EDA moves forward with process to sell Superior National Golf Course

After months of discussions about how to facilitate the sale of the Superior National Golf Course, the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) has decided to hire a full-service commercial real estate firm to manage the sale. 

Leading up to the Dec. 17 EDA meeting, EDA President Steve Surbaugh, EDA Commissioners Howard Hedstrom and Peter Clissold, and the Superior National Board of Governors President Mike Larson met with SVN/Northco, a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Minneapolis, Minn., to discuss the process of selling the golf course and the importance that the EDA request proposals from commercial real estate firms to facilitate the sale. 

The EDA initially explored using Mike Larson as the facilitator for the golf course sale, given his extensive experience and history with Superior National. 

During the Dec. 17 meeting, the EDA Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution to move forward with the process of request for proposals (RFPs) from full-service brokerage services for the sale of the golf course rather than use Larson in that capacity.

Clissold said Larson would still be an important resource during the sale and would “be able to represent the golf course properly.”

Hedstrom said Larson would be the “point person,” and the EDA Board would still provide oversight. He said any action items or decision-making about the sale will still fall to the EDA Board. 

Hedstrom and Clissold are working together to finalize the language included in the RFP, and the EDA intends to make the RFP public in the coming weeks. Hedstrom and Clissold are anticipating making a recommendation to the EDA Board about which firm to hire at the following January meeting. EDA Commissioner Tracy Benson said the RFPs will help cast a wide net for potential commercial real estate firms. However, given the holiday season, the EDA Board should be realistic about the timeline. 

The EDA Board discussed the potential timeline of a possible sale, noting that it is not likely the sale will occur before the start of the following golf season in late spring, and the EDA should still plan to operate the golf course throughout 2025. 

In other EDA news, the board approved the sale of a Cedar Grove Business Park lot to Vesta Unchained during the meeting. The EDA Director, Heidi Krampitz, said that the business park only has a couple of available lots remaining, and she would like to replace the temporary business park sign at the entrance with a more permanent one. She will begin reaching out to individuals and companies for quotes. 

In the coming months, the EDA Board will also formulate an RFP for a strategic planning firm to help create and design long-term plans for the Taconite Harbor site. Krampitz said she has been in contact with the Schroeder Township and various stakeholders about the planning process. 

Toward the end of the meeting, the EDA Board recognized President Surbaugh and Commissioner Myron Bursheim for their time serving on the board. Both of their terms end in Dec. 2024. 

View the Dec. 17 EDA meeting here.

Kalli Hawkins December 19, 2024