Council backs bridge naming for Tim Kotzian, late city clerk Kotzian

TOWER— The Hwy. 169 bridge over the East Two River at the entrance to the city harbor here, may soon be named in honor of Tower’s former city clerk-treasurer, Tim Kotzian.
Timothy Lee Kotzian, who died earlier this year at the age of 77, was heralded during brief public comments at the Tower City Council meeting on Monday, as family and friends, including Ida Rukavina and Rep. Roger Skraba noted the critical role he played in attracting funding for the redevelopment of the harbor and providing the vision for a major development project that is finally underway.
“It was totally Tim’s idea,” said former city clerk-treasurer Ann Lamppa, who assumed the top city post after Kotzian suffered a series of strokes in 2011. Lamppa spoke to the Timberjay earlier this week and recalled how Kotzian had quietly lobbied council members for some time before he convinced the council to begin advancing the project in 2005. Once authorized, Kotzian wrote numerous state and federal grants to bring in the funding to make his vision a reality. That funding came from a mix of sources, including Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and a federal earmark pushed by Rep. Jim Oberstar. Kotzian, who grew up in Tower and maintained close ties to many Iron Range politicians throughout his career, was instrumental in bringing much of that funding to the project.
The harbor became the city’s most significant and longstanding development effort, which has now taken more than two decades to complete. The city had experienced a series of false starts on development concepts before the city’s economic development authority finally reached an agreement for the project currently under construction.
The bridge project, which was essential to re-establishing harbor access to Lake Vermilion, was completed in 2011.
A resolution supporting the bridge naming noted that “the Harbor project that we see today would not be where it is without the vision and dedication of City Clerk Kotzian.”
Council member Bob Anderson introduced the proposal but needed to do little convincing as he found the council fully in support of the plan. The naming will require passage of a resolution by the Legislature next year, but Skraba said both he and Sen. Grant Hauschild are supportive of the idea. He said Hauschild had other commitments or he would have been present at Monday’s meeting.
If ultimately approved, the renaming won’t impose any costs on the city since Kotzian’s family would be responsible for any signage associated with the honor.
Frustration over change orders
In other business, the council gave its reluctant and tentative approval to a series of confusing change orders associated with the water and sewer extension to the harbor and Marjo RE development along the East Two riverfront. Both change orders, which totaled $125,000, stemmed from the failure of the project’s engineers to include electrical service for the two lift stations included in the infrastructure project. That left councilors wondering who would be stuck with the additional costs, which had not been included in the project budget.
Councilor Bob Anderson questioned whether the engineers would offer a discount on their services given the oversight. “How do you make an agreement for services and then, like, walk away scot-free for any mistakes or omissions or anything at all? It sounds ridiculous.”
No one on the council disagreed, but council members eventually acknowledged that they had little choice in the matter and gave approval to the changes, pending clarification of several questions and without resolving where the funds would come from.
In other business, the council heard that the planned relocation of city offices to the historic Old Fire Hall, is planned for Oct. 29 and 30. Clerk-treasurer Tammy Mortaloni said she expected it would take two full days to complete the move. The current city hall building is currently on the market for $290,000. The council approved the lease for the new city offices, contingent on the space being ready by the end of the month. The council also gave its blessing to the removal of an underground fuel tank on the city hall property.
In other action, the council:
• Heard that the fire department’s brush rig is back from repairs and that the fireman’s relief association will pay approximately half of the $16,000 bill.
• Approved an increase in the PERA contribution for volunteer firefighters from $1,000 per year to $2,000 per year. Mortaloni noted that the current PERA account is overfunded by more than 500 percent and that it can easily support the substantial increase.
Councilor John Van DeVoort said the increase should help with the department’s current efforts to recruit new members.
• Approved an updated capital aid donation agreement for area township for the purchase of new ambulances. The new two-year agreement keeps the current contribution levels in place.
• Upon the recommendation of Hoodoo Point Campground manager Randy Pratt, approved an increase of $100 in the seasonal camping rate at the campground along with an extra two dollars a night for nightly tent camping.
• Agreed to advertise the availability of the city’s Hoodoo Point Rd. storage building for $700/month, starting in December.
• Approved a resolution to notify delinquent water and sewer customers that they have until November to catch up their accounts or they will be assessed on their property taxes. Delinquent accounts included Vicki Hall, Scott Swanson, and Jordan Gall.
• Approved the appointment of Mortaloni as head election judge, and Terri Joki-Martin, Jolen Mroszak, Shawn Gawboy, and Debby Spicer as election judges for the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
• Approved a IRRR Downtown Redevelopment Program funding request for Northern Lights Salon, which is building a salon and spa on Main Street.