City seeking opinion on flooding tolerance level

The Grand Marais City Council meets on the second and last Wednesday of each month, so that means the council will gather tomorrow evening. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. with an opportunity for the public to speak on city-related issues.

There are some big topics on the city council agenda. Councilors will hear an update from Grand Marais Municipal Liquor Store Manager Chris LaVigne.

Councilors will consider the feedback received on the city’s stormwater management plan. Last week the city’s consultants, EOR, created and distributed a map of downtown Grand Marais illustrating the area and extent of flooding in downtown Grand Marais.  The consultant asked for feedback from the public, asking, “What level of flooding is acceptable to you?”

The council will use feedback on that question to set a preliminary goal for its tolerance of flooding depth and duration in the municipal parking lot and downtown area. Based on the city’s goal, EOR will prepare a list of projects and costs for a stormwater management plan.

Click here for a link to the city’s website where you can see the drainage area map and other information on the plan, as well as submit comments.

Counselors will also hear a summary of Minnesota Department of Transportation officials on the latest proposed Highway 61 design through the city. According to the city council information packet, the presentation will include a “top down view and a fly through view.”

City council meetings are open to the public, so citizens can listen in, but the presentation is not a time for general questions. Instead, the city is planning an open house for Tuesday, February 27 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the city council chambers.

MN/DOT representatives will return to the March 14 city council meeting seeking a resolution from the city to proceed with the engineering work for the project.