Meeting date: August 29, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
Meeting location: Grantsburg Public Library
Type of meeting: Town Renewal Committee Discussion
Notetaker: Kristina Kelley-Johnson
Attendees: Kelly Gerber, Chris Bartlett, Kristina Kelley-Johnson, Deb Norling of Burnett Area Arts Group, Jerry
McNally of Friends of Crex Meadows.
Minutes
Agenda item: Working with Crex Meadows
Jerry McNally of the Friends of Crex Meadows was asked to attend to give us his opinion on what GRO can do to help Crex visitors find their way to their wildlife refuge. Jerry said Grantsburg Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) paid for the original geese painted on the roadway. Friends of Crex spoke about adding the geese to the streets again and now have a member that will sponsor the painting of the geese on two routes-starting down both Olson Drive and Pine Street. Chris will inquire about adding a sign on Olson Drive to inform visitors about the geese, similar to the sign on Pine Street. The geese painting should be completed by October.
Jerry said that Crex Meadows needs more volunteers, mainly to greet visitors at the front desk of the visitor center on weekends during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Interested parties can call Crex at 715-463-2739.
A need for a map of the local area was also discussed, as in previous meetings. The map would include the St.Croix River on the west, Burnett Dairy on the east, Crex Meadows on the north and the highway 48/87 intersection to the south. It would also include area landmarks, including restaurants, stores and roadways. Jerry suggested that businesses might sponsor the design and printing of the map if they can include their ad.
Deb Norling will inquire with BAAG members if they know of artists that could design a map.
Agenda item: Benches, street lights and banners
Bench and trash receptacle designs were approved by the Grantsburg Village Board. The benches will be along Madison Ave (Main Street). Each item will cost $820, and a bit more for a memorial plaque on the bench. People interested in donating a bench can contact Kristina at Grantsburg Public Library (715) 463-2244. GRO is in the process of getting banners designed for the new street lights down Madison Ave. At a previous meeting, Nicki Peterson said the original designer of the GRO logo will be asked to create three different banner designs based on the logo.
Agenda item: Campground committee
Chris said that an engineering firm will present ideas to expand and add additional sites to the village campground at the Village Board’s September meeting.
Agenda item: Downtown decorating committee
Kelly reported there are about ten members on the committee and that their first task will be to build Fun-Crows (scarecrows that aren’t scary). The Fun-crows will be on display at Grantoberfest and then, in the downtown area. Fun-crow making will take place on Sunday, September 16 at the Grantsburg Fairgrounds. The group is also hoping to help the Lions with holiday in the park and to create their own holiday lighting display for the park. The committee will be working the meat raffle at the Rendezvous Friday, September 14.
Agenda item: Community Outdoor Recreation (COR) committee
Nicki Peterson has drafted a fundraising brochure for the splash pad, fitness trail and playground projects. The group has now successfully raised enough funds to build the fitness trail! Kelly, Nicki and Chris will finalize the trail route at a September 5 meeting.
Other business
Chris is hoping to add solar lights to the Memory Lake Dam next year. Deb Norling will investigate funding art projects with Arts Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Arts Board and report back to Kristina before our next meeting, held on September 19 at 3:30 p.m. at Grantsburg Public Library.
