GRO Minutes from September 16, 2016

In attendance: Joni Burgin, Kelly Gerber, Steve Hoffman, Halle Brunzel, Gordy Lewis, Nate Ehalt, Cris Peterson, Pam Davies, Nicki Peterson.

The idea for this meeting was to discuss each subcommittee, breaking them into successes, still in the works, next priorities, identify current sub-committee members and brainstorm others to join the fun.

Natural Resources

Wood River Clean Up

The river is clear between Memory Lake and the St. Croix River. To-do’s:

  1. Define committee in charge of annual float / storm debris clean up
  2. Develop landing at Memory Lake Park (below dam, north west side of bridge)
  3. Create signage at landing to communicate about the river, report water rating / experience level required, etc.
  4. Promote the river access:
    • Wild River Outfitters
    • Kiosk
    • Burnett County Tourism Coalition
    • Brochure
    • Website (Village, Chamber, BCTC, GRO, etc)
  5. Thanks to Pam Davies for the blog updates and pictures: https://grograntsburg.com/category/natural-resources/wood-river/

People involved: Bob Hartshorn, Steve Hoffman, Melanie Kleiss, Jerry Dorff, Julie Chell, Rod Kleiss
Paul Stavne, Pam Davies, Lori McNally

Native Plantings

Success: daffodils (though not native) were great this spring. Black Eyed Susan came up but other seeded natives did not do well.  There is some evidence that wild flower seeding was done along the tree line at some point.

In the Works: Reseeded some varieties, planted some cone flower and daisy plants that should come up in the spring.

Upcoming Plans: more daffodils this fall

People Currently Involved: Just Pam

Needs for other involvement? Names or types of people? Unidentified

Trail Kiosks

After Alyssa Rumpel moved, this fell off the radar. Cris Peterson volunteered to lead the project to completion.

  • Designer, Linda Shober: linda@lindashoberdesignsimages.com is contracted to do the artwork. She needs pictures for the kiosks.
  • Ask Steve McNally if Wayne Lake can start on the structure now and add graphics when complete. Discuss with Glenn Rolloff to confirm placement
  • We received a grant for $3,000 from Burnett County’s Tourism Committee. These funds need to be received by the end of the calendar year; meaning we need to show project completion to receive the funds.

People involved: Chris Spaight, Kyle Anderson, Steve McNally, Rod Kleiss, Brandy Larson, Glenn Rolloff, Ross Manni, Matt Olson, Steve Hoffman. Add Halle Brunzel.

Branding

Success: Logo!

THe logo is being used on the School Sign, Billboard (entering Grantsburg from the West), on Chamber and Village websites and Chamber’s Facebook page

What we will do next:

  • Make logo and style guide accessible to all businesses and organizes and encourage them to use it
  • Look into getting banners made in Village with logo (like we hang flowers and holiday flags)
    • Does the Village have a budget? Will they be open to putting these up?
  • Update sign at Olson Drive and Hwy 70 – relocate existing sign (near Crex?)
  • Use on Kiosks and Trail / River access signs

People involved: Nicki Peterson, Kelly Gerber, Gordy Lewis, Wade Vitalis

Renew (voted to rename “downtown” committee – put your thinking caps on)

Success – Kozak Building is down! What are the next steps?

In the works: fire hyrdrants are painted, need to finish brochure/walking tour

Create sub-subcommittees here:

  • Lions Club Building is still of high interest in redevelopment / repurposing. The Lions Club uses their building for monthly meetings and storage during Watercross. Nate mentioned there is a newly vacant building in that area that the county stored snowplows in and it could be an opportunity for the watercross storage. The meetings could still be held in the Lions Club pending new business venture use.
    • Who owns property / empty lot that Nate is referring to?
    • What are county’s plans for this space?
  • Airport – there is a group (Rod Kleiss leading?) trying to do more with the airport and organizing a fly-in and meeting on October 7/8.
  • Housing – work on beautification / clean up. Village has a new part-time employee working on this. Discuss with that person where their priorities are and help. Create groups of people to paint houses and clean up yards.
    • People to bring into the group: Joni Burgin, Pastor George Selbher (Grace Baptist), Jim Everett, Village Rep/Committee, Ben Peterson
  • Former Fire hall / old ambulance building – any plans for redevelopment?

People currently involved: Nate Ehalt, Glenn Rolloff, Kelly Gerber, Cris Peterson, Joni Burgin

People to ask to get involved: Developer, Mark Anderson, Allan Johnson, Greg Peer, Village Rep, Extension office

Highway 70

Goals:

  • Reduce Speed Limit
  • Create frontage roads / reduce access points
  • Create feeling of “town” with greenspace/medians and flowers
  • Conduct bike/walk analysis (Hannah Landberg was leading with Tim Dahlberg and Jerry Dorff)

People involved: Nate Ehalt, Wade Vitalis, Nicki Peterson

People to ask to get involved: John Addison, Donna Chell, VIP members, Karl Anderson, Chase Doornink, Josh Prusinski, Niki Olson, Ross Manni, Terry Nesvold, Mark Harmon, Rhonda Miller