| Two Harbors, MN |
| Two Harbors is a city located in Lake County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,613. It is the county seat of Lake County. |
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| City of Two Harbors Launches Website |
| Wednesday, November 01, 2006 |
The City of Two Harbors has a new addition. The official City of Two Harbors website was launched this past month with lots of good information. This is a very useful site and you can check out the website online at www.ci.two-harbors.mn.us
Included in the new website is information like a PDF copy of the new Two Harbors Charter and the many different departments and entities that the City of Two Harbors manages.
Contact information for each of the elected officials is also available along with a FAQ page that is extremely helpful.
Also included in the website is the schedule of meetings and agendas and minutes of each meeting. This information is available to the general public by going online at www.ci.two-harbors.mn.us
As always a website is a work in progress, and I am sure more information will be provided as it becomes available, but most importantly Two Harbors has a website that looks great.
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| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 6:33 AM |
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| Sam Cave v. City of Two Harbors Details |
| Saturday, October 28, 2006 |
On Friday evening, October 27, 2006 an equitable compromise was approved by unanimous vote of the City Council following a closed-session litigation consultation with legal counsel representatives from both the League of Minnesota Cities and the City of Two Harbors. What follows is the verbatim text of what has been titled the "Memorandum of Understanding In Settlement Of Dispute In Ed Cave & Sons, Inc, v. City of Two Harbors", that was officially adopted by the Council’s affirmative resolution.
In the text below, the only departure from the original format was to break out each sentence for emphasis and enhanced readability.
An expansion and clarification by this submitter will follow the official record.
EXHIBIT I
1. The City will create a TIF District on the approximate 140 acres owned by Cave on Pork City Hill (hereinafter "Hill Property").
- As much as feasible, the TIF Districts will be phased to coincide with issuance of buildings permits.
- The TIF District shall have the maximum term allowed by law which is anticipated to be 25 years.
- A pay as you go Note consistent with Minnesota Law for Redevelopment Districts will be provided to Cave to reimburse for TIF eligible costs.
- Cave will be eligible for 80 percent of the proceeds of the TIF District up to the TIF eligible costs paid by him, and the City will retain 20 percent of the proceeds of the TIF District.
- The TIF Agreement and Note will be fully assignable.
2. The City will use its best efforts to annex the Hill Property through an orderly annexation agreement with Lake County.
3. After the annexation of the Hill Property, the City will extend utilities (sewer and water) to the Hill Property, at Cave’s expense, subject to reimbursement from TIF funds.
4. Cave will deed to the City fee title free and clear of all encumbrances for the property subject to current leases as shown on the attached Exhibit A. Cave shall have the right to name the park on lighthouse point subject to approval of the City Council.
5. The parties will dismiss with prejudice the three lawsuits that Cave and his entities have brought against the City of Two Harbors, which are currently pending in Lake County. - Cave shall execute necessary documents to memorialize road orders against underlying property.
- The City shall agree to realign the road subject to Road Order Number 4 to accommodate the development, provided reasonable access is maintained to the City’s water plant.
- Provided further, that Cave shall deed to the City an amount of land equivalent to the area of Lots 31 and 32 in the area south of the existing water plant.
6. Cave shall deed fee title to the City free and clear of all encumbrances for lighthouse point as generally depicted on the attached Exhibit B. City shall dedicate this as a park subject to its park preserve ordinance.
7. The City will allow utilities to be extended at Cave’s cost to Cave’s Highway 61 commercial property. - The extension cost shall be e1igible for reimbursement from TIF funds from the Hill TIF District.
- City will provide reasonable assistance in obtaining all required right-of-way for utilities, but is not required to exercise the right of eminent domain.
8. The City will approve the development of the project shown on Exhibit C, subject to reasonable modification to protect views from South Avenue with a maximum of 64 units. - A TIF District will be created with respect to this development. The City will retain the first $300,000 of TIF revenues and the balance of the TIF revenues will be divided 1/3 to City and 2/3rds to Cave.
- All TIF payments will be on a pay as you go basis and subject to repayment of TIF eligible expenditures.
- The TIF Agreement and Note will be fully assignable.
9. Cave will retain the $150,000 paid to it by the City in full and final compensation for the acquisition of the sewer plant property.
10. The City will rezone the property shown on attached Exhibit D to allow development of five (5) residential condo or hotel buildings. - The height cannot exceed the 35 feet (as defined in the Two Harbors City Code) provided for in the City’s shoreland overlay district.
- The floor elevation of the buildings must be constructed at or below an elevation of 640 feet.
- A TIF District will be created with respect to this development.
- The City will retain 20 percent of the TIF revenues and Cave will be entitled to 80 percent of the TIF revenues on a pay as you go basis and subject to repayment of TIF eligible expenses.
- The TIF Agreement and Note will be fully assignable.
11. The agreement to approve the developments contemplated herein at Paragraphs 8 and 10 shall be subject to the City’s normal review and approval process. - If the City fails to approve the developments, this settlement agreement shall be null and void.
- Cave shall make all necessary applications and pay all required fees for development approvals contemplated herein and the same shall be processed in accordance with applicable ordinances and regulations.
Perhaps some of the most significant benefits for the community of Two Harbors that are not clearly identified nor emphasized above, are the provisions contained in Item #4. Those properties "subject to current leases" include… - VanHoven Park
- The Community Center property
- The City Garage property
- All Municipal Parking Lot properties (which have not already be acquired by Lake County though prior agreement with Sam Cave).
- Former Utility Easements through or across Sam Cave’s properties (now granted without further lease payments)
- †All Roadways which overlay Sam Cave properties
In the aggregate, all of these compromise concessions result in the City of Two Harbors (in concert with the DNR Marina and Public Boat Launch) having public ownership or access to the community’s entire waterfront – from Burlington Bay to Agate Bay…
For the first time in history, from those first settlers to arrive at Burlington Bay in 1856, to the 1885 platting of Agate Bay (whose post office, established in 1883, was known as Two Harbors), to our incorporation as a "Village" in 1888, through our eventual maturation to "City" on February 26, 1907, the public may now claim ownership, title, or the legitimate and unfettered right of access to the entire shoreline! |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 6:46 PM |
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| Lawsuits Negotiated |
| Friday, October 27, 2006 |
Details were very sparse from Council President Randy Bolen at the Monday night city council meeting about the lawsuit settlement deal that appears to have been reached between the City of Two Harbors and Sam Cave.
Councilor Bolen did point out that there will be a closed meeting and following the closed meeting will be a open meeting for the public.
The closed portion of this meeting will be held on Friday the 27th of October at 5:00PM at the Two Harbors City Hall, and the open meeting will directly follow the closed meeting. |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 6:53 PM |
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| Dare to Share Event Hosted by C.O.G. |
| Wednesday, October 25, 2006 |
| Did you notice a trailer with a large yellow banner and a caravan following it last Saturday? What about all those people with rakes and bags? Did you wonder what was going on? The Community Optimist Group (C.O.G.) held its annual Dare to Share event for Two Harbors community members. C.O.G. collaborated with Community Partners/Block Nurse Living at Home Program, an organization aimed at keeping senior citizens in their homes as long as possible, to provide yard clean-up assistance for a day. C.O.G. participants had a great time, while providing a much-needed service to the community. The group plans to make this a yearly event and invites you to bring your rakes next year, when we "hit the yards again". |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 6:20 AM |
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| Two Harbors and Sam Cave Reach Tentative Deal on Lighthouse Point Development |
| Monday, October 23, 2006 |
It appears that tonight’s Two Harbors City Council meeting is going to be an historic one. According to City Councilor Steve Phillips he was contacted by Council President Randy Bolen who explained that a there was a negotiation that occurred Friday the 20th of October between Mr. Cave and City of Two Harbors representation. The negotiations which took a full day were conducted by Roger Simonson, Randy Bolen, City Administrator Lee Klein, the city attorney Steve Overom, and the League of Minnesota Cities Counsel, George Hoff.
Details are sketchy and with no further information Councilor Phillips had little to add, except to comment that after four years of being a hot button issue that divided the community it appears the healing process can now begin in the hopes that the entire community may be involved in the process... |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 12:43 PM |
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| Two Harbors Golf Course Moves Towards Selling |
| Sunday, October 22, 2006 |
It appears that the Two Harbors Municipal Golf Course, also knows as Lakeview National is quickly moving towards a sale. After another tough season mostly caused by lack of rain and problems with the irrigation systems, it has become clear that the City of Two Harbors can't keep taking the losses and do a great job maintaining the course.
CPDC a company out of the Twin Cities area who is also working on the Hidden Springs development in Two Harbors responded to the RFP for the sale of the golf course sent out by the City of Two Harbors. CPDC along with two other developers gave a proposal to the city. The City of Two Harbors at a recent city council meeting voted to move forward with negotiations between CPDC.
The City of Two Harbors has continued to face pressure from citizens as the cost to maintain the golf course has increased each year, and the rounds of golf has seemed to decrease. The City of Two Harbors maintains that the money that is offsetting the loss is coming from the municipal liquor store funds, and not coming from the taxpayers.
Others are making the argument that the City of Two Harbors could easily use the liquor store funds to fix roads, plant trees, and build parks and recreation areas throughout the community. The argument is the city by the mere fact they are managing the liquor store is using taxpayer money to do so.
If all goes as planned development of homes around the golf course will start during the 2007 building season. |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 11:29 AM |
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| Two Harbors Marina |
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It appears that Two Harbors is after all getting its own Marina.
The reality is that the Marina in Two Harbors was not always a sure thing. History of the marina project can be traced back to past Two Harbors city planner Mark Johnson who had a vision for the community of Two Harbors. An avid boater who enjoyed Lake Superior, and a Two Harbors businessman, Mark was instrumental in starting the initial conversations about a marina and the need for one in Two Harbors. It hasn't always been as easy as just getting the financing for the building of the marina itself. The marina land was not originally for sale. It was not until January of 2002 that Sam Cave came in and purchased a large piece of the property from the Duluth Mesabi & Iron Range (DM&IR) railroad company. However, the marina land was not originally purchased. Sam Cave did at a later time purchase that piece of land from the DM&IR so that the marina could be built. Part of the purchase agreement is that because the land had contaminants they would be cleaned up by the DNR.
Other hurdles that needed to be overcome were the issues of financing being pulled and contamination issues. It seems that the DNR has overcome a large majority of those issues. The hurricanes and flooding in New Orleans also posed a threat to this project as the Army Corp. of Engineers is funding a portion of this project. It appears that with Congressman Oberstar assistance and the elected representatives David Dill and Tom Bakk the State of Minnesota came through with a bonding bill which included three million dollars for the Two Harbors Marina project.
"Thanks to the efforts of many the Two Harbors Marina is a real possibility. Congressman Oberstar has been extremely instrumental in getting the funds for this project to be completed" states Two Harbors Marina Committee member Paul Bergman. Bergman owns and operates the Vanilla Bean which is a small restaurant business in Two Harbors and he is excited that finally people will be able to boat to Two Harbors and enjoy the beautiful area. Paul also expresses his thanks to the DNR and Representative David Dill and Senator Tom Bakk. "These guys really worked hard and came through for us. They did a really nice job!" |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 11:28 AM |
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| Two Harbors voters approve charter changes |
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As reported by the Duluth News Tribune:
Voters in Two Harbors approved changed to the city's nearly 100-year-old charter. Unofficial results show that 257 people voted in favor of the changes, while 45 voted against. Some of the changes are minor -- simple language housekeeping, such as eliminating requirements to remove "swill, offal, street sweepings, garbage, ashes, manure, barnyard matter and dead animals to a point beyond city limits."
But other changes are major -- eliminating one of the seven current City Council seats and granting the mayor the right to vote on city business. The seventh council seat will be eliminated in the November elections. The Two Harbors City Charter Commission spent several years cleaning up and slimming down the charter. |
| posted by Two Harbors News Editorial Staff @ 11:21 AM |
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