As he was facing another day in court for his home and business property being out of compliance with county ordinances, Brad Thompson of Thompson Performance continued to maintain friends in high places. Thompson, whose property lies on the south side of Highway 61 on the east end of Grand Marais, was charged last year with misdemeanors related to storing too many junked vehicles, having them within sight of the road, and failing to screen his business from the surrounding neighborhood.
On his most recent court day, Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Commissioner Jan Hall presented fellow commissioners with a letter she had written the court in support of Thompson. Hall said her letter expressed to the court her conviction that Thompson “will continue the cleanup” of his property and “is considered a good businessman” in the community.
Other commissioners expressed support for Hall’s letter. Commissioner Jim Johnson said he believed Thompson would finish cleaning up his property.
County Attorney Tim Scannell indicated that in lieu of going to trial, Thompson agreed in February to comply with county ordinances by removing the excess junk vehicles, putting up screening, and complying with required setbacks, and he promised to have it done by August 12.
“The process has been slow and is now just about resolved in what I think everyone will find to be a positive manner,” Scannell told the Cook
County News-Herald.
“He has now done the vast majority of that work….” A fence now borders the property and almost all the junk vehicles were gone by court day, August 17.
Scannell considers the property “much better organized, much cleaner, and largely free of the salvage/junkyard characteristics that characterized it before this process began.”
Thecase was continued for another month to give Thompson time to finish the project.
Thompson primarily operates a small engine repair business on the site but also sold car parts to people who needed them. Fixing up old cars was more of a hobby.
Last year Thompson successfully lobbied the Planning Commission and the county board to change the property’s zoning from residential to general commercial, which better aligns with historic use of the property.
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