North Shore News Hour

The current partial government shutdown has slipped into the record books as the longest ever. On January 15, the federal government entered Day 25 of the standoff between President Donald Trump and legislators over immigration and a wall on the southern border.
 
Nine of the 15 Cabinet-level departments have not been funded.
 
The Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the government's largest agencies, are the most notable exceptions and continue to operate since they were funded through Sept. 30.
 
The previous record for the longest shutdown occurred during President Bill Clinton's presidency. That one lasted from December 15, 1995, through January 6, 1996.
 
The current shutdown appears destined to last at least a few more days, with Democratic lawmakers rejecting President Donald Trump's demands to include $5.7 billion for a border wall in a spending bill.

The shutdown has furloughed 380,000 federal workers and forced an additional 420,000 to work without pay.

WTIP Community Radio has reached out to a number of people in the community to learn how the shutdown is impacting them. Unfortunately, most government employees are hesitant to speak out.

Even when government is functioning full-speed, there are public information specialists that communicate for employees. They are not available during this shutdown, leaving the public—and the employees in limbo.

WTIP is aware of many community members who are awaiting government assistance. Forest users who work with the U.S. Forest Service have seen trail planning projects halted.

Vegetative management planning is on hold. A January 19 ski tour of Gunflint Pines to inform the public of timber work proposed in that area will likely be cancelled.

Dealings with the U.S. Coast Guard are pending, such as relicensing for local boat captains.

The Department of State does not have full staff to process passports, so while citizens can request a passport, it will likely take much longer for it to be completed.

National Parks, like Grand Portage National Monument are shuttered and the wolf study taking place at Isle Royale National Park has been halted.

The Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program, commonly referred to as “food stamps,” will make January distributions early and is unsure if funding will be available for future months.

Scientists collecting weather data have been stymied by the shutdown’s reduction of staff at the National Weather Service.

There are countless other ways the citizens of the North Shore are affected by the partial government shutdown, but none more so than government employees and their spouses.

We spoke to the spouse of a government staffer who agreed to answer our questions on the condition of anonymity. Some of the answers were changed slightly to protect the person’s identity.

WTIP asked how the family was informed that they were being “furloughed” and we were told that workers were aware of the possibility of a partial shutdown before Dec. 22.

However, the family was also aware that shutdowns had been averted in the past through a last-minute vote.

Our government spouse said, “Given our political climate and how funding nowadays is usually done through continuing resolutions and stopgap measures rather than standard appropriations, the threat of a government shutdown is ever-present.” 

There has been minimal communication to government employees and none of them know how long this will drag on. So, we asked a tough question--how are you doing financially?

The person we spoke with said, “Luckily, we’re doing fine—for now.”

This family is a dual-income household and has some savings so they feel they have a buffer.

The furloughed worker can apply for unemployment through the State of Minnesota, which could help fill the gaps, though it is typically about half normal pay.
 
Then if back pay is approved by Congress, all of that unemployment is paid back to the state.
 
Again, we were told, “Overall, we're very lucky. We are aware of colleagues who are struggling a lot more.
 
“Most Americans live something close to paycheck-to-paycheck, and that includes a lot of federal workers. Many federal contractors are much worse off, since they're not federal employees and are missing paychecks with little hope of back pay.”
 
Finally, WTIP asked, What would you say to the politicians involved in this standoff? 
 
The reply: “What I find dispiriting is when politicians and pundits speak about federal workers as if they're bureaucratic parasites or callously dismiss the economic hardships of being forced to go long periods without pay.
 
“The U.S. government employs more workers than any private company in the U.S., and these workers do critical work to keep people safe, provide crucial research, uphold our laws, and protect places that are important to all of us.
 
“A paycheck is important, but my spouse works for the government because my spouse cares deeply about the mission of the agency.
 
“I know my spouse’s coworkers—scientists, technicians, and officers alike—feel the same way. Politicians that drum up antagonism towards the average Federal worker are disingenuously attacking dedicated, everyday Americans and their families who do important work across our nation.”
 

The SplinterTones, which has been dubbed a "high-octane dance band with rousing rythmic grooves, vibrant harmonies and a colorful stage presence," will be appearing at the Hovland Town Hall on Saturday, January 19, from 7-10 p.m.

The event is hosted by the North Shore Music Association and WTIP's Jana Berka speaks with Music Association Director Kate Fitzgerald about how this dance came about, as well as what's ahead for the music association.

Here's their conversation. 

The Grand Marais City Council met on Wednesday, January 9 and like other local government boards, spent the beginning of the meeting on annual organizational matters.

The council had to select one of its members to serve as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux. Tim Kennedy has served as acting mayor in the past and said it was only necessary to do so a few times in the past four years. The council asked Anton Moody to fulfill that role for 2019 and he agreed. A unanimous motion passed to appoint him as acting mayor.

The council approved citizen appointments to several boards—Bev Green to the Cook County/Grand Marais/Economic Development Authority; Judie Johnson to the Library Board; and Jennifer Stoltz to the Park Board. All of those citizens were incumbents.

A new person was appointed to the Public Utilities Commission, Melissa Brown.

And the city still has a vacancy on the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in serving on the planning commission can pick up an application at City Hall or call 218-387-1848 for more information.

The council spent most of Wednesday’s meeting talking about something that wasn’t on the agenda, the Highway 61 redesign through Grand Marais—despite the fact that the council had spent the afternoon in a meeting with MnDOT and the Highway 61 on that subject.

Councilor Tim Kennedy started the discussion, asking his colleagues if they should pass a motion supporting the design plan developed by the Creative Economy Collaborative (CEC). That led to over an hour of debate over various merits of the plan and the planning process.

Councilor Kelly Swearingen reiterated what she said at an earlier meeting, that it seems as if the plan could be cut back in some areas. She likened it to a “really nice evening gown” and asked if the city could be satisfied with that, or did it need a “really sparkly evening gown.”

She expressed concern that the city was overdesigning in the desire to get its money’s worth out of the project. As an example she pointed to a proposed “landing” with concrete seating at Third Street and Third Avenue, in front of the Grand Marais Family Dental Office. She asked if that could be removed and just left as a grassy area, possibly with a bench. She also said a seating area in front of the pharmacy building wasn’t necessary.

New Councilor Craig Schulte said he still has reservations for the proposed lane width. He suggested that the council take a measuring tape to the road and measure the distance for trucks to pass through if cars are parked on either side. He said he would like to see the lane width revisited.

Schulte also said that he and a number of other business owners are concerned about the right-of-way acquisition process. He said after an initial contact, business owners have heard nothing from MnDOT regarding how much road right-of-way MnDOT needed, during construction and permanently.

Schulte and Councilor Anton Moody both expressed concern about trucks making deliveries near Harbor House and Angry Trout. These large vehicles are now able to park on the shoulder area, something that would not be possible when the redesign is complete. City Administrator Mike Roth said a strategy has been put in place for that area. He added that the trucks parking in that manner now are doing so illegally.

After more than an hour of discussion, Swearingen moved to approve the design plan if the Third Street and Third Avenue landing was reduced to a green space and park bench. Councilor Moody seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Regarding the business owner concerns that Councilor Schulte spoke about, Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux said he would like the names of those individuals so he could talk to them. He said although right-of-way acquisition is not the city’s responsibility, he would like to advocate for the business owners with MnDOT to try to get some answers.

The meeting wrapped up with councilor reports and during his, Moody noted the amount of snow the city had received. He asked the conversation about parking off the street or odd/even day parking could continue.

Administrator Mike Roth said the county is working on that and should be at the next council meeting with a draft ordinance. Roth said because it would take some time to work out the details of ticketing and towing, it is unlikely the ordinance could be enacted this year.

Moody also asked about letters that went out to property owners about parking RVs on streets. He said he had heard from a neighbor who parked his RV next to his house, not exactly behind his house.  The neighbor wondered if that was in compliance with the ordinance.

Administrator Roth said people with questions should contact city hall. Again, that number is 218-387-1848.
Councilor Kelly Swearingen gave a brief report on Gunflint Hills Golf Course. She said six people have applied for the golf course superintendent position.

Swearingen also pointed out that the recent snows had buried many fire hydrants in the city. Roth said the city crew is working to get everything cleared. He said the problem is that there is only one Bobcat with a snowblower, so it takes time to get all around the city.

Cook County and the city of Grand Marais work together via the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) in a variety of ways. The EDA's list of initiatives includes the Cedar Grove Business Park in Grand Marais, partnering to bring workforce housing to Grand Marais and Lutsen,  working with the Minnesota Small Business Development Center to assist small businesses and more.

One of the major undertakings of the EDA, in fact the driving force for creation of the development authority, is the construction and maintenance of Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course. There have been some major renovations at the Lutsen golf course and some community members are wondering how that benefits the county overall. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence reached out to EDA treasurer Scott Harrison to learn more about the EDA's role as management of the  golf course--and about how things are going now that the approximately $4 million renovation of the course is complete. 

The Cook County/Silver Bay Alpine ski team traveled to Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik on Thursday, January 3 for the Hibbing Invite.

The team competed in a field of over 200 skiers, including top athletes from two Minneapolis schools and Brainerd. The Cook County/Silver Bay kids skied hard on a course made fast by some early morning freezing rain.

There were some miscues for the girls’ team. Reilly Wahlers was in third place after her first run, but crashed on her second which put her out of the running for a podium spot.

Sela Backstrom put together two good runs and ended the day in the top ten, in 9th places. Elsa Lunde had a good day, finishing in 18th.

Halle Lamb, recovering from injury, wasn’t able to finish racing.

The team is still working on establishing its varsity boys’  team. One of the usual top finishers, Will Surbaugh, was unable to race due to illness.

Coach Charles Lamb commended the junior high boys who stepped up to race varsity, earning 5th place in the Invite.

Cy Oberholtzer finished in 21st place, followed by Ray Dressly in 24th; Ben Obinger in 27th and Elijah Blanck in 34th.

Next up for the Cook County/Silver Bay Alpine skiers is a home meet, the Lutsen KooKoo Invite on Thursday, January 10. Racing starts at 10 a.m. and all are welcome to cheer on the team.

 WTIP's Rhonda Silence talked with Coach Lamb to hear more about the day. 

Photos courtesy of the team

The Tofte-Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District has been a topic on township agendas since 1999 when the West End townships joined forces to bring a municipal sewer system to the towns.

It was hoped that a sewer district would be an affordable, environmentally-friendly alternative to individual septic systems and business wastewater treatment facilities.

However, after years of research and engineering studies, the municipal system never came to be.

The township of Schroeder would now like to remove its citizens from the sanitary sewer system, but has found that is not an easy task.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with Schroeder Supervisor Bruce Martinson to find out why the project didn’t come to fruition – and what it is going to take to remove Schroeder township from the district.

Here’s their conversation.
 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Democratic state lawmaker Tom Rukavina, a champion of northeastern Minnesota's blue-collar Iron Range, died Monday, a former legislative colleague said. Rukavina was 68.

Rukavina died in Minneapolis, where he was being treated for an aggressive form of leukemia, state Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm said. Tomassoni said Rukavina's daughter, Ida, told him of her father's death.

"He will be remembered as a fiery, passionate giant that never stopped working for his beloved Iron Range and for the little people," Tomassoni told The Associated Press. "He was the kind of guy if he wasn't yelling at you, he probably didn't like you."

Rukavina was born in Virginia, Minnesota, of Croatian ancestry and served in the Minnesota House for 25 years, until 2012. He was later elected to the St. Louis County Board and served there until retiring last year because of health reasons.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted she will miss Rukavina's "zest for life & love for the people he represented so well."

"As Tom would tell it, he was for the little fellers, not the Rockefellers — a tribute to his friend and the late Senator Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash on his way to attend a funeral for Tom's father, Bennie," Klobuchar said in a statement.

Rukavina had worked as a milk truck driver and a garbage truck driver and was a miner at Minntac for three years before his election to the state House. He ran for governor in 2010 but dropped out during the DFL state convention.

"Sometime, I wasn't politically correct but I always tried to be politically honest," Rukavina told Minnesota Public Radio News in 2012.

"Part of the Range died today," said former Aurora Mayor Dave Lislegard, a Democrat who will be sworn into the Minnesota House on Tuesday. "His passion was real. It wasn't manufactured."

DFL Chairman Ken Martin said Rukavina was a "bulldog" for "all of the working men and women in Minnesota."

Locally, Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority Director Mary Somnis is one who worked closely with Rukavina during her tenure at the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board. WTIP talked to Somnis about her relationship with the former representative.  

Photo courtesy of Calebrw, Wikimedia

A car and snowmobile collided on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais on Saturday, January 5, sending the snowmobiler to a Duluth hospital via medical helicopter.

Niels Peter Hansen, 50, of Lakeville, Minn. was driving a 2015 Polaris snowmobile when he crossed at the intersection of the snowmobile trail and the Gunflint Trail in the Pincushion Mountain area.

A 2000 Ford Explorer traveling north, driven by David John Rohl, 41, of Grand Marais, struck him.  

The call reporting the crash went out just before 2 p.m. on Saturday. Cook County Sheriff’s deputies, Grand Marais Fire Department and First Responders, and Cook County Ambulance responded to transport the snowmobile driver to the hospital.

The initial report was that Hansen appeared to have suffered broken ribs. He was later transported to Duluth via Lifeflight.
Hansen told the Cook County Sheriff’s Office that the stop sign was not visible. No citations were issued.
 

School District 166 met on January 3, 2019 for its annual organizational meeting, as well as its regular meeting.

The organizational meeting started at 5 p.m. with School Board Chair Sissy Lunde administering the Oath of Office to new District 3 School Board Member Rena Rogers.

The organizational meeting continued with the selection of board chair, clerk and treasurer. Sissy Lunde was elected to serve as board chair once again. Rena Rogers was selected to be clerk and Dan Shirley, treasurer.

The school board reviewed and appointed board representatives to a dozen committees, such as the Community Education Advisory Committee, North Shore Collaborative, employee negotiations team, the YMCA Advisory Council and others.

The board approved Grand Marais State Bank for its financial institution and the North Shore Federal Credit Union for its scholarship account.

The board also approved the Cook County News-Herald as its official newspaper. The rate remains the same as last year, $9 per column inch.
Pay for school board members was discussed at length, with Chair Lunde sharing information about the rate of pay in the adjacent Lake County Schools in comparison with Cook County. The annual pay for Lake County totals $3,300 for board members and $3,600 for the board chair. Cook County’s annual stipend is $2,300.

Lunde asked her colleagues if they wanted to increase the rate of pay. There was considerable discussion of different methods of payment and whether Cook County should attempt to match Lake County.

Board Member Deb White said the school board hadn’t had an increase in its stipend in eight years. Jansen pointed out that board members White and Lunde actually accepted no pay for one year during that time. White joked that no one runs for the school board to get rich.

White said she would not like to see School District 166 increase board pay by $1,000, because that money would be better spent on students. However, she suggested raising the annual stipend from $2,300 to $2,400, to round out the reimbursement to $200 per month.

In addition to the stipend, the board approved additional reimbursement of $700 to the board chair and $35 per session for members of the employee negotiations committee. Both of those rates are the same as last year.

The school board’s regular meeting followed with an update on the “Common Ground Summit,” which is a follow up to last year’s Social Justice Conference. The board finalized its policy for adding a student representative to the agenda at school board meetings. And the board heard an update from Assistant Principal Mitch Dorr about the cell phone policy put in place at the beginning of the school year.
The board also heard about a problem facing not just School District 166, but schools across the nation—vaping, or use of e-cigarettes. Assistant Principal Dorr was asked to bring more information to the school board at its next meeting.
 

Grand Marais residents who receive services from the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently received a letter in the mail announcing a pilot project for an advanced metering infrastructure program.

It has raised some questions, such as why does the PUC want to initiate this metering program? What is the benefit to the city—and to consumers?
In a related matter, at the last meeting of the Grand Marais City Council, City Councilor Tim Kennedy, who is the city’s PUC representative, said rates for PUC customers will not go up for water or electric services, but will increase 2 percent for wastewater.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence sat down to talk with Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth about that increase and about the new metering program. Here’s that conversation.