Town of Bell
Harbor Commission Meeting
Monday, September 14, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.. Members present were Chuck Perry, Jesse Kaseno, Pauline Colamatteo, Jessica Resac, Mark Halvorson, Will Tillmans, David Tillmans and MaryBeth Tillmans. Roger Lindgren, Town of Bell Chairman was also present on Zoom.

Minutes – A motion was made by P. Colamatteo to approve the minutes of the last meeting and D. Tillmans 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

Conflict of interest – None

Public Comments – None

Public Hearing – None

Reports:
– Harbor Dredging Committee – The harbor has not yet been surveyed by the Army Corp. of Engineers this season. A meeting is set with the Chief of the Army Corp of Engineers of Duluth and the new commander in Detroit for Oct. 6th, to discuss needs. They would like us to have questions submitted to them in advance. A time has not been set yet.
– Shop Grade Issues Committee – C. Perry is working with Manzanita Peterson on a permit to fill low areas around the shops. A Special Class A permit is required for this. A pink town board recommendation was given to the board, along with the application. This will be a spring project.
– Green Shed Committee – No report

Old Business:
– Harbor map/jurisdiction – This is being worked on to improve it.
– Shop Leases / Halvorson Lease – The Comes Aboat’s shop lease is up for renewal. The shop lease renewal date for Halvorson’s shop was in question. Discussion was held about changing all shop leases from a straight fee to a square footage. The town attorney recommended changing it to square footage of the building. The change would be on the renewal lease. P. Colamatteo made a motion to change the methodology of prices for the shops to a square foot measurement method. The motion was withdrawn. There was an idea of assessing the shops by the square footage of the lot. This was not recommended by the town’s attorney, because the town would lose jurisdiction of the land. It would not allow control of alcohol consumption. The Halvorson slip lease is up for renewal. Recreational boats can be charged more for fees than commercial boats. Equal fees must be charged for equal services. The town’s attorney recommended to have the lease be by square footage for winter storage. J. Resac and P. Colamatteo will do research on fees for commercial boats in other harbors. P. Colamatteo made a motion to strike the Consumer Price Index rate increase from the leases and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved. J. Kaseno made a motion to hold on sending the new lease to M. Peterson, until hearing from the town’s. attorney. The motion was 2nd by P. Colamatteo. Unanimous decision. Approved.
– Ten Year Plan – There is no update
– Breakwater Access – This is in the works. It will be from the Halvorson’s to the break wall.
– Boardwalk leveling – Determining who will do the work.
– Marina Handyman part time as needed employee – P. Colamatteo will talk to Mark Lutz about attending next month’s meeting.
– Bylaws final approval to send to Town Board – P. Colamatteo made a motion to adopt the Bylaws and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

New Business:
– Financial Statement- P. Colamatteo made a motion to have the statement approved after the minutes and D. Tillmans 2nd the motion.
– BIG and RBR – The DNR BIG (Boating Infrastructure Grant) is geared towards transient boating. The DNR RBF(Recreational Boating Facilities) is for improving facilities, including dredging. R. Lindgren has applied for both grants. The BIG would be used for a sheet piling wall north of the bridge to the kiosk. It would include the sheet steel, dockage, utility stations and an ADA access boardwalk up to the bridge. The grant is for $250,000. The RBR would be for sheet steel piling along the east wall of river north of the kiosk to the lighthouse. Discussion was held. Concerns were expressed about adding more boats along the river north of the kiosk and narrowing the river. Members of the commission will meet with R. Lindgren at the project site to do measurements and to further discuss the project.

Communications – None

The next meeting date was set for Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

At 7:45 p.m., D. Tillmans made a motion to adjourn and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Approved.

Respectfully submitted,

MaryBeth Tillmans – Secretary