Minutes of the Old Ski Hill Consensus Committee April 19, 2000

Meeting began at 7:30 P. M. at the city council chambers in Grand Marais.

Attending: Vicki Wenz, Bob Fenwick, Sue Abrahamsen, Amy Wilfahrt, George Wilkes, Annie Debevec, Kevin Bader.

Absent: Cathi Williams, Stephan Hoglund, Gordon Awsumb, Philis Anderson.

An overview of the consensus process was presented by Bill Hansen. From this point on, all decisions effecting the committee will reached through consensus by the committee. Hansen stressed that while this committee has no direct authority over the lands being discussed, consensus agreements carry tremendous moral authority and political will.

Consensus reached: Consensus will be defined as substantial agreement within the group where no one has serious reservations or a decision that everyone can live with.

Consensus reached: The next meeting will be Thursday, May 11th at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts conference room beginning at 7 P. M. and ending at 9 P. M. The committee will meet every other week for a maximum of six months. A regular meeting day will be negotiated at the next meeting.

Consensus reached: If the committee fails to reach consensus, disposition of the property would be made by an interaction between the Grand Marais City Council, The Cook County Board of Commissioners, and the City of Grand Marais Planning Commission. There is no clear picture of what that disposition would be.

Consensus reached: The Old Ski Hill Consensus Committee has no direct authority over disposition of the lands under discussion. The committee's consensus agreement will take the form of a recommendation to the Grand Marais City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Consensus reached: The following are ground rules that the committee will abide by.

Meetings will start and end on time.

Consensus can be reached with those in attendance.

Once consensus is reached, each committee member is bound to support that agreement, absent a consensus decision to abandon the agreement.

Minutes will be kept on a flip chart by the facilitator, transferred to written form, distributed to committee members and made available to the public on a web site.

Committee members will speak one at a time.

Committee members will speak respectfully to each other.

Committee members will speak respectfully of the committee.

Committee members are responsible for keeping up to date on committee activities and agreements.

Side conversations between committee members will be reported to the whole committee.

Consensus reached: The following information is required by the committee and will be arranged by the person named.

Copies of the deeds - Bob Fenwick

Any timelines or requirements imposed by previous agreement during land trades or tax forfeit law. - Bob Fenwick

Zoning - Bob Fenwick

County Land Use Plan - Bob Fenwick

Grand Marais Land Use Plan - Annie Debevec

Hydrology: When is future study planned to be completed? - Annie Debevec
A hydrologist to present to the committee (Karen Evans?) - Amy Wilfahrt

Historical narrative prepared by former E.D.A. Director, Karen Blackburn. - Bill Hansen

Ecologist to present to committee (and perhaps accompany on tour of property? Chel Anderson suggested) - Sue Abrahamsen

E.D.A. - Request For Proposal and background - Bill Hansen

E.D.A. - Map and ariel photo - Bill Hansen

Presentation on city sewer and water capacity and issues (Russell Good?) - Vicki Wenz

Hike property (perhaps with ecologist or naturalist accompanying - Lloyd Scherer suggested) - Will schedule at May 11th meeting.

Road issues presentation (Chuck Schmidt)

Access issues identified by Sawtooth Bluff Nature Center initiative - Amy Wilfahrt

Property tax/public expense impacts (Ted Mershon) - Bill Hansen

"What can be seen from where?" view shed survey (Ken and Molly Hoffman)

Identify similar land available for development near Grand Marais - Annie Debevec

IRRRB sewer and water subsidies - Bill Hansen

The committee roster was corrected and updated:

Facilitator: Bill Hansen
Box 2129
Tofte, MN 55615
663-7150
bill@sawbill.com

Annie Debevec
1701 W 5th St.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-2522
annie.debevec@co.cook.mn.us

Cathi Williams
Co Rd 40
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-1985
beartrack@boreal.org

Kevin Bader (Alternate to Cathi Williams)
Box 1165
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-1747
bogey@boreal.org

Vicki Wenz
Box 568
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-9660
wenz@boreal.org

Amy Wilfahrt
Box 1235
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-2612
awilfahrt/r9_superior@fs.fed.us

Sue Abrahamsen (Alternate to Amy Wilfahrt)
Box 874
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-2865
sabrahamsen/r9_superior@fs.fed.us

Stephan Hoglund
Box 850
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-1752
sh@stephanhoglund.com

George Wilkes
Box 973
Grand Marais, MN 55604
387-1265 or 387-2137
blavigne@boreal.org

Gordon Awsumb
3989 Central Ave NE Suite 200
Columbia Heights, MN 55421
612-781-6352
gordon@awsumbassociates.com

Bob Fenwick
2963 County Road 7
Grand Marais, MN 55604
jfenwick@boreal.org

Philis Anderson
959 Cutoff Rd
Grand Marais, MN 55604
obophil@boreal.org

Meeting adjourned at 9 P. M.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Hansen
bill@sawbill.com

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