COOK- A long-anticipated plan to add pickleball courts at the Cook Community Center took a leap forward at last Thursday’s Cook City Council meeting, as members of Friends of the Parks presented a revised design that separates the new courts from the skating rink – a shift made after learning the original all-asphalt concept could compromise winter ice and court durability.
Jeannie Taylor and Carrolle Wood of Friends of the Parks walked the council through the changes, which emerged after nearly a year and a half of community-driven fundraising and planning.
“We had originally gotten approval from the past council,” Wood explained. “But after dealing with the companies that do the painting and everyone else, they said no, you do not want to have ice on top of your pickleball courts.”
The original idea had been to dual-purpose the existing rink space – pickleball in the summer, ice skating in the winter. But the plan was scrapped when contractors warned that paving under the rink would cause heat retention and rapid thawing.
The updated layout splits the space into distinct zones: three asphalt pickleball courts, a downsized rink, and a smaller basketball area.
“We have room for three pickleball courts sideways on the far end towards the road,” Wood said, pointing to the revised map submitted to the council. “This will be 100’ by 85’. This will be rink. And this will be basketball hoops and a walkway to get in here.”
The redesign also opens the door for improvements in durability and maintenance. The new rink boards will use long-lasting poly materials instead of plywood, and the smaller size means less water, less labor, and better ice retention. The labor for the rink boards will be provided by the Carpenters Training Institute. Mesabi Bituminous will handle the major construction of the rink and pickleball courts.
Friends of the Parks has been driving a very active and successful fundraising effort, organizing raffles, benefit events, and donation drives to support the project. In addition to a $20,000 IRRR grant and a variety of in-kind contributions, the group has secured commitments of $1,000 or more from nearly 20 individuals and businesses, who will be recognized on a donor sign at the facility. “That’s been a big boost for our fundraising,” Wood said.
Council members expressed support and passed two motions, one authorizing construction to begin, and a second to establish a temporary construction access off 3rd Ave. SE. The goal is to avoid damage to sidewalks and parking and to reduce hazards from heavy equipment during peak activity in the adjoining ballfields and playground.
Despite the practical challenges, Wood said the team is proud of how far the effort has come.
“This has been a huge undertaking for us,” she said. “I am very proud of us and very proud of this community for the pitching in that they’ve done, the money they’ve helped us raise. I think that Cook can be really proud of this when it’s done.”
Library update
As Cook continues to wait for word from FEMA on whether funding will be approved to rebuild the flood-damaged public library, Library Director Crystal Whitney reviewed a more immediate plan for phased temporary interior repairs to get the facility back into full use.
Whitney told the council that Friends of the Library met with an electrician and others to lay out a practical course of action.
“Priority one is getting that main library and bathroom fixed,” she said. “Second priority would be the meeting room, and the last priority would be the staff and storage rooms.”
The proposal includes replacing lost electrical service, updating damaged wall coverings with water-resistant materials, and installing new carpet. In place of drywall, which had to be torn out after last year’s flood, Whitney said they were considering corrugated metal panels and wainscoting, which would be easier to install and less susceptible to water damage.
Council member Jesse Scofield raised a potential code concern.
“I’m pretty positive you’re going to have to put Sheetrock on for fireproofing because it’s a commercial building,” he said, suggesting it could still be paired with decorative coverings. Whitney acknowledged the comment and said she’d follow up with the appropriate inspectors.
The plan relies on the availability of a local contractor who has agreed to take on the work as time allows.
“He’s really busy, but I think if we have everything and have it ready, if he has a rain day or a day that he can’t do something, I think we can get him to kind of sneak in a day here and there to get it done,” Whitney said.
There was also discussion about updating the electrical layout to prevent future damage.
“We lost a whole strip under our windows, so we don’t ever want to put electrical that low ever again,” she noted.
While the total project cost isn’t finalized, Whitney gave a rough estimate of $32,000 to $34,000 for the main room, ADA-accessible bathroom, and meeting space. Council members didn’t vote on the proposal, but no objections were raised, and several expressed appreciation for the library’s effort to move forward even as FEMA funding remains in limbo.
“This is our temporary solution for now to get us back to open and running,” Whitney said. “There’s obviously discussions about what happens next, but I think this needs to happen now.”
In other business, the council:
• Heard a presentation about services provided for small communities by Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). Vice-president Hillary Tweed introduced the organization and described an upcoming “first impressions” report on Cook. No action was taken.
• Voted to allow reuse of Main Street flower pots, and approved the volunteer-led beautification project at no cost to the city.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for Northwoods Friends of the Arts. The license covers a June 28 concert featuring Monroe Crossing at the community center.
• Discussed the city’s updated emergency operations plan. Council members were asked to review highlighted changes ahead of a May committee meeting.
• Reviewed a list of open and closed grants, noting the city currently has nearly 25 active.
• Received an update on the city’s online utility payment portal. Low registration, only 30 of around 300 eligible, was noted, and a 99-cent transaction fee was identified as a barrier for some.
• Formed a city finance committee. Mayor Dan Manick and council member Jody Bixby will serve on the new two-member group.
• Approved a construction contract for airport improvements. The contract with Mesabi Bituminous is contingent on state grant funding. They also approved a related engineering contract with SEH after thorough examination of the financials and a phone consultation with SEH.
• Heard from the blight committee on property cleanup. Progress is being made with some residents, and cleanup days are scheduled for May 16–17.
• Discussed cannabis ordinance development. A draft is expected to be ready for the May meeting.
• Approved JPJ to prepare bids for road work for the Eldien housing development. Council also discussed potential utility access easements.
• Voted not to pursue a ZEF Energy grant for a vehicle charging station. Council members agreed it’s not a priority at this time.
• Noted low public response to the economic development council application. Council hopes to receive more applications before forming the group.