Curling club, city deal may be nigh

Talk about it

The Two Harbors Curling Club and city council are inching closer to a deal to transfer ownership of the club building from the city.

On Monday, city council members consented to a 7 p.m. public hearing Feb. 28 to discuss property tax abatement for the property. The abatement could last up to 20 years, or about $140,000 in potential property taxes.

The city, Lake County, and Lake Superior School District do not collect property taxes on the city-owned property. City Attorney Steve Overom said the city would not have to raise taxes to cover the abatement. The city and county are allowed 20-year abatements. Including the school district would allow for just a 15-year term. The district and county would also require public hearings.

In recent discussions about Lake View National Golf Course adjacent to the curling club, city council members talked about the curling club taking over the clubhouse. The city would get all revenues from the club while the curling club would get a percentage of greens fees.

“You will always have the right to keep the pro shop even if the curling club is sold,” Overom said.

Details are still being worked out about what would happen if the curling club sold its property down the road.

“There are a bunch of balls in the air,” Overom said.

Curlers and golfers have concerns about the pro shop.

“This is a big unknown for us,” said Cathy Erickson, of the Lakeview National women’s league.

Rick Osbakken, president of the curling club, said he would worry about revenues if the course went to nine holes. Last fall, nine holes on the course were closed due to maintenance issues.

“The city is always going to stand by (the curling club),” council member Steve Detlefsen said.

The council is still working on getting a grounds-keeper for the course.

Council member Chris Swanson said he would like updates on a weekly basis about the golf course from a third party. The council could also request having the groundskeeper come in to discuss the positives and negatives of the course on a routine basis.

Fire truck

The council approved the purchase of a new fire truck for the Two Harbors Fire Department for $785,000. The current ladder engine, or aerial, will be 26 years old in 2012, when delivery of a new engine is expected. The department is expected to get the engine by June of 2012.

The department covers the city, Lake County, and Silver Creek Township. Half the cost will be covered by the city, 38 percent by the county, and 12 percent by the township.

Bentleyville north?

The council approved applying for a $5,000 Two Harbors Area Fund grant to turn Thomas Owens Park into a “mini-Bentleyville” in the future. Mayor Randy Bolen said he would try and put a skating rink there during the winter and put up some lights.

Old football field

The Lake Superior School District received a draft of a resolution from the City of Two Harbors for the old football field near the campground expansion development by Burlington Bay.

The resolution states that the city conveyed the property to the district in 1960 to be used exclusively for recreational activities. The city wants the property for a new sewer main and future recreational and commercial development.

The district has plans to phase out the property for school activities. The resolution asks the district to return the property to the city contingent upon an agreement that the city leases the property to the district for $1 a year for a term to be determined.

Tags: two harbors, golf, curling, news