NCT Hike on the Baraga Plains
The past week can best be summarized as a relentless pursuit of projects.
After enjoying a beautiful sunrise and knocking out a 2,450 yard swim, Monday was focused on determining a potential route for a snowmobile trail between Chassell and the Nichols Trail. Ryan Laporte from the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club, Brian Waters, Steve Spahn, and I from the Chassell Township Planning Commission, Dave Mattson our Chassell Township Supervisor, and Pete Torola from the Houghton County Road Commission continued our conversation about establishing such a route via Tapiola. The meeting’s discussion would conclude with confidence about coming from the west to the junction of the Cote and Upper Worham Roads. Our challenge now is to determine the best way to close the remaining gap.
Tuesday would be focused on getting the February Chassell Planning Commission minutes drafted in advance of our Thursday evening meeting. We would receive word during the day from the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that our the Chassell Township 5-Year Recreation Plan had been approved which was needed for us to be eligible to submit either a Passport or Natural Resources Trust Fund grant proposal by April 1st to support our effort to further improve the Sturgeon River canoe/kayak launch. That evening I would meet up with fellow Hancock Trails Club board members to send thank you notes to those who contributed to support the club during the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation’s Giving Tuesday.
Given the good response Mary Babcock and I have been receiving for the remote worker networking event scheduled at Sunflower Books and Coffee at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18th, Brian Waters and I decided to set one up for Chassell. I spent a good part of my Wednesday reaching out to Chassell remote workers about the networking event which will take place on Thursday, April 4th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Chassell Fire Hall. For remote workers in Hancock and Chassell that I have not heard from me, please consider yourself invited to these events!
Wednesday would also involve pulling details together about the electrical work we are looking to do at the Chassell Heritage Center both for the lighting and our planned stairlift as well as coordinating with Jeff Ratcliffe at the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance a letter of support from our Township Supervisor related to the needed demolition of the former Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at the entrance to the cemetery.
I got out for a run on Wednesday evening with the Keweenaw Running Group. I am still dealing with what seems to be an IT band issue which does not care too much for hills, but managed to slug my way through it by massaging it out several times along the way.
Thursday would start with another brilliant sunrise!
I would meet up with Mat Moore our Curator at the Chassell Heritage Center to review an estimate we have on the electrical work and to look at how we would potentially bring power to the stairlift we are planning to have installed. On my way there I spotted trumpeter swans on the limited amount of open water, so I grabbed Mat (who is an avid bird watcher) as he was walking to the Heritage Center and we went back to take a closer look.
I then attended the Chassell Planning Commission meeting where we covered a robust agenda. The commission formally approved the site plan for the redevelopment of the Chassell Mercantile site submitted by Dan Palosaari and James Marusich which was discussed with the public on February 14th. The commission also recommended to the Zoning Board of Review that it approve a variance for the project on parking to allow for two spaces per two-bedroom unit and one space per one-bedroom unit. The commission also approved recommending to the board that it approve the agreement which would establish a Blight Mitigation Fund with the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. This fund would allow residents to contribute to a fund that can assist residents who cannot afford to address blight conditions with their homes. The board will take up final action on the agreement at its meeting this week and then it will go back to the foundation for final action before implementation. The commission also discussed its support for the township providing a percentage of match to secure funding currently available through the county to demolish the former Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The board will take action on this opportunity at its meeting this week. I briefed the commission on the components of the SPARK grant projects (waterfront boardwalk and concrete walkway from the pavilion to the lake) that have gone to the MDNR for review/approval. Once MDNR approval is received, these will be bid. Brian and I briefed the commission on securing the match commitment from the board for the grant proposal to acquire a CD3 boat wash station for the Centennial Park boat ramp. I briefed the board on my efforts on the grant proposal to the MDNR regarding the further development of the Sturgeon River canoe/kayak launch and the Visit Keweenaw proposal we are putting together for the launch connected to the soon to be reconstructed waterfront boardwalk. I also reviewed the Recreation Committee members’ discussion of establishing a kick sled/walking/running oval on Pike Bay next winter and discussions I have had with Marco Guidotti and Corey Soumis about the possibility of having students build the kick sleds. Finally, Mike Soumis briefed us on his historical knowledge of Hamar Creek. We are looking to partner with Casey Huckins at MTU on a brook trout restoration project on the creek and Mike had important information about both the historical course of the creek and issues created by a culvert change where it crosses under the Chassell-Painesdale Road.
Friday morning I put in a 2,200 yard swim with 2,000 of it done as a pull with hand paddles to give my IT band a rest.
I would get confirmation that morning that we will only need 110 and not 220 for the stairlift which will allow me to seek that addition to the bid. I am developing a grant proposal to the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission to help fund this project. In the afternoon I would do a call with the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) and UP Engineers and Architects to discuss how we will approach the compliance requirements under the SPARK Grant. WUPPDR has received SPARK related funding separate from our grant and committed up to 200 hours of assistance with compliance during our meeting.
Friday evening we had a nice get together with a number of our hiking friends who came over to our place for a potluck dinner. It was a nice way to wind up a busy week!
Saturday I stopped by to see my sister and brother-in-law who were in town to clean out their house that my nephew lived in while he was attending MTU. They will be looking to put it on the market soon. In a reflective mood, I spent my afternoon writing thank you notes to those who reached out to us after my Dad’s passing.
Sunday our hiking group headed down to the Baraga Plains to hike the North Country Trail. The sky was incredibly blue with no clouds and the temperature was about 40 degrees.
You can see my GoPro video from the hike at this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:
After the hike we made a stop at nearby Ogemaw Falls!
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Not sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.