Increased attendance at the Grand Marais Recreation Park has meant an increase in revenues of “about $50,000” over last year, said Dave Tersteeg, Parks Manager, at the park board’s Nov. 4 meeting.
Tersteeg gave a list of proposals for rate adjustments for the 2011 season. None of them were voted on, and will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Some ideas included: No weekly discount on prime sites; a $1 increase on daily RV sites (an increase of roughly 3% over last year); lower fee for additional car from $6 per day to $2-$3; establish additional car rates for weekly and monthly campers ($15 a week/$30 a month); daily rate for cable TV – $5/day; and weekend/holiday rates priced a couple dollars more than midweek.
Park visitors currently pay $3 to use the swimming pool. Tersteeg told the board they could look at raising that to $4, and also increasing general admission $1 per day. The web site for the park will also be updated this winter, said Tersteeg.
When talking about marina rates, board Vice-Chair Todd Miller said he thought the Grand Marais marina shouldn’t be priced higher than the marina in the Apostle Islands. “We could go as high, but no higher,” said Miller, who is an avid boater on Lake Superior. Miller called the Apostle Islands “the Mecca” for area boaters and added that they had a lot to offer boaters there.
“We have to be careful about raising rates. There has been a recession in the boating industry. The poor economy has had a negative effect on the amount of people boating,” Miller said.
Currently the marina charges daily rates of $1.55 per foot while Silver Bay and Knife River charge boaters $1.25 per foot.
“But we have a lot more to offer than those marinas,” Tersteeg said, adding, “It’s really hard to compare marinas to each other because they are all so different.”
Tersteeg recommended the board look at raising daily rates to $1.60 per foot, which would be a 3% increase.
Three other suggestions from Tersteeg included increasing season docking rates 2 to 3 percent over last year, offering a 2 to 3 % discount for seasonal patrons who pay the entire season before June 1, 2011and offering a modest increase on weekly and monthly usage of the marina.
Good weather
good for golf course
Due to good weather, golfers are playing later into the year, said Gunflint Hills course manager Mike Kunshier. “Our green fees are up 2½ percent over last year and season passes are up 18 percent,” said Kunshier.
Kunshier proposed modest golf course rate increases for 2011 which the board
” approved Couples and singles will see a $10 increase in membership greens fees next year. First time members will pay $20 more for memberships as would under 30-year-old golfers while juniors (18 & under) will stay the same at $99 per year. County rates will go up at $1 per round—from $15 to $16—and cart fees would increase from $22 to $23.
Photovoltaic panels
at golf course
“TheIron Range Resources grant applied for by the Cook County Local Energy Project on behalf of the city for a photovoltaic panel energy project was successful,” Tersteeg reported.
The project will be built near the driving range at Gunflint Hills Golf Course, but will face away from the golfers, and it will be visible from the Gunflint Trail. Power generated from the photovoltaic panels will be sold to Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Inc.
When asked if the photovoltaic panels would generate any revenue, Tersteeg replied, “Rough estimates indicate the city may get $1,200 to $1,500 per year. But that’s just a guess.” The city won’t know until Arrowhead Electric figures out how much electricity the golf course used over the course of a year. Once that figure is determined, then Arrowhead Electric will see how much power was generated by the photovoltaic panels and determine whether or not there is any profit to credit to the city.
Miller expressed concern golfers might hit golf balls into the photovoltaic panels. “Could there be some sort of protection for them in case wayward golf balls hit them and cause damage?” Miller asked.
Tersteeg said photovoltaic panels would be mounted 10 feet above the ground and will be 20 feet high and point away from the driving range. Still, Miller thought some shenanigans might take place if the panels weren’t protected.
Kunshier said many driving ranges put up nets to keep balls inside the range. Nets could also protect the photovoltaic panels, Kunshier suggested. This is one idea that will be explored in the near future.
Pool Update
Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen reported an increase in pool usage and revenues over last October. “That is until the October 26 – 27 storm that damaged the roof and the rest of the structure,” Christiansen said.
The pool is expected to be closed for repairs until at least mid-December, Tersteeg said.
As reported by the News-
Herald
last week, pool staff has been busy cleaning up around the building. Christiansen and other lifeguards have been helping remove blown down trees from the Sweet Hearts’ Bluff trail system.
Concerning storm damage to the pool, Tersteeg said bids are being prepared for the next Grand Marais city council meeting. “The League of Minnesota Cities’ insurance adjuster assessed the damage on Wednesday, the 27th and authorized temporary repairs to prevent further damage,” Tersteeg said.
Workers covered the roof with Tyvek, a waterproof sheeting, on Friday, Oct. 29. Both east and west walls were opened up and allowed to dry out.
“The insurance adjuster, city staff and contractors met on Friday, the 29th, and bids were solicited for replacement of the entire rubber roofing system and additional carpentry work on affected walls,” Tersteeg said.
On November 3, city staff met with the insurance adjuster and determined that building damage, lost revenue, added staff time and clean-up costs would be covered less the $10,000 deductible, which is the city’s responsibility to pay. The city council will meet again Nov. 10.
During this closure Charles said that spring clean-up duties would be performed so the pool won’t have to be closed later in the winter. Once the pool is drained, cleaned and annual maintenance performed after the repair work is done, the Minnesota Health Department will inspect the pool before it can be re-opened.
Pool members will be given an extension on their passes to cover the down time, Tersteeg said.
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