City still seeking citizens to serve on boards and commissions

The first city council meeting of the year is filled with a lot of routine business, appointments to various boards and commissions for council members and members of the public. The council also selects who will serve as acting mayor if Mayor Jay DeCoux is not available. On January 12, the city council met and chose Councilor Craig Schulte to be acting mayor.
The city filled some vacancies on city committees. Bob Nesheim agreed to continue to serve on the Grand Marais Park Board and Matthew Brown joined that board. The Grand Marais Library Board is full.
But still needed are representatives on the Grand Marais Planning Commission and Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission. For information on serving on the boards, contact Grand Marais City Hall at 218-387-1848.
After the annual administrative duties were done, there was significant discussion of the request from the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) for an ordinance amendment to allow residential use associated with a business on Cedar Grove Business Park lots. This was approved by the Grand Marais Planning Commission, but the city postponed its decision. Councilor members wanted to know more about how mixing residences and businesses would work.
In other business, the council agreed to hire Alyssa Morinville as an administrative assistant. The council also approved the appointment of Shawn Smith to the Grand Marais Fire Department.
At the end of the meeting, Mayor DeCoux introduced the idea of declaring a “climate change emergency.” He explained there are a number of communities who are feeling the impact of climate change, with drought, fire danger and alternatively, flooding. DeCoux said this was brought to his attention by some community members and there may be a presentation at a future council meeting.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence spoke with Mayor DeCoux about these matters and more.