State workers aren’t the only ones feeling the effects of a government shutdown. Numerous private businesses and their employees are being affected as well, including area resorts at the height of the tourism season. Although most resorts notified customers with reservations that they would need to obtain their fishing licenses prior to July 1, some visitors only found out about the shutdown upon their arrival. “We tried to e-mail all of the resorts in the Pelican Lake Resort Association to notify their customers about the shutdown,” said Vanessa Ingebretsen of Aspen Resort. “But some don’t have e-mail and that doesn’t take care of guests who show up on the spur of the moment without a reservation.” Some resorts have told customers they can take their chances and fish without a license. State Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, said he floated the idea of a grace period for out-of-state anglers with Gov. Mark Dayton and Department of Natural Resources officials. Both groups were receptive to the idea, he said. Under Dill’s proposal, anglers would have up to 30 days after the shutdown ends to buy a license without being penalized for fishing without a license. The amnesty, however, would be forfeited if anglers were charged with additional violations such as an overlimit of fish. On Lake Vermilion, the local conservation officer, Dan Starr, has created a form for those seeking to buy licenses. Those filling out the form must swear to send in their license fee once the state is back up and running, but once they do, he’s allowing them to fish ticket-free. “If it wasn’t for Dan Starr, we’d be in serious do-do,” said Mary Lamwers, who operates Forest Lane Resort with her husband Dave. “He’s been wonderful. If it wasn’t for that, all my customers were going to go to Wisconsin. That would have been horrible.” Meanwhile, the Lake of the Woods County Board has suggested that anyone who tries to buy a license during the shutdown document the attempt. Resort owners then would keep a log of people who tried to buy licenses but weren’t successful. “It’s the best we can do,” said Ed Arnesen of Rocky Point Resort. “We can’t guarantee there won’t be any prosecution or that people won’t get ticketed.” Other resort owners are trying different tactics. Bruce Feela, of Norway Point Resort, on Pelican has offered to pay the tickets for guests caught fishing without a license. “They’d rather pay the fine than lose customers,” said Ingebretsen. The closure of state parks and campgrounds has also affected visitation in the area. More than 1,000 reservations to state campgrounds and parks were canceled prior to the July 1 shutdown. Pine Acres has picked up about a half dozen reservations from folks who had planned to stay at state campgrounds, according Elaine Rappel. While she’s glad her Pelican Lake resort is able to accommodate some visitors, she said the shutdown has created a lot of ill will. “One gentleman from Iowa had made his reservations months ago,” she said. “He said he will never book a state park in Minnesota again.” While resort operators hope that anger will dissipate once the shutdown is over, they noted that loss of income would worsen the budget crisis. In addition, resorts will have less income from lodging taxes to promote the area to visitors next year. Other effects Other businesses are being affected by the shutdown, including private contractors which have contracts for state road and bridge projects. KGM Contractors, based in Angora, said the majority of their employees are being hurt by the shutdown. “Out of 130 employees, I would guess about 70 percent have been idled or had their hours cut,” estimated KGM President Karla Abramson. “It’s a real mess.” The reduction in hours will affect employee’s unemployment and health benefits, she noted. July and August are crucial months for construction projects in Minnesota, said Abramson, and delays could add significantly to costs. She also said some subconstractors, who had their contracts suspended, will file claims for damages. Meanwhile, loggers avoided a potential setback after Koochiching County District Judge Chad LeDuc issued a temporary restraining order preventing a suspension of harvesting operations in state forests. Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin is expected to hear a request for an injunction sometime later in the month. Loggers Kit Hasbargen, Keith Hasbargen and Dale Erickson sought the order, arguing that preventing the harvests was a violation of a contract between the state and loggers. Attorney Steve Shermoen, who represented the loggers, said the order would have created an economic hardship for them, noting 40 employees would have been affected just by the three loggers filing the suit. “Statewide, there were thousands of jobs at stake,” said Shermoen. The attorney general’s attorneys argued that the shutdown will not allow the Department of Natural Resources to monitor the harvests to ensure rules and regulations are followed.