10. PRSR 06.12.2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2B N WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2002 LOCAL NEWS pr.c,hcev rrk55 SUBURBS COTTAGE GROVE + City's request to use land for park advances County's concerns must be met before 'ST.PAUL". COrtAGF' about the 30 prehistoric Ameri- fmal OK; deal then goes to Met Council PARK GROVE can Indian burial mounds on 90th St.S the site. "Coming from an BY MARY DIVINE has no formal river access," GREY -...- et American Indian background... Pioneer Press Burbank said. N N CLOUD ISLAND to >k I don't know but maybe some of A new fishing pier would . Twp. Gt Q my ancestors are buried there," The Washington County help the city solve the problem 4°' e- s"' she said. Board gave tentative approval of people illegally fishing off a -a 3' ' . Robert Vogel, the city's his- Tuesday night to Cottage narrow bridge leading to the ,, -i °4 toile preservation officer, said Grove's request to use county- island,he said. - ` 103ni St 0th St. that the city would have to pro- owned land on Lower Grey "There are public dollars " ' . teed carefully to preserve the Cloud Island for a new park, invested in the property" Bur- exrraakwe n , protected mounds. "It would be fishing pier and boat launch. bank said."We would like to see very difficult to develop a park The board voted 4-1 to sup- those dollars utilized," wnsH.l cOr s Vogel the aid. but not impossible," orespect port the city's plans to use 15 The county has spent more - � Proposed Vogel said."You need to respect acres—acquired by the county than $1 million to purchase park the integrity of these Indian for a future regional park—as a about 100 acres for the regional ! • pig, burial sites and that's utmost public water access site, but park on Lower Grey Cloud 4 'O'bYi4' �' P Y t wRE and that's the No. 1 priority. declined to give final approval to Island.Plans for a regional park r / r"— t We're not going to trade any the proposal. are on hold for at least 20 years, `^.- PIONEER PRESS disturbance of any mound for Board Chair Bill Pulkrabek however, as mining operators any recreational development." said he wants the city to and the primary landowner on The city will work with coun- address liability issues, motor- the island signed last year a spoke against the plan. Jerry ty staff to address the county ized boats, police protection, long-term mining lease in the Taube called it "premature, ill- board's concerns, said City parking concerns, tree cutting area. conceived and shortsighted."He Administrator Ryan Schroeder and protection of the American "It seems silly to have that said he was disappointed that It was unclear Tuesday when Indian burial mounds, among just sit there and not be used," the county board seemed to be the city would return to the other issues, before signing off said Commissioner Myra Peter- supporting plans for a "busy county board for final approval. on the project. son. "We finally have a way to park"on a "tiny sliver of wood- If the county board approves the Cottage Grove has been marry the city and the river ed land between Grey Cloud city's request, the request must searching for a public water together,and I think that this is Island Drive and the fragile then be approved by the Metro- access on the Mississippi River an appropriate use." shoreline of the Grey Cloud politan Council to allow an since it lost its lease on the Al DuBois, an avid canoeist Slough. I think it's unfortunate interim use of regional parkland nearby Shilling family boat from Cottage Grove, agreed. "I that they left the door open." for water access and park, said launch site on the island a year don't want to see it desecrated, The plans would harm the Jim Luger, the county's parks and a half ago, said John Bur- but I want access to the river so natural habitat of wildlife in the director. bank, of the city's planning I can canoe," he said. "We own area, including bald eagles, he A joint powers agreement department. The city is sur- the land already as taxpayers. said. must also be developed between rounded by 39 miles of the Mis- Why not use it?" Eujeana Kulvich, who lives the Met Council,the county and sissippi River, but it "currently But other area residents on the island, raised concerns the city,Luger said.