Lake Vermilion Real Estate

Although this website is not the place where you seek the latest on trending topics, such as national health care reform, this short National Geographic article and associated graphic is just too eye-popping not to pass along (regardless of your position on the subject).

The information illustrates how the US of A compares to other countries in “cost of health versus life expectancy”.

The most revealing information is within the graphic so be sure click the “enlarge” link or just go here.

Here are a number of items that found their way to the ol’ desktop but did not quite make that final leap to blogdom. Enjoy or not.

The Muskellunge is one of Lake Vermilion’s most sought after game fish. Here are several renditions of the Musky in cartoon form. If you are in the market for a unique fireplace… check out this collection of 15 unique designs. This describes no one I know. Tickle the virtual ivories here. I’m pretty sure all normally constructed people have one of these. I suppose most families could send an appropriate contribution to this website. Left versus Right… a graphic to explain the differences. Americans never see this view from the Canadian side.

Here are 3 items that may make for great but belated holiday man-gifts… a book about knots, a tool to pour liquids when no help is available, and a sink drain you can see through.

And finally… a favorite animated Christmas song.

As noted below, the school district serving the Lake Vermilion area will soon begin a near $80 million dollar project to construct and/or renovate school structures.

The two towns serving Lake Vermilion will see significant changes to their existing facilities. The Town of Cook with have a new K-12 school constructed just west of the town that will serve the Cook/Orr student base. The Town of Tower will have the existing school renovated into an elementary school.

If you are a property owner within the ISD 2142 School District, your property taxes will increase.

The School District has provided a worksheet to estimate the impact on your current property tax rate.

View the informational page here.

(For a quick estimate of your estimated annual property tax impact, skip to Step 3 and type in your Taxable Market Value. This thorough worksheet also provides for additional information regarding the effect the tax increase will have on state tax refunds and your state and federal taxes.)

Voters narrowly approve a plan to reconfigure the ISD 2142 school system. The $78.8 million dollar project passed on a 52% to 48% margin. The School District website has the preliminary vote numbers.

Vote Tomorrow!

The public school system that surrounds Lake Vermilion is St. Louis County Independent School District 2142.

This large and widely dispersed district is confronted with a persistent and growing problem… decreasing enrollment.

The ISD 2142 School Board has wrestled with this issue of decreasing resources for several years but tomorrow a recommended solution to the problem will be put to the voter. It’s a controversial situation with a broad range of factors requiring consideration.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer and universal agreement to “a best solution” is not possible.

There is no reason to be uninformed about the Board’s suggested solution and associated Special Bond Referendum. There is plenty of information available online… Minnesota Public Radio has an excellent summary (including helpful graphics), ISD 2142 has complete details of the current proposal, local newspaper, The Timberjay, has numerous articles on the Referendum.

Exercise your democratic privilege and vote. The polls will be open tomorrow from 7AM to 8PM.

Vote Tomorrow!

Are you wondering if there is new ice in front of your Lake Vermilion cabin? One of these Lake Vermilion webcams might help you stay informed about the status of the 2009 freeze-up.

It looks like it’s gonna be a while before we’re able to walk on the lake.

The unusually warm November has not produced any appreciable ice except in the very smallest bays.

December 1st and no lake ice!

We’re very good at monitoring and recording the “ice-out dates” in the early Spring but, as far as I know, there is no history of “ice-in dates” in early Winter.

So… be patient.

Consistent below freezing temperatures are in the forecast and that means we may still have the opportunity to enjoy 5+ months of frozen lake.

(Also… be sure to review the Department of Natural Resources Ice Safety Information page.)