COOK – Cleanup of the debris from the Brown Building fire is moving forward after a few early setbacks, engineer John Jamnick told the Cook City Council during its regular meeting on Sept. 26.

Jamnick said the strong odor and foaming of water draining into the storm sewer caused a brief delay in the cleanup, but work was moving forward now that those issues had been addressed.

In related action, the city accepted a $46,000 grant from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for commercial demolition to help pay for the cleanup.

The building, which housed the Cook Dollar Barn and Gilley’s Naturals and had eight apartments on the second floor, was destroyed in a June 17 fire. The building was demolished to keep the fire from spreading to other neighboring businesses, and to prevent access to the building’s basement, which was filled with water as a result of efforts to put out the blaze.

The basement will be filled in, Jamnick said, and a new building could be erected at the site. However, because the parcel is in the Cook flood plain, it would have to meet certain requirements.

Councilors also heard an update on the city’s special deer hunt, which began Sept. 14 and is aimed at reducing damage and accidents caused by deer in the city. As of Sept. 26, five adult does and one buck fawn had been taken by hunters. Twenty-four had registered for the special hunt.

Mayor Harold Johnston said he had heard some complaints of arrows stuck in buildings and one instance of a deer gutted and the carcass left on a homeower’s property.

He was also surprised, he said, to learn that one of the hunters was being allowed to use a cross-bow. “That’s too powerful a weapon to be using in the city limits,” said the mayor, who wondered if the city had the right to ban the use of the cross-bow, which was permitted for a handicapped hunter.

City Administrator Theresa Martinson said she believed the city could restrict the use of cross-bows for a special hunt and also noted that there was some confusion over obtaining tags for deer and proper approval by property owners to hunt on their land in the city.

If the city conducts another hunt next year, she said, officials will make attendance at an orientation meeting, where the rules can be explained, mandatory. She added that the city also added a fee of $10 for the privilege of hunting in the city.

The special hunt is limited to bowhunting with a restricted number of hunters allowed to particpate. Hunters could take up to six deer, but five must be does. The hunt continues until Dec. 31.

In other business at the Sept. 26 meeting, councilors:

‰Approved a partial pay estimate of $121,980 to Utility Systems of America in Eveleth for work completed on the city’s wastewater treatment improvements project.

‰Heard from Jamnick that KGM expects to begin a city paving project on Oct. 7. The project was originally slated to start on Sept. 30. He noted that KGM will do one neighborhood at a time to avoid disrupting traffic too much. This will be the initial phase of the project, with the second layer of blacktop to be put on the streets in 2014.

Jamnick encourage homeowners who may want their driveways paved while KGM is in the city for the project to contact the Angora-based contractor for more information. That work would not be done until 2014, he said.

‰Approved putting together a revised master plan for capital improvements at the Cook Airport. Benita Crow of Short, Elliott and Hendrickson Engineering had recently toured the airport and reported that the runway is in good shape. She also commended the airport staff for their upkeep of the grounds at the airport, calling the Cook Airport “one of the finest looking airports in the state.”

‰Agreed to a language in the lease for some renting hangar space at the Cook Airport. The change removes wording that allows the city to deem a lease to be in default if the hangar is not being used for aviation-related purposes.

‰Approved a fire protection services agreement for unorganized townships 62-17 and 63-17.Under the agreement, St. Louis County agrees to pay the Cook Fire Department $14,000 for fire protection for the townships. The payment will be made in two equal installments.

‰Received an email from Douglas Stauffer praising the fires and emergency crews who responded to the Sept. 1 fire at the Vermiion Motel. Stauffer, who was staying at the motel and is a firefighter himself, wrote: “What these men and women did was beyond heroic and they all deserve not only a pat on the back but a hug from all of us.”

‰Decided against enacting an ordinance to ban the sale of synthetic drugs and smoke shops, and instead call on the state Legislature to enact a workable law. Mayor Johnston said trying to create an airtight law to prohibit synthetic drugs was proving to be a challenge for Duluth and Virginia, and didn’t think Cook should spend thousands on legal costs over the issue. “It would be easier if we just legalized marijuana,” he said.

‰Were notified by the Cook Chamber of Commerce that it would not be sponsoring Cook’s Country Christmas this year. The chamber instead will focus its efforts on economic development, according to President Lisa Ojanen. Ojanen said if another organization wishes, it could take over the Cook Country Christmas.

‰Discussed complaints from some city residents about a resident who had chickens and a rooster in the city. The city may adopt an ordinance limiting how many and what kind of livestock can be allowed in city limits.

‰Authorized the city administrator to issue a liquor license to Ricky Holm for the Old Muni providing he meets all requirements and completes the paperwork necessary for the licensure.

‰Approved a gambling permit request for Virgie Hegg Hospice Partners for a raffle.

‰Received the monthly municipal liquor store report. Sales at Last Chance Liquor totaled $201,930 in August, up from $183,248 for the same month in 2012. Year-to-date sales total $1.05 million, up from $1.03 million at the same point last year.