GRO Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, December 17 at Grantsburg Library

Attendees: Joni Burgin, Glenn Rolloff, Gordy Lewis, Melanie Kleiss Boerger, Kelly Gerber, Cris Peterson, Nicki Peterson

Grantsburg Telcom Grant

  • Gary Peterson who is President of the GT Board, suggested we wait and submit our application for 2015 funding. There had been several applicants already for 2014 and they would most likely spit the funds because of that. If we get a solid use for the funding and write a good grant application, there is a good chance we can get all or most of the funds for 2015 which in the past has been over $20,000 (varies every year).
  • Cris said we can always ask for funds for smaller things throughout the year as they can approve up to $250 at any time. She suggested some banners/signage to promote the Sesquicentennial.

Branding Update

  • I will send a separate email about this

MN Hwy 70 project

  • Gordy shared some information from a Rotary meeting regarding Highway 70 construction to be held from May-October 2015 on the Minnesota side. More information can be found here: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/Hwy70easti35/index.html
  • We will probably lose traffic this year but have an opportunity for more traffic in future years by having a nicer road to travel on.

Recap of Open House

  • Great interest from those who stopped by to look at the drawings. Several people signed up.
  • Melanie wrote down contacts who were interested in Natural Resources projects.
  • Cris will contact the rest of the people who signed up in the Spring and at the Open House to gauge their interest.

VIP update

  • The Village Improvement Program has agreed to be our fiscal agent and we can use their 501(c)3 for grant writing, etc. They ask that we come to their meetings occasionally to give them an update. I’m not sure when they meet. Tim Tessman is the one I talked to – Mike Thoreson and Ron Wilhelm are on it along with others. So if you see one of them, thank them!

Sesquicentennial Update

  • A meeting was held in December and a follow-up meeting will be Jan 7 at 6pm in the Village office.
  • Ted Gerber is chairing the committee
  • On Jan 7 they plan to create sub-committees and from there will seek others to help on those sub-committees

Natural Resources Update

  • Letters are being sent to approximately 45 land owners letting them know about the mission to clear the river and to get permission to leave large tree pieces on their properties. In the letter they are being asked to reply if that’s ok. If they don’t respond then the NR committee will follow up; if they don’t hear after that they will move forward. The goal is to clear the Wood River from Memory Lake to St. Croix River by Spring. We could have a special river event to celebrate the Sesquicentennial.
  • Olson Drive update: Annette Mosley is heading up the planting of wild flowers. She and others will collect seed this year and plant in 2016. She will have a test plot this year. The plantings would be from Hwy 70 to about 2/3 of the way to Memory Lake Park, on the west side of the road. Due to invasive species, there are some areas that can’t be planted. This will be maintained by the Garden Club and Village. There is also a class in school who will be helping collect seeds.
  • Trails from Memory Lake to Crex update: They are finding connection points and will be looking at different trail location possibilities. Randy Thoreson from the NPS is now being brought into the discussion as part of our Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program. They had a meeting on December 18.

Boyd Building Update

  • Joni informed us that the School Board had approved the renovation of the Boyd Building for commercial use. Community Bank’s board of directors was meeting on it that day. If approved Community Bank would purchase the building and lease it part of it to iForward.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13 at 11 am but Nicki will reschedule due to her work travel conflict.