City council seeks members for tree board and discusses city hall demolition
The last remaining structural remnants of the old city hall/liquor store were officially knocked down on Monday, May 13, following a week of demolition by McGough Construction.
Following demolition, construction crews will clean and prep the site. If construction crews do not encounter any unexpected delays, John Haggenmiller, the McGough Construction site superintendent for the city hall/liquor store construction project, said he expects to begin concrete work the week of May 20. Construction of the geothermal well is also slated to start shortly.
Grand Marais Mayor Tracy Benson said in a recent interview with WTIP that Haggenmiller would begin contributing updates to the Grand Marais Weekly City Newsletter and periodic in-person updates during city council meetings as work continues.
The video of the city hall/liquor store construction is below:
In the coming week, the city will move the newly delivered ADA-compliant portable restroom trailer from the recreation park to Boulder Park, near Artist’s Point. The restroom trailer is expected to be operational by Memorial Weekend. Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg removed the yellow restroom sign from the old city hall/liquor store before demolition and, if possible, reused it atop the portable restroom trailer.
This past week, the city moved the electric vehicle (EV) chargers from the city hall to the recreation park.
In other city news, Grand Marais is undergoing a city plan that involves accessing grass and vegetation ordinances and conducting a tree inventory.
During the May 8 city council meeting, Sustainability Coordinator Shane Steele requested the council reseat the city’s Tree Board, established in 1995. The board was created to comply with the Tree City USA designation requirements and has since ceased to operate.
The city recently applied for and was awarded funding through a ReLeaf grant to develop an urban forestry management plan and conduct a city-wide tree inventory.
The city council approved Steele’s request. The Grand Marais Tree Board is a three-member board whose primary responsibility will be acting as a steering committee for developing Grand Marais’ Urban Forestry Management Plan. The board will work closely with city staff and consultants in developing goals and best management practices related to the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets, and other public areas.
Members of the City Tree Board must be residents of the City of Grand Marais and appointed by the Mayor with approval from the city council. To apply or find more information, visit the City of Grand Marais website here.
In addition, the city plans to meet with Grand Marais business owners to explore landscaping and grass maintenance ordinances as the busy summer season nears.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Grand Marais Mayor Tracy Benson following the May 8 city council meeting about the tree board, city hall/liquor store demolition, coastal erosion, and city plan. The audio from the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins May 15, 2024
