2009 Mayor's Recap

I'm pleased to report on the major accomplishments of the Grand Marais City Council in 2009. I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the City Staff and City Employees for doing the hard work.

2009 Grand Marais City Accomplishments
(in no particular order)

• Established Council Goals & Objectives for 2009-2010
• Purchased and installed Finger Piers in the Municipal Marina
• Successfully completed Creechville annexation
• Obtained DNR commitment to create and present draft Joint Powers Agreement for Marina/Harbor based on Resolution 2007-05
• Approved and installed Aqua Climbing Wall in the City Pool
• Seamlessly re-organized City Attorney responsibilities
• Passed Rec Park Master Plan with Goals & Policies
• Worked earnestly to pass the County One Percent Sales Tax
• Passed City Noise Ordinance
• Improved Pedestrian Safety with addition of Highway 61 crosswalk
• Worked with Mn DOT to slow traffic on Highway 61 through Grand Marais by purchasing "Event Congestion" signs and planning for purchase and installation of "Your Speed Is" sign
• Passed annual audit; maintained "A" bond rating.
• Asked for and received commitment from County to support the swimming pool up to $75,000 in 2009 and 2010
• Executed plan to re-finance the $1.63M EDA Temporary Bonds for the Business Park
• Minimized tax levy increase in spite of significant Local Government Aid cuts
• Worked with IRRB to obtain $140K to help offset costs for Business Park infrastructure
• Partnered with Grand Marais business community and the Cook County Events and Visitors Bureau with $5K cost-share commitment to decorate downtown for "A North Shore Holiday"

On a personal note, it's been my absolute pleasure to serve as the Mayor of Grand Marais. I'm grateful for the growing cooperative spirit within our community and look forward to a productive 2010.

Happy New Year to All!

Sue Hakes

Last City Council Meeting of 2009

Mayor Hakes and Councilors Kay Costello, Tim Kennedy, Bill Lenz and Jan Sivertson were all present for the last City Council Meeting of 2009. Also present was Finance Director Kim Dunsmoor. City Administrator Mike Roth was absent. City Attorney Chris Hood was not present for this meeting at Council request.

City Council Meeting

Open Forum
No member of the public opted to speak at the Open Forum.

Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was approved with one minor change to the Dec. 9, 2009 City of Grand Marais Minutes.

2008 Improvement Project Final Pay Estimate
Council approved the Final Payment of $115,596.53 for the 2008 Street and Utility Reconstruction Project. Per a memo received from City Engineer Jamison Mehle, the project has been completed and quantities have been agreed to by all parties. The project may now be closed, less the one-year warranty period.

Council & Staff Reports
Jan Sivertson gave a progress report on the EDA. A Public Hearing was held regarding the sale of a Cedar Grove Business Park lot to Pete Grescyk for $45,000 plus $20,000 Special Assessment (pending approval of the City Council). The Baptist Church has also expressed possible interest in purchasing an additional Business Park lot. The University of MN Crookston has begun their Cost Benefit Analysis of the EDA to be completed by July 2010. Jan also discussed overall budget concerns and said the EDA will have a balanced budget in 2010. The EDA Board is exploring all options to deal with current debt, lot sales, other issues. Jan expects the EDA to repay the City the $100,000 loan in January 2010.

Mayor Hakes shared a written summary of the 2009 Grand Marais City Accomplishments and expressed her gratitude for the way in which the Council worked together in 2009. Hakes, and the other Councilors, also acknowledged the work of the City Staff and City Employees during 2009.

Mark Your Calendars
Wednesday January 13 at 4:30 PM Initial City Council Annual Meeting at City Hall
Wednesday January 27 at 4;30 PM City Council Meeting at City Hall

Building Relationships (Better Together)

I had the good fortune to participate in two extremely informative and very pleasant meetings this week with the shared goal of relationship building.

Minnesota Land Trust
On December 15, Dave Tersteeg, Park Manager, and I had a very information and productive meeting with Francis "Fitz" Fitzgerald (Northern Region Conservation Director) and Anne Murphy (Conservation Stewardship Director) of the Minnesota Land Trust.

This very friendly and informal meeting gave us the opportunity to get to know one another, and to better understand how the Land Trust and the Grand Marais Land Trust easement work. We were also able to give a general review of the recently adopted Park Master Plan and work being done with the DNR for a Marina/Safe Harbor.

After our meeting, Tersteeg gave Fitzgerald and Murphy a tour of the Rec Park and Harbor Park.

We all concluded that it is important to work closely together for our mutual benefit and agreed to do so.

U.S. Border Patrol
Mike Roth, City Administrator, and I were invited by Richard Fortunato (Supervisory Border Patrol Agent) to tour the Border Patrol Office on Artist's Point and visit with Fortunato about issues of mutual concern between the City of Grand Marais and the U.S. Border Patrol.

On December 17, Roth and I met with Fortunato and Mariano Arguedas (Lead Border Patrol Agent) for 90 minutes or so. This time was extremely well spent as Fortunato and Arguedas gave us a very useful overview of the U.S. Border Patrol, their mission, and their facility.

We also spent valuable time discussing the desire of the Border Patrol to build a positive relationship with elected officials, law enforcement and the Public. The Border Patrol intends to hold an Open House for the Public at their local facility. They are also involved with community service through the Boy Scouts and their Gunflint Trail Outreach programs.

Fortunato encouraged us to contact him with any concerns, and we promised to do so.

City Council Meeting and Budget Public Hearing

Mayor Hakes and City Councilors Costello, Kennedy, Lenz and Sivertson were all present at today's City Council Meeting and Budget Public Hearing. Also present were City Administrator Mike Roth, Finance Director Kim Dunsmoor, and City Attorney Chris Hood (via phone).

City Council Meeting

Open Forum
No member of the Public opted to speak at the Open Forum.

Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda was approved with the addition of an agenda item to discuss the upgrading of Librarian I Job Description.

2010 Budget Discussion and Budget Public Hearing
Council discussed the 2010 City Budget prior to the Public Hearing and approved it after the 6:00 PM Public Hearing. No members of the Public were present at the Public Hearing (except WTIP and Cook County News Herald reporters).

Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2009-15 to set the final levy, collectible in 2010 upon the taxable property in the City of Grand Marais for a total of $802,657.38. Council set the same amount as the preliminary levy set at the September 9, 2009 Council Meeting. This amount represents an increase in the total levy of 3% ($23,000).

Council, City Staff and Department Heads have worked throughout all of 2009 to spend wisely and set a budget that is responsible. Final budget adjustments were made, resulting in ~$50,000 of unallocated funds.

The State has announced a $1.2 billion deficit that will require significant remedial action by the 2010 legislature. Governor Pawlenty has stressed that 2010 Local Government Aid (LGA) could be reduced to address this deficit. This means that the 2010 LGA allocation of $96,422 for Grand Marais is in jeopardy.

Council agreed the remaining ~$50,000 should be allocated for spending on the Council Priorities adopted in 2009 including PUC Maintenance Facility, Safe Harbor/Marina, Capital Improvement Planning, and the Municipal Building. However, this money will also be marked as a Contingency Fund should the State unallot all or part of the the $96,422 LGA for 2010. Council could have opted to decrease the levy, but felt it was too risky with the uncertainty surrounding LGA for 2010.

2010 Supervisor Salaries
Council approved a 2.5% wage increase for supervisors in 2010. This is consistent with the 2.5% wage increase negotiated with AFSCME for union employees in 2009-2010.

2010 Board Openings
There are several board openings beginning in 2010. Serving on a City Board is a rewarding way to contribute meaningfully to the Community. Anybody interested in applying is encouraged to do so at City Hall. Open positions will be advertised in the local newspaper. Open spots include (2) on the Library Board, (2) on the Park Board, and (1) on the Public Utilities Commission.

Librarian I Position Description
Council approved the modifications recommended by the Personnel Committee to the Librarian I Position Description. These changes were made to more accurately reflect the responsibilities and qualifications required for this job.

Council & Staff Reports
Tim Kennedy reported that Pete Grescyk is exploring the purchase of a lot in the Cedar Grove Business Park for septage pre-processing. A Public Hearing is set for December 14 at City Hall. (Contact 387-1848 to confirm time.) Kennedy also reported that the Biomass Committee explored the possibility of submitting a proposal for another Federal Grant. However, due to the 20/80 split the Committee decided not to submit.
Bill Lenz updated the Council on modest increase to the 2010 Fees at the Campground and Marina.
Kay Costell0 participated in the 2nd Strategic Planning for the Library this week. She also recommended the Friends of the Boundary Waters sponsored movie, "Precious Waters' about the environmental impact resulting from Sulfide Mining on the Iron Range.
Jan Sivertson reported that the EDA continues to work on the Cedar Grove Business Park Marketing Plan. The EDA listed the Business Park lots with Tim Kennedy, Owner/Broker of Gunflint Realty. The EDA is working closely with Kennedy to establish new pricing and determine special assessments. The EDA needs to create a plan to repay the City the $1.6 million debt plus interest for the General Obligation bonds sold by the City this month. Sivertson also reported that the EDA has not repaid the $100,000 loan to the City, but still intends to do so.
Sue Hakes shared that she has heard some public concern about Tim Kennedy being hired by the EDA to sell lots. Council discusssed this briefly noting that a legal opinion was obtained and it was determined that there is no conflict of interest for Kennedy to work with the EDA as their real estate broker. It was also noted that the Council does not have authority over the EDA or Kennedy in this matter. Hakes also reported that US Border Patrol representative Richard Fortunato invited Hakes and any member of the Council to meet to discuss issues of mutual concern. Hakes and Mike Roth will meet with Fortunato at the Border Patrol office on Thursday, December 17, at 10 AM. And lastly, Hakes reported that she presented the Council's letter to the County Board stating the Council's desire to be a part of the process to design and build a Community Center/Rec Area and build an addition on the existing Library. No specific feedback was given to Hakes from the County Board. The City Council will continue to advocate for a new Community Center in Grand Marais.

Mark Your Calendars
Mon December 14 at 10:00 AM Public Hearing for EDA Lot Sale (call City Hall at 387 1848 to confirm date and time)
Wed December 30 at 4:30 PM City Council Meeting
Wed January 13 at 4:30 PM City Council Meeting
Wed January 27 at 4:30 PM City Council Meeting

Census 2010 Employment Opportunity

The United States 2010 Census is still looking for workers in Cook County. For more information, including a practice test, go to http://www.2010censusjobs.gov/ or call 1-866-861-2010. The work hours are flexible.