GRO General meeting, August 8, 2018

Attending: Emily Gall, Nicki Peterson, Dale Bistram, Gordy Lewis, Diane Barton, Pam Davies, Halle  Pardun, Cris Peterson

11:45 – Introductions: Guest, Emily Gall with the Burnett County Tourism Coalition – talk about county tourism initiatives and how we can leverage.

  • Coalition formed after a decline in tourism was noted over 30 years.
  • Focus is to be an umbrella brand for the entire county
  • Tring to get out into the community
  • Emily would like BCTC to be a voice for what tourism organizations are doing in the county. Emily will present to Burnet County Board.
  • BCTC initiative is to map the county trails. Those maps should be mapped at Burnett County Forestry. They are shorthanded. Help with maps would be appreciated. Do this through the BCTC
  • BCTC has an events calendar and business directory in process of being updated.
  • The county is now funding BCTC
  • Businesses can get their info to Nancy Herman with Yellow River Travel guide

Walk through Saige Henkel’s Capstone Project presentation https://drive.google.com/open?id=11UA_zKY-9UG1clhAGTDKZ73aAJGPB3vV

Nicki read over goals: walkability, wayfinding, etc.; challenges lack of appeal

Nicki found that through TODS businesses can have signs on Hwy 70 if certain criteria met including hours of operation. Signs cost $550/ sign which is the cost of 10 years in program

Looking at wayfinding for Crex with geese on Olson drive.

Design Strategies proposed by Saige:

  • Classic Main Street–pedestrian friendly
  • Public Main street–geared more toward pedestrians
  • Green–includes much more green spaces

Village just received notice that Grantsburg has received the Community Block Grant of $325,000 matching funds for our main street revitalization project that included new sidewalks, roadway with water and sewer, lamps, benches etc. per our proposal. Money needs to be spent in 2 year. Looking at 2019 to begin. Need to fund the other $325,000. Kelly suggested that GROs Town Renewal Committee be included in guiding the strategies for downtown.

Todd Johnson from the original Design Team said he may recommend a color scheme

Suggestions for alternative parking as we may lose parking spaces downtown. Better utilize parking on Olson between post office and laundromat. Improvement to pass through to main street as well a crosswalk needed. Businesses could use their back doors and provide parking behind their buildings, south of Main above the alley (along W Burnett Ave) could be used for parking with stairway down to rear entrances of businesses on south side of main.

Olson Drive trail project and Fitness trail preliminary numbers from Rodney and Darrell $47,000 and $32,000 respectively but using trap rock instead of crushed limestone which Chris Bartlett does not care for. Waiting for actual paper estimate with both trap rock and crushed limestone. Nicki will look into using the GTC grant for the Olson trail project for the fitness trail as the new campground may impact the Olson Drive trail project.

Benches and trash receptacles: Kelly found visited Tulsa Oklahoma and saw benches and receptacles by Northgate that would suit us very well. She will purchase a bench for outside the bank as an example. Town renewal will develop a brochure with benches, receptacles and banners to present to businesses and other wanting to purchase benches, these purchases can go toward the village portion of the match for the block grant.

Meeting ended at 1:15.