Business Council rejects marina committee participation

Submitted by wtip on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 8:42am

The Grand Marais Business Council has declined participation in a marina committee proposed by Mayor Evelyn Larsen at the September 24 city council meeting. Business Council president Harley Toftey appeared at the city’s October 8 meeting and cited three reasons why GMBC will not participate at this time.

Toftey stated that the marina committee, as presented, lacked a definition of duties, authority, goals or scope of work as well as having been established without council action or proper public notification. At the earlier September meeting, the Mayor put the committee on the agenda as an additional item and suggested Hal Greenwood as the Business Council’s representative. Business Council Member and Mayoral Candidate Sue Hakes was at that meeting and told the city councilors the group had not been consulted on membership, nor were they aware a marina committee was being formed.

Mayor Larsen responded to the concerns saying the marina group was not a committee, but a task force without any purpose other than to advise the city council.

Toftey said the Business Council supports an open public process for moving forward on the marina issue and requested the participation of the full city council in any further discussions and/or decision making regarding the harbor and marina project. The Mayor said the issue was tabled for now and no action would be taken.