The City Council of Two Harbors met at the end of August for an important milestone of the year: to recap past and current projects as well as consider future priorities. Each member had an opportunity to list their choices for what Two Harbors’ resources should focus on next, informed by talks from several city department heads. After over two hours of deliberations and debate, three general directions rose to the top for where the Council should place their efforts: a Waterfront Facilitator contract, a replacement for the Thomas Owens Band Shell, and the adjoining topics of tackling blight and pursuing economic property development.
The Waterfront Facilitator contract involves the future Agate Bay Waterfront Park, which has been in the conceptual works for some time. The land for the park is currently in the middle of transfer from Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the City of Two Harbors, and the Council has repeatedly voiced hope that, once said land is in their hands, development can begin shortly thereafter. The land will contain a wide variety of features for the public, such as an outdoor amphitheatre and conservation areas. The large-scale project was recently bolstered by the acquisition of a grant from the LCCMR (Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources) for well over one million dollars. So far, plans for the project have been done with the aid of real estate developer Duval Companies, but with their current contract running out, the Council must debate their next steps.
Councilor Cathy Erickson pressed for preemptive organization in their planning, namely figuring out how to break the complex project into its component parts to better prioritize their efforts. City Council President Uriah Hefter agreed and gave his hopes for a complete design and for most of the project’s funding to be in place by the end of 2027 so construction could begin in 2028. As more immediate steps toward this, a waterfront committee meeting would be held, Duval Companies would be contacted for consideration of a contract extension, and a final version of the overall plan for the park would be approved. There are currently several iterations, and even some of the more consistent landmarks in the plans may be under scrutiny: Councilor Robin Glaser and Mayor Lew Conner shared concerns that the open amphitheatre, set to be the star of the park, may not mix well with the noises of the working harbor next door. Although several members of the council agreed a performance area should be a top priority for the park, they also shared a growing acknowledgement that the future amphitheatre will not be a replacement for the City’s old band shell, no matter – and partially because of how grand it may be.
The Paul Gauche Memorial Band Shell in Thomas Owens Park held its last and final season this summer, closing out and almost immediately being cordoned off with caution tape over worries the roof is on the verge of collapse. That, along with other structural issues, will soon see the band shell demolished, and the Council’s second-highest priority was seeing a proper successor put in its place. The general consensus remains to build a temporary replacement in time for 2027’s season starting mid-June, followed by a permanent successor before too long a delay. The details, however, were very much under debate. Glaser brought up the possibility of a performing arts center as proposed in years past by the Friends of the Band Shell Park, taking the opportunity to vent her frustration that the band shell’s problems and possible solutions from the group went unheard for so long. Now that the band shell is finally a priority, she wants those voices to be heard, and pushed for her fellow councilmembers to “be committed to doing something and making it permanent.” Otherwise, “not only is it frustrating, but it’s hurtful to the community and those people that worked so hard behind the scenes.” She mentioned many residents she had spoken to also preferring a smaller, cozier venue compared to the grandness offered by the future possible amphitheatre. The idea of a space which could offer music year-round was also on the table. It was generally agreed that the band shell’s successor should be made part of the City’s Master Parks Plan, with immediate decisions made by the Public Works Committee and a push to start construction on the temporary replacement before winter. Hefter summed up the Council’s thoughts by calling it “a wonderful opportunity to keep a little bit of that nostalgia and update in an intelligent way.”
Third and finally, the Council voted for the twin issues of bringing down blight throughout Two Harbors and raising up prospects for economic property development. On the first aspect, Councilor Ben Redden shared concerns he had heard from community members on the number of blight-afflicted properties in town, both residential and commercial. His goal for Two Harbors, especially along the main stretch of storefronts on 7th Avenue, should be to have properties feel “clean, safe, and welcoming.” This could involve improving the process for handling blight complaints, which are currently run solely through the Police Department. One large eyesore addressed by the Council was the abandoned former John A. Johnson school, which has become noticeably worse for wear in just the past two years alone. “Those people who live in that area had to look at that just deteriorate in front of their eyes,” Councilor Todd Redmann said. Administrator Patty Nordean agreed. “It’s important for everyone in the community to see that that building is taken care of,” she noted, listing off problems that have stymied the project: a seemingly absent private developer, the expenses of extending utilities from the school’s singular spot to multiple planned properties and building a new stretch of alleyway, and before all that demolition of the school itself with necessary tests for toxic materials.
On the side of new property development, the group revisited the cancelled plans to remake the site of the JJ Castings foundry, noting Two Harbors’ bounty of undeveloped land which, after cleanup, would make for prime commercial and business developments. “In my opinion, that’s our opportunity for commercial,” Nordean commented. Erickson agreed, saying, “I’d hate to see an opportunity missed.” The Council passed around several potential ideas for other locations, funding, and marketing, including possibly collaborating with the County and sibling city Silver Bay.
Other contenders the Council voted for to a lesser degree included housing such as Northshore Flats, work on a new dog park, and preparation for the upcoming Highway 61 Project. The Council is currently gathering feedback on the impending closure of 7th Avenue for the project and considering how to mitigate losses for businesses during that time, whether placing signs directing traffic to stores or encouraging residents to shop local. City Engineer Andy Brotzler brought up utility replacements that will be made during the project, recounting that last spring the City made a submittal to Congressman Pete Stauber for community project funding. Although the funding application was not carried by Stauber, it was supported by Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. Said funding could be of great use to Two Harbors for projects within the City’s Capital Improvement Program.
Brotzler also spoke on two other projects. First, the City’s long-running lead service lining inventory, which is being worked on with the aid of Minnesota’s Department of Health. A main issue slowing the project is that about a third of service lines in Two Harbors are unidentified, meaning they have at least some components with unknown materials. Second, a potential improvement to the City’s utility reliability by adding to the watermain up 1st Street from the Water Treatment Facility to at least 4th Avenue.
Other speakers included Police Chief Rick Hogenson, who made his case before the Council on the importance of a new evidence and training facility, a project which is underway and currently half-funded. The department is currently extremely limited in space to store documentation, equipment, evidence, and seized items. Their plan is for a building that could not only properly store all of the above, but serve to house patrol cars, offer specialized training grounds (rather than making do “wherever we can”), and have a classroom.
The Electric Department’s Chad Schultz brought up current discussions within the department on adding DC fast chargers for cars at the liquor store, explaining their draw for bringing customers to local businesses. Councilor Donna Heil agreed. “I charge my car, and I will walk several blocks to someplace to have lunch or shop,” she said, noting it would be a benefit not just for visitors but local residents as well. These chargers, where customers pay per kilowatt similarly to paying for gallons of gas, eventually pay for themselves, especially when solar panels are used to generate at least part of the electricity. The Electric Department is also hopeful for a relatively new big bucket truck to accompany the smaller one they got last year.
Two Harbors Public Works Director Mark Rauenhorst also had equipment upgrades in mind, as well as smaller road improvements for areas not needing underground utility replacements, such as new curbs and Mill and Overlay.
Finally, City Planner Sarah Swedburg announced she would be moving to another city and exiting her role. Her successor, Robin Kaufman, was on hand to introduce herself. She offers a number of years of experience and has worked with Swedburg for several weeks to ensure the transition is smooth.
A brief listing by Nordean of completed and near complete projects this past year included: the airport terminal building reconstruction, campground office building addition, city hall exterior, gas main relocation near anticipated roundabout on 16th Street and Highway 61, Hahn booster station improvements, wastewater treatment plant improvements, watermain repairs on 4th Street, water plant chlorine tank and building repairs, water tower cleaning, 5th Street and utilities.
City projects currently underway include: 15th Street and alley utilities, airport AWAS relocation, AMI metering system, DNR land conveyance and purchase (for the future Waterfront Park land), concrete service apron at the public works building, dog park, work on the Edna G., Highway 61 Replacement, Labor Negotiations, the Lake County Veterans Memorial, Lighthouse Point Road improvements, Natural Gas Looping, Northshore Flats, Odegard Trail, the Parks Master Plan, UMD neutrinos research, and waterfront development (also for the future Waterfront Park). Firehall roof repairs and sidewalk replacements are also upcoming.
