Last Call at City Hall

Grand Marais City Council

December 20, 2006 saw the last city council meeting with Mark Sandbo as mayor and Bob Spry as council member. This meeting was notable for its lack of controversy, a relatively unusual situation in past years in Grand Marais city politics.

On the plus side of the Sandbo and Spry terms, there were some basic improvements in Grand Marais infrastructure and the city did set aside a clear opportunity for people to address the city council prior to council meetings – albeit, after much very justifiable criticism on the part of the public and reluctance and foot dragging on the part of these two departing politicians.

Their critics can muster a long list on the minus side. They can rightly say the city suffered greatly because of their penchant for the politics of divisiveness, and their insulting and boorish attitude toward those they disagreed with. Their blatant cronyism, and disregard for the will of the people in terms of downtown and harbor development, brought them and the city much unwelcome, but justifiable criticism. The general bad taste for city politics they left in the mouths of most of the citizens may linger.

On balance, most would agree that Sandbo’s was a failed administration that left lasting damage. It is visible damage in terms of the condominiums they twisted the rules to build in downtown Grand Marais, and spiritual damage in terms of the acrimony that came to characterize their time in office.

Many will say they served in difficult roles during difficult times, and that should be acknowledged. Anyone who serves in office, elected or appointed, Sandbo and Spry included, deserves appreciation for taking on what most feel now-a-days is a thankless task. But, in their case, let us also remember that those difficult times were of their own making and that even the genteel corruption of cronyism and special treatment for friends is still corruption.

There is confidence the damage done during those years can be repaired and that we are in for better and more civil discourse and fair and equal treatment for everyone who has business with the city.

John Haluska