ELY- After 43 years of service, Public Works Foreman Mike Popesh, a long-time city of Ely employee, retired last week. He began work with the city at the end of 1980, according to Mayor Heidi Omerza.
The mayor gave Popesh a plaque in commemoration of his service during the Ely City Council meeting on Tuesday evening. “We sure appreciate all of your hard work and all that you have been through with us,” said Omerza. “Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement and thank you for your over 43 years of service to the citizens of the city.”

Public hearing
The regular city council meeting was preceded by an informational public hearing on the use of the $1.3 million U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development grant for new construction and renovation of public safety and ambulance facilities in Ely. The grant is split equally between the city and the Ely Area Ambulance Service, or EAAS.
The grant will provide most of the funding for a new city garage to house fire department equipment, the renovation of the EAAS building, and the construction of a new storage building for the EAAS with expanded garage space. The EAAS renovation will use half of the current garage space in its existing building for a meeting room and an ADA bathroom.
The terms of the grant require the city to make multiple paperwork submittals in addition to holding Tuesday’s public hearing. The hearing was for the residents of Ely, Winton, Morse, Fall Lake, Stoney River, and the unincorporated portions of St. Louis County covered by the EAAS’s 1,500 square mile service area.
The first planning phase of the grant is already complete. The second phase, which is now starting, includes holding the informational public hearing and preparing the bid package for the construction work.
Most of the public hearing involved the Ely Clerk-Treasurer, Harold Langowski, explaining the detailed plans for the renovation and new buildings. “(Our) the intent is to get the bid package together over the winter months,” Langowski said, “so we can have a contractor in place in the spring so construction can start.” The plans for the new buildings and the renovation are available in the public hearing pdf on the city’s website.
Two citizens testified at the hearing. Michael Smith of Ely stated his support for the projects. Ely resident Larry Polyner stated his objections to the projects as presented.
“I believe it is extremely irresponsible to build another building (for the EAAS) when you could store everything in the garage you already have with no problem.” Polyner remarked that the planned meeting room in the EAAS building was unnecessary. He pointed out that a meeting space already existed at the Fall Lake “joint facility on the east side of town,” which is available for use by groups like the EAAS.
In other business, the city council:
• Approved making the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. at the Winton Community Center a special meeting of the Ely City Council. This is required by Minnesota law so city council members can attend.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee that the city council support the efforts of the HRA in partnering with Minnesota Housing Partnership.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee to submit the Culture and Tourism Grant for the completion of the pocket park at the Ott property.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee to pass a resolution supporting application for a trail groomer for the Tomahawk Trail.
• Approved a resolution supporting a grant application to the Minnesota DNR’s Federal Recreational Trail Program to purchase a snowmobile for grooming.
• Approved supporting an application to the DNR Federal Recreation Trail Program for funds to build additional mountain bike trails.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee to table an invoice from Mesabi Bituminous for $10,360 until it can be reviewed. “This invoice should have been sent to the general contractor,” said Langowski, which was for the 2022 grading and repaving of streets in the Spaulding neighborhood. Mesabi Bituminous was a subcontractor on the project.
• Heard the report of Fire Chief Dave Marshall that for the third month in a row, Ely has not suffered any fires. Despite last year’s record number of carbon monoxide calls, the FD has only had one such call recently in the fall. He cautioned that this situation could change with the current cold snap.
• Heard the report of Police Chief Chad Houde, who presented the 2023 incidents statistics for his department. Those statistics are available in the city council agenda packet on the city’s website.
• Approved a sign-on bonus agreement for Police Department employees. The agreement sets out the terms of the canoe and equipment recruitment and retention bonus, stating the new employees will agree to stay at least three years working for the department, and if they leave, they will reimburse the city on a prorated basis.
• Approved the mortgage satisfaction for Derek Jensen for his residential rehabilitation loan
• Approved the purchase agreement for Lot 1, Block 1, East Spaulding First Addition between Isaac Olson and Sonya Olson and the city of Ely.
• Approved the purchase agreement for Lot 6, Block 4, East Spaulding First Addition between Gregory Paul Demarce and the city of Ely.
• Approved the purchase agreement for Lot 8, Block 1, East Spaulding First Addition between Kevin Fred Decker and Debbie Lynn Decker and the city of Ely.
• Approved the city of Ely and the Ely Utilities Commission claims for payment for Jan. 16 for $410,710.
• Approved change order No. 2, decreasing the contract amount by $106,785 and the final pay estimate No. 6 for $10,892 to Utility Systems of America for the 2022 street improvements/ Spaulding phase III project. Langowski explained that this was to account for using fewer materials than the project conservatively budgeted for, and that such adjustments were routine. “When you use less, you pay for less,” Langowski remarked.
• Approved providing in-kind services for the 2024 Ely Winter Festival.Designated the Assistant Treasurer as the person to oversee, monitor, accept responsibility, and evaluate the “nonattest/nonaudit services, which include the preparation of the notes to the financial statements to be included in the audit of the city of Ely for the year ending Dec. 31, 2023. This is a routine matter in preparation for the audit of the city’s 2023 finances.
• Approved authorizing a Temporary Deputy Clerk for election purposes.
• Approved establishing an Absentee Ballot Board for the 2024 elections. Langowski reminded everyone at the meeting that absentee balloting will be accepted beginning next week.
• Accepted the resignation of city council member Angela Campbell from the Cemetery Committee in the middle of her tenure in an Ely resident seat with a term expiring Jan.31, 2025.
• Approved providing in-kind services for the 2024 Ely Winter Festival.
• Approved Resolution 2024-007 authorizing the application for the Ely Events group to apply for a raffle permit. This will be for the Rock the Park event in summer 2024.
• Approved Resolution 2024-008 authorizing the application of the Knights of Columbus Council 3238 to conduct bingo.