ELY- An Ely City Council vote at its May 16 meeting is sure to cause rejoicing with city residents. With the blessing of Police Chief Chad Houde, the council voted to lift winter-season calendar parking rules two weeks early, a sure sign that it might finally be spring.
In a blitzkrieg meeting of just 36 minutes, the council also approved the first applications for the city’s new cannabinoid dealer licenses. The council also declared the property at 109 W. Conan St. to be blighted, which is the subject of a separate article in this edition of the Timberjay.
The council did hear from both the fire and police departments regarding public safety matters. Houde stated that Ely drivers should be aware that crossing the single white line to pass on the right on streets in the downtown districts is illegal. Houde described “a close call” last week with a car that narrowly missed injuring a minor after attempting to pass on the right across the single white line.
Fire Chief David Marshall remarked that the city has not had any grass or brush fires to date; however, there have already been several grass fires in the communities adjacent to Ely and that residents should be aware of the current hazardous fire conditions. “All of northern Minnesota is under high fire danger right now,” said Marshall. “No open burning is permitted but campfires are still allowed for now.”
Ambulance
The council agenda originally included an item to make the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers Board (EAAJPB) meeting on May 18 a special city council meeting. Such a declaration is a necessity which allows city council members to attend without violating Minnesota’s open meeting law. Mayor Heidi Omerza requested the council strike the item from the agenda because the meeting had been canceled.
Langowski explained that the EAAJPB ad hoc committee tasked with working on a draft lease and scope of work proposal for the ambulance property last year needs a little more time to complete their work and that a new meeting will be rescheduled “in one to two weeks.”
In other matters, the city council:
• Received a proclamation from Mayor Omerza for Oct. 15 to be observed in Ely as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
• Heard from Fire Chief Marshall that former Ely Fire Chief Tom Erchull is retiring from the fire department. At Marshall’s recommendation, the city council will prepare a letter thanking him for his 11 years as chief and his even-longer service as a firefighter.
• Heard from Angela Campbell, the city council representative on the Heritage Preservation Commission, that the commission is working on a potential video and oral history project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ely Memorial High School.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee to direct city staff to develop a price for a turn-around “vacation” on Chandler for the property David Franks is interested in purchasing. A vacation is when a government which owns a street or other right-of-way “vacates” that property and sells it to a private individual or business.
• Approved a recommendation from the Projects Committee to proceed with the environmental work on the city property next to the depot and former rail yard area. The fee for the work is not to exceed $15,000. Council member Paul Kess commented that “it’s good to see this project going forward.” According to the discussion on the matter in the Projects Committee meeting on May 9, this property and the adjacent private property around the former round house and rail yard are areas under active consideration for potential new commercial and recreational development.
• Approved a recommendation from the Tree Board that all future requests to tap trees for sugaring be denied.
• Approved a recommendation to appoint city council member Adam Bisbee as the ad hoc representative of the council to the Tree Board.
• Approved a recommendation to advertise for an open citizen position on the Tree Board.
• Approved a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board to lease the basement of Semer’s Pavilion to Heavy Metal Sports. Bisbee, who also serves as council representative on the Parks and Recreation Board, reminded the council that the fitness business “has leased this in the past” during the summer.
• Approved a recommendation from Parks and Rec to allow Heavy Metal Sports to hold an “Adventure Race” at Semer’s Park on Sept. 2.
• Approved a note and mortgage for $17,000 to remodel the kitchen for the Jasper Company Bakeshop and Roasting Room at 36 W Sheridan St.
• Approved mortgage satisfactions for E. Sheridan Properties LLC for the Ely Folk School at 209 E. Sheridan, and for Tina and Russell Brown for the property at 15 S. 1st Ave. E.
• Approved the first reading to amend a city ordinance (Chapter 2, section 2.57) to add the assistant chief of police to the Police Civil Service Commission.
• Approved City of Ely and Ely Utilities Commission claims for payment for $490,738.
• Approved an invoice for $27,941 to AE2S for the Waste Water Treatment Facility Project.
• Approved the applications for off-sale cannabinoid dealer licenses, contingent on submitting proper paperwork, passing background checks, providing proof of insurance, and paying fees for three businesses: Tamarack Enterprises at 134 W. Sheridan, Chapman Street Books and Prairie Fire Tobacco at 139 E. Chapman, and Lucky Seven General Store at 620 E. Sheridan.