Minutes of the Old Ski Hill Consensus Committee 10/16/2000
In attendance: Vicki Wenz, Kevin Bader, Cathi Williams, Amy Wilfahrt, George Wilkes, Bill Hansen.
Meeting convened at 7:05 PM at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts conference room.
Consensus was reached on approval of the 10/02/00 minutes, with the correction of changing "Friday, November 6th" to read "Monday, November 6th.".
Bill reported on a conversation with Joe Sertich, Chancellor of the Northeastern Minnesota Community Colleges. Joe's opinion is that the minimum viable enrollment for a new community college would be 800 students. He expressed a willingness to meet with the committee to explore the steps required for establishing a new community college. He strongly suggested the committee investigate private vocational schools. The are a fast growing sector in education and a focused private vocational school can be started with as few as 30 or 40 students. Joe suggested a school focused on the hospitality industry with all the opportunities for partnerships, internships, and employment in Cook County. He mentioned the Rochester Institute of Technology as a possible contact.
Discussion on e-mail from Tom Duffus, Duluth Office of the Nature Conservancy. Tom offering the advice that conservation easement is a tool to implement an overall conservation plan. It is not an end in itself. He added that a conservation easement is usually used to protect certain conservation aspects of private land. Public land protections usually take the form of designation as a park, scientific and natural area, wildlife refuge, etc. Easement restrictions are not considered permanent on public lands because the public entity has the power to condemn easements through eminent domain.
Consensus was proposed to amend Proposal #6 to include: Trade county land for nearby state land with the understanding that the state would manage as state park or some other protected status.
Proposal for consensus #13: Top of hill - 18 hole golf course with a fen walk and a fen interpretation kiosk. Fen will be left undisturbed except for Fen walk. Bird habitat preserved with ponds (which can be act as holding ponds for runoff water), and bird species interpretive kiosks throughout. Minimal use of fertilizer. Some cart paths designed to be multiple use for walkers and wheel chair accessible, with access to interpretive kiosks. Blinds for viewing wildlife. Park benches made of logs (possibly blow down) every 1000 feet or so. Plant white pine and chart growth over time with interpretive display. Information on large mammals of the boreal forest, and possibly life sized sculptures of the animals in their natural environment. A trail suitable as a bridle path on the entire periphery of the property. Clubhouse on site of old chalet, resurrecting as much original flavor as possible. History kiosks throughout area on logging, trapping, commercial fishing, tourism, etc. The clubhouse would hold a classroom/small theater for guided tours of the boreal forest as well as a slide show or rear screen projector.
Top to bottom - Ski and snowboard hill, utilizing golf cart paths for snow shoeing and primitive cross country skiing. Plant lots of new trees and clear out brush. Lights for night skiing. Clubhouse used as winter chalet with lake views. A chalet built on the bottom of hill with a mini food court featuring favorite foods of local restaurants. Viewing area would also have a gift shop in it, stocked by local merchants with a percentage of sales going to Ski Hill. If ownership is left in public hands (EDA) the entire operation would be advertising for all the local businesses that would staff, equip and provide inventory. If it was leased by private individuals it would certainly be different. Year 'round primitive trails (non paved) will be developed through the woods from top to bottom for snow shoeing, horseback riding, and continue to town via an accepted route. At the bottom of the hill, a designated sledding and sliding area for young children which would be off limits to skiers and snow boarders. This would also be lighted and sued during the summer for outdoor concerts and theater productions utilizing the slope of the hill for seating either on the ground or on bleachers.
Special considerations: All lighting will be downward to avoid lighting the sky and utilize natural light when possible. Season passes for walkers can be sold for $20. daily walking passes $2. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Admission will also be charged for guided tours - $5 adults, $3 students K - college. Investigate exchanging the northernmost county 80 acres for the federal 80 acres immediately west of the property.
Consensus reached on eliminating Proposal #1 and Proposal #2.
Consensus reached on Proposal #14: Set aside for ten years, the approximately 25 acres of the city property located east of the new Gunflint Trail to the east property line of the city property, for a vocational school.
Next meeting October 30th at 7:00 PM at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts Conference room.
Respectfully,
Bill Hansen