City Administrator Mike Roth reported to council Oct. 13 that he is still working to find a suitable location outside the city limits for use as a brush pile. Roth was tasked with that job following a public meeting last month during which about a dozen citizens spoke of the benefit of the burn pile, and the need to maintain... READ MORE >
After listening to citizen comments for over an hour on Sept. 29, Grand Marais city councilors concluded that it wouldn’t be a good idea to get rid of the burn pile. However, city officials also agreed that the collection site near the water tower on the Gunflint Trail needs to be relocated in order to prevent healthrelated problems caused by... READ MORE >
Grand Marais city residents will see an increase of not more than 3 percent in next year’s property tax bills. City council passed a resolution Sept. 8 setting the maximum 2011 tax levy increase at 3 percent. By law, council has to set the property tax limit by mid-September. The final levy must be decided by the end of the... READ MORE >
Plans to put up a memorial flagpole in Harbor Park are still up in the air. Gene Erickson, who is spearheading the effort to erect the flagpole memorializing Richard Joynes, visited Grand Marais City Council Aug. 25 to discuss the situation and make a formal request. Erickson explained that he and a group of Joynes’ friends who regularly get together... READ MORE >
It didn’t take long for a state Supreme Court ruling to affect Grand Marais. The July 21 court decision changes the standards for issuance of variances and makes it more difficult for municipalities to approve the requests. City councilors learned of the court decision at their meeting Aug. 11, as did Dan and Linda Quick, who were hoping to win... READ MORE >
A Grand Marais developer and landowner has withdrawn his request to build a multifamily residential development on the upper side of Highway 61 at the western end of town. Speaking to the city’s planning commission Aug. 4, Richard DeWitt said he was only making the request for a conditional use permit because he was asked to do so by the... READ MORE >
Jack Stone, owner of the newly opened Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in downtown Grand Marais, appeared before city councilors July 28 to seek permission to store eight to 10 kayaks on the east bay beach during the summer. Stone said he was making the request because his building is “cramped for space,” and by constructing a rack designed to store... READ MORE >
It’s possible that by year’s end, four-fifths of the Grand Marais City Council seats may be vacant. Therealization came to light near the end of council’s July 14 meeting, when Councilor Jan Sivertson announced that she was getting married in October and planned to spend a lot of time after that traveling. Specifically, Sivertson said she intends to be out... READ MORE >
Grand Marais officials said June 30 that help is on the way to improve pedestrian safety along the Highway 61 corridor through town. Mayor Sue Hakes told council that a number of bright orange flags along with baskets or some other type of holders have been ordered and will soon be placed at the highway crosswalk near Buck’s Hardware/ Midway... READ MORE >
Grand Marais city councilors said June 9 they do not want to get involved with writing and adopting a lawn-mowing ordinance. The discussion began when City Administrator Mike Roth asked how he should respond to calls from people complaining about high weeds and grass, and otherwise unkempt yards. Roth said there aren’t a lot of these complaints, but one vacant... READ MORE >
