ELY – Given a third chance in as many meetings, the city council here declined to support a resolution disavowing boycotts designed to harm local businesses opposed to sulfide-based copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters. At the same time, the council passed a compromise resolution calling for tolerance for the diversity of viewpoints on the issue among city residents.
Ely Mayor Chuck Novak recently called for a boycott of Fortune Bay Resort Casino near Tower, after the Bois Forte Band joined other members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in supporting legislation to withdraw mineral leasing across 234,000 acres of the Superior National Forest. That proposed withdrawal includes land where Twin Metals says it hopes to build a copper-nickel mine someday.
Ely-area residents and business owners put forward the resolution to oppose the use of boycotts against local businesses. Last month, Ely resident Carol Orban spoke for supporters of the resolution when she implored city council members to take a stand against the incendiary comments. “These are our neighbors, and they have their way of life,” said Orban. “They want their water and hunting, fishing and wild rice grounds protected. They have every right to advocate for their point of view, and I feel (the comments) were unnecessary. Why create more conflict and bad feelings up here?”
After putting off resolution supporters for two meetings on technical objections, the council finally responded on Tuesday night by unanimously adopting a resolution, apparently authored by Novak, that reaffirms the council’s “commitment to the citizens of Ely.”
During the “mayor’s report” portion of the agenda, Novak presented Resolution 2020-009 that called for the city of Ely to reaffirm its commitment to:
• Act with honesty and integrity,
• Promote an inclusive environment for all citizens, and
• Promote respect for others and encourage tolerance for the diverse points of view held by our citizens.
The council adopted the resolution on a 7-0 vote.
Orban’s resolution, 2020-011 was addressed later in the meeting and appeared on the “communications” portion of the agenda among six other correspondence items. It read, “The city of Ely does not support a boycott of the Bois Forte’s Band Fortune Bay Casino or any other business.”
“This item has now been on our agenda for three meetings,” said council member Al Forsman, “and it’s time to put this to rest.”
He noted that any council member who wanted to make a motion on the resolution needed to pull the issue out of the “communications” portion of the agenda so the council could act on it. “I personally do not want to do that,” Forsman said.
He proceeded to address the issue. “We live in a small community that will only survive if we support each other. We are dependent on one another in too many ways. There is no way I could endorse, support or boycott any business in our community or a neighboring community,” said Forsman. “A vote against this resolution or a failure to bring this up might not appear to support that ideal, but there is much more to it than appears on the surface. This resolution was forced upon this council. This was an attempt at causing division and anger in an effort to create a media firestorm. It amazes me how groups like this will regularly tout inclusiveness and respect while they twist other’s words without a thought to the damage those statements would have. I will not be a pawn to those who create controversy to try to make themselves appear to be the righteous ones. We do not need this resolution. Those that know us know who we are. That is the last (time) I will discuss this resolution.”
Council member Paul Kess said the intent of Orban’s resolution was covered in the “reaffirmation” resolution passed earlier in the meeting.
The other council members, Heidi Omerza, Ryan Callen, Angela Campbell and Jerome Debeltz, agreed with Forsman’s comments. No action was taken on the resolution.
Other business
In other business, the council:
• Approved the mayor’s proclamation and declaration of emergency in reference to the coronavirus (the city of Ely’s COVID-19 action plan is detailed in a separate story on Page 9).
• Heard from Sanitation Committee member Mauro Caruso on the group’s ongoing development of a revised garbage pick-up contract for residential and commercial entities. All city committee meetings are on hold because of COVID-19 precautions.
• Awarded bids for the James Street renovation project to Utility Systems of America, Inc. for $961,086.05.
Awarded the bid for the clearing of the Burntside right-of-way project to L. Murphy Construction for $17,760.
• Accepted the bid from McDonald and Mack to complete the construction design for the Pioneer Mine retaining wall project for $16,800.
• Canceled the March meeting of the Ely Economic Development Authority due to the coronavirus virus.
• Approved the appointment of Morgan Sauls to the city Parks and Recreation Board.