Les Grumdahl clear-cut stirs controversy in Duluth Township

Go, John, go!

These people’s behavior is unacceptable! Dishonest and disrespectful.

Thank you for your work, John.

Yet another great story. Go John!

This story is made for you, John! Keep at it for all of us who are disgusted with the Grumdahls’ flaunting of integral community standards.

It’s interesting that online, they have enlisted folks to dispute that the Grumdahls own this property. While they may not technically own it because it is owned by the LLC, they most certainly have a beneficial ownership interest in the property/LLC.

Just adds to all of the Les Grumdahl stories I have heard through the years.

“He drove straight at Ramos, forcing Ramos to scramble back into the ditch. The truck was driven by Les Grumdahl himself.” Was he trying to hit you with his vehicle? Do you plan to press charges?

I hope nobody ever hires these wanna-be gangsters again. Really ridiculous and dangerous behavior. Big Mr. Tough Man driving his business truck at a reporter. Not to mention the trees! Rotten on SO many levels. Boycott.

John,
I am so glad you are so light on your feet that you were able to avoid becoming a statistic. Take care and keep up the good reporting!

He should be fined and required to replant trees. I don’t see Planning and Zoning requiring him to take down his building, although that would be amazingly appropriate. Yesterday was the first time I saw the clear-cutting and my comment to my husband was, “This is the first step to a commercial strip from Duluth to Two Harbors.” He mentioned the furniture store being the first step, and he is correct.

I’d like to add that the timber cutting near Knife River was to be done with buffers and leaving some tree species. At least there was a buffer left next to the river and residences. But anyone with a home bordering these clear-cuttings have a good legal case against the loss of vegetation. This impacts far more than the acreage itself. Homes exposed to the highway and the noise levels not blocked by the vegetation lose most of the value they had originally. I would encourage anyone making decisions about land around Scenic Drive and the Expressway to make commitments to prevent a commercial strip to ever get a foothold and to create tough ordinances.

Thank you for writing this story, John! I live two doors down and nobody came for my opinion on the building of this terrible building. I think the commission got this wrong in 2018. This is zoned shoreline mixed-use property that should only be used for residential or recreational use. With that clear-cut, they took millions off of the home values of everyone around. Our entire community uses that section of road for walking, skiing, socializing. Not once have they turned off their lights as required by the permit either, and they clear-cut this in 2 or 3 days because they knew they would be stopped. I wish I could have sent you the light pollution photos I have prior to publishing. If the Planning Commission doesn’t revoke their permit, I am going to have to move. My family has been on my property since the 1800s. Terrible, inconsiderate neighbors and bullies. What a nightmare as a neighbor.

John, I want to thank you for writing this story and I hope you continue to follow this one. I am the resident that directly neighbors this property of Grumdahl’s. I have been completely devastated by this company’s actions and lack of consideration for the neighbors and the community. Clear-cutting the trees right up to my property line with no buffer was in complete violation of the Conditional Use Permit, let alone of the flagrant disregard for following proper setbacks and buffers for the stream and roads, which are required. I am now exposed to light and sound pollution from this business as there are no longer any trees blocking their property from mine.

I also have real safety concerns for the community as this business has a shooting range on the property, which is pointed in direct line to my adjacent property–again, no trees between the range and my property. This has all been mentioned to the Planning Director and at this point I have been told I have to wait for any actions to take place. It seems that any mention of these issues is followed up by, “We are looking into it and have to allow them to fix the problems.” None of this should have occurred in the first place and when they were approached all cutting should have been halted immediately. This is a major failure on part of the Township Board and Planning Commission.

At this point, I have little faith anything will happen. This business will continue to get away with whatever they want–a continuation of what has already occurred. No one wanted this business in this location back in 2018 and for sure the community no longer wants them there now. Nothing less than the revocation of the Conditional Use Permit is going to rectify this situation, as they will continue to do what they want now and in the future.