On October 31, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating November 2013 as National Native American Heritage Month and November 29, 2013 as Native American Heritage Day. Similar proclamations have been declared by the president every year since 1994. “From Alaskan mountain peaks to the Argentinian pampas to the rocky shores of Newfoundland, Native Americans were the first to... READ MORE >
ISD 166 school board member Ed Bolstad took issue at the November 7, 2013 school board meeting with the process the high school had just gone through to determine winter coaches. He stated that after reading statements by social studies teacher and basketball coach Mitch Dorr in the November 2 Cook County News-Herald regarding plans for the coaching of winter... READ MORE >
At the Tuesday, November 12, county board meeting, the board discussed the Cook County-Grand Marais Economic Development Authority’s (EDA’s) decision to write off $100,335 owed to it from Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course (SNL). The same thing was done in 2011 with $69,000 in debt. A memo from EDA Treasurer Scott Harrison explaining the EDA’s rationale stated, “If and... READ MORE >
Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) Housing Coordinator Nancy Grabko reported on the status of the latest Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Cities Development Program grant at the October 22, 2013 county board meeting. The report was given during a public hearing required under conditions of the grant. Four commercial properties and four homes... READ MORE >
The Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) discussed a somewhat tricky situation between two homeowners at its meeting on October 2, 2013. Two years ago, a water leak was detected between the street—which is the city’s responsibility—and the homeowner’s house. Any leaking between either the property line or the city’s shutoff valve—whichever is closer to the city’s water main— and... READ MORE >
Several new Mutt Mitt stations were slated for installation throughout Grand Marais. At the November 5, 2013 Grand Marais Park Board meeting, park board member Tracy Benson reported a very positive response from 20 business owners she had solicited for sponsorships of the stations. For a one-time donation, their names will be displayed on signs to be attached to the... READ MORE >
The county board voted October 28, 2013 to spend $12,450 of the Cook County Community YMCA construction contingency funds for a heavy-duty moisture seal for the new gym floor, but some of them were not very happy about it. County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers told the board that in a meeting with the architects and ORB, the county’s owners’ rep, he... READ MORE >
Agreeing that a task force should be set up to tweak the proposed Cook County Septic Ordinance was easy for the county board at a special meeting on October 28, 2013, but agreeing on which two commissioners should be on it was not. Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson told the board that some gaps in the septic ordinance had... READ MORE >
Numerous sediment reduction projects on the Poplar River funded by a large Great Lakes Commission grant in 2010 are being completed this fall while Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District staff wait to hear on the next round of funding. Numerous projects not planned when the grant application was submitted are being done because the first set of projects... READ MORE >
The beaver dam causing the Cramer Road to flood has been blown up. The dam had been clogging up the culvert under the road on an ongoing basis. “I’m hoping that will discourage them,” Schroeder Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever said at the October 8, 2013 meeting of the Schroeder Township Board. The culvert is very rusty, McKeever said, and has... READ MORE >
