05-23-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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BIG ISLAND BOARD OF GOVERNORS PO BOX 598 EXCELSIOR, MN 55331 DATE: April 22, 1988 ATTN: Ms. Jeanne A. Mabusth - Building and zoning Administrator SUBJ: Application for Conditional Use Permit - Big Island Veterans Camp RE: March 14, 1988 Presentation to Orono City Council Enclosed herewith is an application for a conditional use permit allowing for renovation and opening of Big Island Veterans Camp. Significant changes have occurred since last fall that should be noted, specifically: - A total of thirty-two of the fourty-three buildings on the camp property have been razed. This action dramatically reduces the hazards previously noted by city staff. - Of the remaining eleven buildings, only the caretaker's cabin has been retained for overnight habitation. Of the remaining ten build- ings, six have been converted for near -term use as storage buildings, three are latrines that will be refurbished, and one is the former dining hall which will be converted for use as a visitors center. Securing of the windows and doors of the remaining buildings is essentially completed. - A full-time caretaker, Mr. Mark Peterson, began his duties on April 1, 1988. His presence on the Island will greatly assist the Board in being more responsive in cleanup, renovation and operational activities. His telephone number at the camp is 474-1958. - The majority of old furnicure and other items were removed from the Island in March. A total of 160 cubic yards of these materials were removed with consolidation of the remainder to be accomplished this summer for removal this coming fall or winter. - The initial operational capability envisioned for the Camp is a May 1988 opening for day use and overnight tent camping. Due to the short duration of the summer season, the Board requests the assist- ance of the city in rapid identification and approval of our compli- ance with the requirements of the City of Orono. The focus on clay and overnight tent camping for the near -term dramatically reduces our costs for renovation and operation. Handicapped accessible cabins are planned for construction in later phases. - Fund raising for Camp operations has also taken a positive turn with over $65,000 raised in the last sixty days. In addition, VFW and American Legion posts will be solicited in a direct mail fund raising activity that will be mailed this month.