Grand Marais City Councilors held their last meeting of the year on December 28 to set the final levy for the year, collectible in 2023 upon the taxable property in the City of Grand Marais for the following purposes: Revenue $748,995.88; PFA Water 2004 $34,703.79; G.O. Refunding EDA 2019A $59,430.00; G.O. Refunding 2021A $84,718.50 for a total of $1,046,936.08. When... READ MORE >
Cook County Highway Engineer Robert (Robbie) Hass appeared before the Cook County Commissioners at the board’s December 20 meeting and made several requests. First, Hass asked commissioners to pass a resolution allowing the highway department to act as a sponsoring agency for the Gunflint Trail Multi-use Trail seeking TA Program funds. Sponsorship includes that the county would share in the... READ MORE >
As of December 7, 2022, Karla Pankow officially assumed responsibility as the Ambulance Director for North Shore Health. Karla is a National Registered Paramedic (NRP), Critical Care Paramedic— Certified (CCP-C). She has worked at North Shore Health on a casual basis since April 2022. “This will be a hybrid position with Karla working remotely at least 50 percent of her... READ MORE >
Christmas came early for Cook County employees. Following a lengthy debate Cook County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the Compensation Study Working Group recommendation to raise county 2023 pay rates to 95 percent of a market-based study of 20 Minnesota counties. Voting for the pay raises were commissioners Ginny Storlie, David Mills, Robert (Bob) Svalseson and Ann Sullivan. Voting against... READ MORE >
Grand Marais City Council held a busy meeting on December 14, and while no one showed up for the budget and levy hearing, a lot got done, although one big task was left to be completed because of a lack of proper paperwork that would transfer approximately ten acres of city-owned land to the HRA. In public comments, Eric Humphrey,... READ MORE >
After a lot of dry land training and now plenty of practice on their skis, the North Shore Storm Nordic (cross country) ski team is itching to race. However, the first two meets of the season were no-go’s, said North Shore Storm Nordic Ski Coach Jeanne Wright. Wright is the head coach of the combined Cook County/Two Harbors Nordic Ski... READ MORE >
The Cook County boys’ young varsity squad had a tough game to start the 2022-2023 season, facing a loaded Mountain Iron-Buhl (MIB) team on December 8 at home. Fresh off winning the nine-man state football championship, MIB is loaded with great athletes. Through three games lightening quick guard Asher Zubich is averaging 31 points a game. Zubich and Josh Holmes... READ MORE >
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board certified the 2022 General Election results of the recounts in Minnesota House District 3A and 3B on Thursday, December 15 and made it official, Roger Skraba and Natalie Zeleznikar will be joining the House. Skraba, a republican from Ely, beat incumbent Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL I-Falls) by 15 votes out of 21,721 votes cast in... READ MORE >
After a somewhat rancorous debate Cook County Commissioners voted 5-0 to set the 2023 levy at 5.5 percent over last year’s levy. This is a $604,541 increase over the 2022 levy. The vote came at the board’s Tuesday, December 13 meeting. Mills called for a motion to set the 2023 levy at 6 percent based on the compensation study that... READ MORE >
Grand Marais Planning Commission met on December 7 to discuss a proposal to build 15 individual cabins, a registration office (and support structures) described as “an eco-friendly, upcycled, sustainable offgrid boutique style luxury resort catering to the active outdoor tourist.” If approved, the development would be built above the Grand Marais water tower on the Sawtooth Mountains. The boxy structures... READ MORE >
