It had been 17 days. After resorting to canned fruits and vegetables, low on milk and red wine, it was necessary to restock in Grand Marais (a trip of five miles).
After having sat for so long, the fossil-fueled engine cranked slowly. Descending the Gunflint hill, the gorgeous view of Lake Superior and the Grand Marais outer harbor became evident. Did the usual Grand Marais drive-through on Highway 61 in an effort to comprehend the economic activity level.
Four empty restaurants (Pie Place moved and property sold, still vacant) and one large vacant motel. Downtown…one large lot (old Seawall) still vacant and for sale, two vacant units for rent in old C&S Chevy building, and office building next to DQ vacant and for sale.
Gasoline $3.65 and diesel $4. Two existing, operating, businesses listed as delinquent property taxpayers. Both businesses provide necessary services to Cook County.
Commercial and Lake Superior properties are paying ever-larger property taxes. These entities have been struggling for years to pay for the myriad of services Cook County government has been pushed to support.
Hospital operating costs continue to increase while income continues to decline. Five thousand dollars for a simple colonoscopy prices them out of business.
Recently the 1 percent strike force slammed Cook County property taxpayers with the humongous operating costs of the new large exercise building (the Y).
And right next door is ISD 166. The superintendent tells us they can no longer afford to transport the students to the school for a regular school year. So now this Cook County taxpayer-owned facility is void of students 205 days of the year! All the while the administration and teaching staff continue collecting their full-time salaries and benefits – nearly $340,000 just for the superintendent and two principals – enough money to pay the W-2 wages of the entire bus driving staff (regular routes) for four years, or the salaries of 10 new teachers.
Judging from the fairly large number of vacant properties (businesses) in Grand Marais and the long list of struggling, delinquent Cook County property taxpayers it is possible we should begin to reverse the contamination done to the Cook County government balance sheet.
Steven G. Carlson
Grand Marais
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