Minutes, GRO General Meeting, May 9, 2018 Library Community Room
Lunch, 11:30 – 11:50, Meeting 11:50 – 1:30

Attending: Kristina Kelly-Johnson, Jerry Dorff, Nicki Peterson, Kelly Gerber, Rod Kleiss, Halle Pardun, Nate Ehalt, Chris Peterson, Cathy McCabe, Caylin Meuhlberg, Pam Davies, Larry Ebersold, Chris Bartlett, Gordy Lewis, Ben Binversie and Special Guest Marie Steenlage of Connect Communities

Nicki called the meeting to order at 11:50 and directed introductions around the room for Marie’s benefit.

Special Guest Marie Steenlage introduced the Main Street (Federal) and Connect Communities (State) programs. She outlined how the programs overlap and how they differ in requirements in resources both financial and organizational, and the commitments needed to be successful in each program. The Renewal Committee will take up the question whether to apply to the Connect Communities program as it seemed the best fit for us at this time. Marie gave a couple of communities, Ladysmith and Barron, as communities to contact to learn about their experience in the Connect Communities program before we decide.

Regular meeting Committee Reports directed by Nicki

Town Renewal: Kristina reported calling on subcommittee members present.

  • Kelly discussed the fitness trail/splash pad/playground initiative and the subcommittees engaged in this effort within Town Renewal. CORE (Community Outdoor Recreation) is the acronym that will be used for the cooperative efforts of the group.
  • Chris Bartlett reported on the grant proposal that the Village is creating which will include curbs and gutters, streetlights, bumpouts, etc. The proposal will not include the parking lot north of downtown. Proposal is due May 24.
  • Cathy McCabe reported on Plans to improve the appearance of the Community Center that may include the Food Shelf entrance as well as the east side gym entrance.
  • Kristina and Chris Bartlett reported on the Community Cleanup Days May 18 and 19 which will include tearing out and replacing shrubs at the Village Office entrance, painting of the garages and the Village Hall doors, staining of picnic tables at the shelters at Memory Lake, and painting at the camp ground and dam. A number of groups are signed up. More help is needed.

Marketing Committee: Ben Binversie reported on the first meeting of the committee.

  • Goals and purpose of the committee were worked out.
  • The committee will work on marketing both Grantsburg and GRO.
  • The committee will provide support to the GRO committees to insure consistency in branding with print and online media and signage targeting businesses, residents and visitors.
  • Creation of a Granstsburg Sell Sheet for new businesses, existing businesses needing to attract workers and for visitors.
  • Committee asks the other committees to reach out to the marketing committee when they need support with marketing and media.
  • Pam requested that the committees send her minutes of meeting to be posted on the blog.

Natural Resources: Jerry, Pam and Rod reporting

  • Committee does not have a leader. Need to schedule a meeting to work out how the committee will function.
  • Jerry wondered what happened to the National Guard request for help with removal of large trees in the Wood River behind the gun club initially suggested by Gordy. Gordy made contact and got the info but was under the impression he handed this info off to the committee to follow up. Pam will find original exchange to recover contact info and attachments.
  • Pam reported on the Olson Drive Trail project. Initial estimate on cost of the project is coming in soon from walk thru with Anctek Construction, Chris Bartlett Pam and Ben done last week.
  • Committee will set a meeting to schedule the Wood River Cleanup by early summer. Will need to pull together all the volunteers and new volunteers with chain saws for this effort.
  • Rod reported on expanding existing hiking/skiing trails. Is needing volunteers to help.

HWY 70 Committee is looking for a leader and has not met

Housing Committee is looking for a leader and has not met

We revisited the subject of committees

  • Natural Resources: Pam will set up meetings
  • Renewal: Kristina is chair, Gordy will be added to this committee
  • HWY 70: No chair yet. Gordy will contact Maddy Berglund about being chair. Nate offered to bring in the highway commissioner as a consultant when needed.
  • Marketing: Ben Binversie is the chair. Kelly will be added to this committee. Ben will ask Bob Rombach of We Are Granstsburg to join this committee.
  • Housing: Ben volunteered to get this meeting started though it still needs a chair.

Misc:

  • Gordy asked Marie about how to get businesses involved in GRO.
  • Community Development and Community Investment Fund was mentioned by Nate.
  • Marie mentioned that when there is construction around businesses that GRO would be able to assist those businesses not to lose revenue. She reinforced Kelly’s observation that the businesses need to see us helping them to get fired up to join us in the effort.

Meeting ended at 1:30. Next meeting will be Wednesday, June 6 at 11:30 am at Grantsburg Library Community Room.

A big thank you to Nicki Peterson for providing lunch.

Minutes provided by Kristina Kelly-Johnson, typed and posted by Pam Davies