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Ely Joint Powers Economic Board to host legislators in December

Keith Vandervort
Posted 9/18/20

ELY – With just three of five representatives present, the Ely Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board could not take formal action last week, and instead held a brief discussion …

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Ely Joint Powers Economic Board to host legislators in December

Posted

ELY – With just three of five representatives present, the Ely Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board could not take formal action last week, and instead held a brief discussion about their annual Legislative Meeting later this year before adjoining.
Officials from the cities of Ely and Winton, along with a representative from the ISD 696 school board were present at the meeting Thursday night at Ely City Hall, but officials from the townships from Morse and Fall Lake were not heard from about attending the organization’s first meeting of the year.
The Joint Powers Board by-laws require all members to attend and vote on any action.
Despite the absence of the township representatives, board members Chuck Novak, mayor of Ely, Anne Jackson, Winton city clerk, and Tom Omerza, Ely school board member, directed the Joint Powers Board recording secretary to begin making inquiries into conducting the annual Legislative Meeting on the first Monday of December.
“If you still want to conduct the annual gathering later this year, this is the time we should start doing the legwork for the event,” said Joint Powers Board secretary Tom Coombe. “I just need some direction on what I should do.”
The annual Legislative Meeting has been held in early December for many years and was well attended by federal, state, county and local lawmakers or their representatives. The luncheon meeting event provided a forum for the discussion of local issues important to the Ely area. The public was invited to discuss a variety of issues with politicians.
Public health concerns due to the coronavirus could change the format of the meeting this year, which usually included a buffet meal at the Grand Ely Lodge and a crowded meeting room.
Representatives of Minnesota’s two senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Rep. Pete Stauber, State Sen. Tom Bakk, State Rep. Rob Ecklund, and St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald typically attend the event.
Coombe was asked to initially contact the lawmakers to schedule the event for Monday, Dec. 7. He was also directed to contact the Grand Ely Lodge to inquire about accommodations for the meeting, with social distancing requirements in mind, and what, if any, meal options are available.
“We could all sit six feet apart,” Novak said.
“And there is more room at the GEL as opposed to here in City Hall,” Coombe added.
Jackson noted that any meal service would need to adhere to COVID-19 and public health protocols. “We can’t do a buffet and have everybody handling the utensils,” she said. “It would have to be something plated or wrapped.” Soup may not be available this year.
If the Legislative Meeting is held this year, dues will be assessed to the Joint Powers Board members.
The Joint Powers Board scheduled another meeting for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Ely City Hall.