hands of the Cook County Planning Commission now.
Fourth of July fireworks
The Fourth of July fireworks were a success and Supervisor James said the professional who handled them is interested in returning next year. “I’ve heard nothing but good reports if not rave reviews,” he said.
The board discussed the shell size that was used and whether a different size would allow the park to remain open all day before the fireworks instead of having to close down while the fireworks were being set up.
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