COOK— The need for more housing and the challenges involved in fostering residential growth were hot topics on the city council agenda here last Thursday. It’s a chronic issue that city officials have been hearing about for some time and they made the case for patience even as they pointed to potential progress.
The city has purchased land for new residential development and has extended water and sewer to the site. “It’s shovel-ready,” noted council member Elizabeth Storm following the meeting.
But getting from shovel-ready to new housing ready for occupancy is a process noted city administrator Theresa Martinson. “We need to meet with the HRA and IRRR to determine next steps,” she said. While some cities have been able to create subdivisions and let the private sector build the housing, that hasn’t always been successful in small, rural communities like Cook. Martinson said although the city has seen interest in a single lot from at least one party, it’s not clear that’s enough to justify extending utilities into the site or who would pay for it.
If the city takes on the development process, that can facilitate the effort, but the city still has major questions to answer. “We need to decide on what kind of housing we need,” said Martinson, “and then try to attract a developer.”
“What is the time frame for that?” asked council member Liza Root.
“I would say two years,” responded Storm.
Whether that’s soon enough to satisfy the desire for more housing remains to be seen. A city survey conducted by Root and Storm during Timber Days festivities found that a limited supply of housing was the top issue for both residents and non-residents alike. Of residents who filled out the surveys, 59 percent indicated it was challenging to find housing in the community. Among non-residents, 11 respondents (14 percent of the total) said lack of housing was preventing them from living in Cook.
In the meantime, Martinson said the city tries to stay aware of houses or lots that do go up for sale in the community, which can provide occasional opportunities for those looking to live in Cook or upgrade their housing.

City sale of cannabis?
Under the council forum portion of the meeting, a couple council members expressed an interest in exploring using the recent law legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana as a potential city revenue source. Both Root and council member Jody Bixby suggested it’s an opportunity the city could consider given that the city already has a municipal liquor store.
“There’s a lot of homework that needs to be done,” said Martinson.
Storm, who asked to put the issue on the agenda, said the city needs to know more about its role and how it can or cannot regulate the sale of cannabis products once the new law takes effect on Aug. 1. She suggested at one point a temporary moratorium on the use of cannabis in the city while some of those issues are sorted out, but Mayor Harold Johnston said he doubted the city had authority to prohibit the use of a product the state has deemed as legal. “Perhaps we can regulate how it’s sold,” he said. Storm agreed and suggested she may have misspoke on the issue. The council is likely to revisit the issue in the near future.
In other business, the council:
•Approved several items related to the ongoing airport expansion and maintenance. Airport coordinator Doug McDuff reported that the airport runway is in need of crack sealing and seal coating, which is a major focus of the facility’s capital improvement program, which the council approved as part of last week’s meeting. McDuff said a MnDOT analysis found that the condition of the runway is currently below average, but that the crack sealing and seal coating would put the runway in above average shape. The council approved a contract with SEH totaling $45,200 for its design work and construction administration on the project totaling $60,900. The council also approved the bid from Fahrer Asphalt Sealers totaling $291,242 for the actual runway work. The city’s share of the cost for the $353,142 project will be approximately $17,657, with the FAA picking up 90 percent and MnDOT adding five percent.
The council also approved two invoices from Lake Country Power totaling $14,870 for work and a permit associated with the extension of taxi lanes at the airport, part of an expansion that will make room for nearly a dozen new hangars. The council also approved an invoice totaling $2,000 from Udovich Enterprises for brush cutting and removal at the airport.
•Heard from new HRA director Mike Jugovich, who told the council about the need to do more to promote the Meals on Wheels program in Cook. He said anyone who meets the income guidelines for the program can qualify. “It’s not just an HRA thing,” he said. “We want to get as many people fed as possible. This is a good thing for people who don’t always get fed regularly. It provides good quality food.”
Storm noted that the community has some homeless individuals and she wondered how they might access the program. “We should be able to find a way,” said Jugovich. “Maybe they can get involved with our social worker, who can help them access other services, like housing and medical attention.”
•Discussed how to recognize all the volunteers in the community and tentatively discussed an event in the fall, with food, that would provide a way for the city to offer thanks. The city took some heat at its May council meeting from some city volunteers who complained they felt disrespected at times. “Cook is amazing to have all these organizations,” said Martinson. The council took no final action on the idea.
•Briefly discussed blight letters that were sent out recently to homeowners who aren’t in compliance with the city ordinance. Martinson said some recipients had addressed the issues raised in their letters while others had indicated they need help to comply. “Some of them are elderly and live alone,” said Martinson. “Some are new to the area.”
Martinson said the city has to follow its ordinance but was willing to see what it could do to help those who were struggling to comply. Johnston agreed. “We’re not trying to be punitive. We want to help people.”
•Heard from maintenance director Tim Lilya who recommended retaining JPJ Engineering to consult on replacing any city water service lines containing lead.
•Heard from Matt Litherland who asked for more city assistance with flag displays, noting that many of the local veterans are “getting up there in age.” Martinson suggested he fill out a project request form so the city can more clearly understand what he is requesting.
•Approved a temporary liquor license for Northwoods Friends of the Arts for an Aug. 11 event.
•Discussed beginning to hold work sessions for the 2024 budget. “We started in September last year but would like to start in August this year,” said Martinson.