Tracy Benson is the newest member of the Grand Marais City Council. Councilors spent about 20 minutes at their Jan. 28 meeting discussing the merits and qualifications of the five candidates who expressed interest in the position, which was vacated at the beginning of the year when Jan Sivertson resigned to represent the city on the Cook County Board of... READ MORE >
Grand Marais City Council’s Jan. 14 meeting began with new members Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, David Mills and Anton Moody taking the oath of office and getting to work on a lengthy agenda that included both council and citizen appointments, the future of a proposed district biomass heating project, and an energy efficiency assessment of City Hall. Councilor Tim Kennedy— the... READ MORE >
Meeting on the last day of the year, Grand Marais city councilors voted to adopt a 2015 tax levy of $824,152.44 – a zero percent increase for the second year in a row. The levy was last increased in 2013, when it rose from $815,057 to its current level. Councilors had considered implementing a slight levy increase – a modest... READ MORE >
With an end-of-the-year deadline to adopt a 2015 property tax levy looming, Grand Marais city councilors agreed Dec. 10 to leave the levy number unchanged from this year’s figure. If councilors follow up those sentiments with their official budget and levy resolution on Dec. 31, it will be the third year in a row taxpayers will be assessed a levy... READ MORE >
City Administrator Mike Roth presented a list of impending board vacancies to Grand Marais city councilors Nov. 12 and said efforts will soon be under way to fill the volunteer positions. The openings will be created due to expiration of current members’ terms, or in the case of city council, the resignation of Jan Sivertson as she takes on her... READ MORE >
Work to correct a water drainage problem at the new Cook County YMCA will soon be under way, thanks to an agreement reached Nov. 18, 2014 by the county commissioners and the firm believed to be responsible for the faulty design. County Attorney Molly Hicken outlined the terms of the deal she worked out with JLG Architects of Alexandria and... READ MORE >
With an end-of-the-year deadline looming, Grand Marais city councilors awarded a bid Oct. 29 for demolition of the municipal swimming pool building, which closed in January when the facilities moved to the new YMCA at the school campus. City Administrator Mike Roth said only one bid was received for the demolition job, and that was from Edwin E. Thoreson Inc.... READ MORE >
Grand Marais city councilors moved forward with a project to add more public restrooms to City Hall when they approved a design and budget proposal at their Oct. 8 meeting. The proposal from Pederson Design & Consulting of Grand Marais will “create preliminary plans, specifications and a cost projection for the purpose of future construction of public bathrooms in the... READ MORE >
The Cook County commissioners put their stamp of approval on a number of documents Oct. 21 aimed at improving the Superior National Golf Course with a $2.4 million loan. The process began with a positive report from Bruce Kimmel of Ehlers and Associates, the county’s bond counsel. Kimmel announced the sale results of the Series 2014A General Obligation Tax Abatement... READ MORE >
At the urging of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, Grand Marais city councilors directed City Administrator Mike Roth to find out what it would cost to convert unused space in City Hall into more public restroom facilities at their meeting Sept. 24. The discussion was prompted by a letter written to council by Chamber Director Jim Boyd after the... READ MORE >
