COOK- The Cook City Council approved the rezoning of nine properties for multifamily housing, adopted a facility plan for an estimated $2 million in wastewater system improvements, and heard that the Cook Economic Development Authority has completed its purchase of the former First National Bank building during its regular meeting last Wednesday.

Housing rezoning
The council unanimously approved rezoning nine tracts held by eight property owners to R-2 multifamily residential, a change intended to provide more options for future housing development.
The properties are located in different neighborhoods around Cook and were identified by the city as among those most suitable for higher-density residential development. The R-2 designation allows duplexes and other higher-density housing but does not prevent owners from building single-family homes.
The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended the changes following an earlier public hearing. A second public hearing was held during Wednesday’s council meeting, but no members of the public commented.
In a letter previously submitted to the Planning and Zoning Committee, Third Avenue SE resident Darcie Meehan objected specifically to rezoning property adjacent to hers and properties along Lund Road. She argued the change would be incompatible with the neighborhood’s low-density character, amount to spot zoning, reduce her property value, and threaten her organic garden. She also cited existing problems she associated with nearby apartments and the city park, including late-night disturbances, litter, drug paraphernalia, and homeless people staying in the park. Bushbaum said he had responded to her letter, although Meehan said she had not yet seen his response.
At the meeting, Meehan did not speak during the public hearing but was allowed to voice her objections after the hearing had closed and the council later took up the resolution. She argued that the city should begin with its two properties included in the rezoning, determine whether multifamily development succeeds there, and consider rezoning the privately owned properties later.
“Why can’t you just use those and see how well it goes with that?” Meehan said. “Put yourselves out there and say, hey, you know what? We got a couple. Let’s see how this really will work.”
Council member Ron Bushbaum said handling all nine properties together was more efficient than conducting separate hearings and rezoning properties individually. He said the larger parcels are suited to higher-density housing and emphasized that the change is intended to provide a long-term framework rather than produce immediate construction.
“And we’re probably 20 to 30 years down the road before anything’s getting built here,” Bushbaum said. “But it’s something we have to do to address the housing issue in this community, in this region, and in the nation.”
Bushbaum said additional housing will be needed to support Cook’s workforce, attract businesses, and broaden the city’s tax base. Mayor Dan Manick agreed, noting that Cook’s population has declined from roughly 800 residents to about 515 while the cost of providing city services continues to increase.
The council approved the rezoning without opposition.

Wastewater plan
The council also unanimously adopted an amendment to the city’s wastewater treatment facility plan following a public hearing and presentation by Bolton & Menk representatives Luke Heikkila and Mac Graupman. No public comments were received during the hearing.
The amendment replaces a facility plan prepared in 2021 that expired this year. Having a current plan is necessary for the city to remain eligible for loans and grants administered through the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.
Cook treats its wastewater through three stabilization ponds covering approximately 10 acres. Although they have sufficient storage capacity under average conditions, Graupman said large amounts of rainwater and groundwater entering the sewer system produce unusually high flows during wet weather. The excess flow has eroded dikes separating the ponds, potentially interfering with maintenance access and the city’s ability to control the movement of wastewater between the cells.
Concrete control structures also are deteriorating. Recommended improvements include repairing the dikes, replacing deteriorated structures, valves, and piping, and adding gravel to improve maintenance access. The plan also includes a potential boat ramp that could be used to apply treatment chemicals if the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency eventually imposes a phosphorus limit.
The pond improvements are estimated to cost slightly more than $1 million, including engineering, permitting, and a 30-percent planning contingency.
Heikkila also outlined approximately $1 million in existing and future improvements to the city’s wastewater collection system.
Camera inspection of sewer lines in the northwest portion of the city found six locations requiring spot repairs and three leaking manholes. The work also will include installation of new sanitary sewer pipe and lining existing pipes where appropriate. The project has been bid and awarded, with construction expected to begin in late August or early September.
Funding includes a $150,000 St. Louis County Community Development Block Grant, a $150,000 IRRR grant, and approximately $150,000 from city sewer reserves.
Heikkila said Bolton & Menk expects to bring the council a proposal for citywide smoke testing, potentially in August, to identify locations where stormwater is entering the sanitary sewer system. The firm also is considering an inspection program covering approximately 300 sump pump connections. Improperly connected sump pumps can increase pumping and treatment costs by sending rainwater into the wastewater system.
Heikkila estimated smoke testing could cost approximately $20,000, while a complete sump pump inspection program could take a year.
The combined planning estimate for the pond and collection-system work is approximately $2 million.
When the facility plan was prepared, the city had secured slightly more than $600,000 toward the improvements. Without additional assistance, the average sewer customer’s bill was projected to increase by approximately $17 per month.
Cook subsequently received another $1.5 million for wastewater improvements through the state bonding bill. Graupman said that money could eliminate the projected rate increase, although the city’s final financing plan has not been determined.
“So if that was roughly $6 decrease on $500,000, you have an extra million, your net increase with all of that funding applied to this project would be net nothing,” Graupman said.
The city could reserve some of the funding for another infrastructure project if doing so would improve its eligibility for additional state assistance.
The tentative schedule calls for the council to authorize design work in August, followed by state review during the winter, bidding in spring 2027, and construction during summer 2027.

CEDA buys bank
Cook Economic Development Authority President Char Conger reported that CEDA had completed its purchase of the former First National Bank building from Park State Bank. Members plan to tour the building and consider selling it for redevelopment or leasing it to a business.
Conger said CEDA also plans to seek public input about desired businesses and services, including a restaurant and child care.

Other Business
In other business, the council:
• Heard from council member Ron Bushbaum that all eight city-developed lots in the Eldien Addition are now on the market and that the first lot has been sold. Buyers have 18 months to build before the city can exercise an option to repurchase a lot at half the original sale price.
• Added a tenth pay grade for the future city administrator-clerk-treasurer and approved revised job descriptions. The administrator description reduces the requested municipal experience from five years to three, while the city is exploring outside assistance from North Shore HR Consulting to recruit and evaluate candidates.
• Eliminated the community center’s Sunday hours of 5 to 8 p.m. and shifted those three hours to Thursday, extending Thursday daytime hours from 9 a.m. to noon to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Manick said Sunday evening use has been minimal, while visitors frequently remain until Thursday’s noon closing. Other operating hours will remain unchanged.
• Discussed using the community center during dangerous heat or wildfire smoke and as a potential evacuation site. The discussion followed heavy use of the Cook Public Library during recent heat and smoke, including a reported 76 visitors on one smoky Thursday. The community center is already on St. Louis County’s list of potential emergency facilities, and no formal action was needed.
• Heard from CEDA consultant Shaun Hainey that the long-running project to consolidate and reorganize Cook’s ordinances is nearing completion. Following final review and council approval, the ordinances will be available online in searchable PDF documents. The council is expected to consider adopting them at an Aug. 5 special meeting.
• Heard Linda Manick criticize the maintenance department for failing to mow the grounds around the baseball fields before tournaments that evening and the following evening. She said Mayor Dan Manick had to mow one field with his own lawnmower before the maintenance supervisor arrived to complete the work. The mayor attributed the situation to a miscommunication.
• Endorsed in concept a Friends of the Parks proposal to build a pergola or similar shade structure over the accessible picnic table at Veterans Riverfront Park, subject to Parks and Recreation Committee review.
• Heard that the Blight Committee is exploring the possible hiring of a blight enforcement officer and will investigate the cost.
• Scheduled a special budget workshop for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the former First National Bank building to discuss water, sewer, streets, alleys, and the city fee structure.