ELY- The Ely City Council approved its first license application for the retailing of “on sale” cannabinoids, to Ely’s Historic State Theater. An “on sale” license permits a business to sell edible cannabinoid products for consumption on the business premises. All other cannabinoid license applications in Ely have been for “off sale” retail, where a customer purchases cannabinoid edibles for consumption elsewhere.
To date, Ely approved its first three “off sale” cannabinoid license applications at its May 16 meeting. The council approved three more “off sale” applications at this most recent meeting. The businesses with approved “off sale” applications include Chapman Street Books and Prairie Fire Tobacco, Lucky Seven General Store, Tamarack Enterprises, Jesse Brooks Massage, Voyageur Short Stop, and Mitska’s Market.

Fire danger
Superior National Forest Kawishiwi District Ranger Aaron Kania gave an update to the Ely City Council on the regional fire conditions. Though recent rain has momentarily mitigated the extreme fire hazard, Kania cautioned that conditions will not improve without significant changes in forest moisture and a reduction of fuels.
“Despite shots of rain,” Kania remarked, “the dryness is getting drier. The (potential) fires out there are just waiting for the right conditions.”
He urged the public to consult fire conditions through publicly available sources (e.g. the daily fire conditions and restrictions maps at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html). The regional fire danger was the subject of the recent articles in the June 2 edition of the Timberjay.

Upcoming meetings
The city council voted to move the July 4 meeting date to July 11.
The council also voted to make the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers Board (EAAJPB) meeting on June 12 a special meeting of the city council. The EAAJPB meeting will be at the Winton Community Center at 4 p.m. The special meeting status is a legal requirement to comply with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law if the city council members choose to attend.
The EAAJPB meeting will discuss the just-received assessment from TDKA on the projected costs for renovating the building purchased for the Ely Area Ambulance Service last year. The amount exceeds the amount of federal funding allocated for the project, according to Harold Langowski, Ely’s City Clerk and Treasurer.

Other business
In other businss, the council:
• Heard a presentation by Bradley Roy of the Ely Police Department on the Northland Alert emergency alert system for Ely. This will be the subject of a separate article in the June 16 edition of the Timberjay.
• Heard a presentation by Todd Burlet, president of Starry Skies North, on the potential of aurora and dark sky tourism to augment the tourism and hospitality businesses in the Ely area. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is currently the largest international dark sky sanctuary in the world.
• Modified and then approved a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission to investigate the need for more handicap parking spaces at Whiteside Park.
• Approved a recommendation from the Ely Utility Commission (EUC) to proceed with work on the grant application for the Burntside Waterline Project.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to send the commissioners and staff to attend the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association summer conference in Duluth on August 21-23.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to approve payment of its April bills for $756,335.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to approve payment to AMPTEK for $1,659 for the Waste Water Treatment Facility.
• Heard a report from Langowski on the situation with lead testing at the delivery end of Ely’s domestic water supply. The delivery-end testing happens every three years. This subject is covered in more detail in the April 21 edition and today’s edition of the Timberjay.
• Heard a report by Ely Police Chief Chad Houde about vandalism over the weekend in Ely, which is the subject of separate coverage in this issue of the Timberjay.
• Approved a quit claim deed for James Marzella for the Lot 2 Block 3 East Spaulding property.
• Approved a purchase agreement for Lot 7 Block 1 in East Spaulding First Addition, between Kevin Richards and the City of Ely.
• Approved City of Ely and EUC claims for June 6 for $420,126, Burntside Ridge Trail Association 2023 Road Dues of $200, and pay estimate No. 14 for the Waste Water Treatment Facility Improvements Project to Rice Lake Construction for $101,090.
• Approved the second reading of Ordinance 370, amending Chapter 2, Section 2.57, which makes the Assistant Police Chief a member of the Police Civil Service Commission.
• Approved the residential waste disposal contract for four years with G-Men.
• Approved a listing contract agreement exclusive right to sell for Keller Williams Classic Realty NW and Brokerage Disclosures for 2211 Sibley Drive. This is a property being sold by the city that was not previously listed with Keller Williams, which is Ely’s current realtor contractor.
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the AFSCME Local 1490 to add Juneteenth as a paid holiday starting in 2023.
• Approved a request for in-kind services from Young Life for the 4th of July activities in Whiteside Park.
• Approved temporary liquor licenses for the Ely Fire Department Relief Association for July 1, 28, 29, and 30, at Whiteside Park, pending proper paperwork, insurance and fees.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for Boundary Waters Connect for July 2 at Chapman Street Commons/Pocket Park at 115 E. Chapman St. pending proper paperwork, insurance and fees.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for the Ely-Winton Rod and Gun Club for July 8 and 15, at Miners Dry House, 105 Miners Landing Road, pending proper paperwork, insurance and fees.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness for July 2, at Semer’s Beach, pending proper paperwork, insurance and fees.
• After the approval of the four temporary liquor license applications, Mayor Heidi Omerza quipped, “July is a business party month.”