EDA approves five resolutions including housing covenant change and Taconite Harbor RFP

Cook County Grama Economic Development Authority members approved five resolutions by voice vote at their March 18, 2025 regular meeting, the authority said. The measures include a revised employment agreement for Superior National Golf Course staff, changes to covenants for a 16‑unit rental in Lutzen, authorization to issue an RFP for a Taconite Harbor strategic plan, a $1,000 Business Development Fund grant, and updates to the authority’s bank signatories.

Why it matters: the package moves forward staff and program decisions the EDA has discussed in recent months — from workforce and housing issues to the Taconite Harbor planning process and the near‑term administration of small grants.

Resolution details and outcomes

• Resolution 2025‑8 — Approve revised employment agreement for Garrett Ekman at Superior National Golf Course. The EDA’s packet presented the corrected position title; the commission moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote. (Motion carried.)

• Resolution 2025‑12 — Amend the declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions for a 16‑unit rental property in Lutzen to add flexibility for filling units after prolonged vacancy. The item was discussed with representatives from One Roof Community Housing and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority; the HRA had earlier indicated support. The EDA moved, seconded and approved the amendment by voice vote. (Motion carried.)

• Resolution 2025‑13 — Approve the Taconite Harbor strategic‑plan request for proposal (RFP). The EDA approved the RFP with direction to allow the EDA discretion to reset posting and response dates, to require proposers to include a project timeline, and to include partners on the review committee (discussion noted adding Minnesota Power and Schroeder Township representatives). The motion passed by voice vote. (Motion carried.)

• Resolution 2025‑14 — Approve a Business Development Fund grant agreement with Bridal Malek LLC not to exceed $1,000. The Grant Review Committee had recommended the award following follow‑up questions to the applicant. The EDA approved the grant by voice vote. (Motion carried.)

• Resolution 2025‑15 — Update authorized financial signatories by removing two individuals and adding Peter Klissold and Heidi Krampitz for EDA and Superior National Golf Course accounts at Grain Belt State Bank and North Shore Federal Credit Union. The EDA approved the signatory changes by voice vote. (Motion carried.)

Votes and recordkeeping

All five items were approved by voice vote during the meeting. The meeting transcript records each motion being moved and seconded and subsequent “Aye” responses; no roll‑call tallies were read into the record, and the transcript does not list roll‑call vote totals by member name. Where the transcript records additional discussion (for example, the Taconite Harbor RFP timeline and committee composition, and conditions attached to the One Roof covenants amendment) those deliberations are summarized in separate articles in this package.

What’s next

Approved items will be implemented by staff or returned with finalized agreements as appropriate: the grant agreement will be finalized by the Grant Review Committee, the RFP will be posted with dates reset from the posting date, and signatory updates will be processed with the banks. The EDA will provide staff and committee updates at future meetings.