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