ELY — The city council here began its June 17 meeting with a moment of silence for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were fatally shot last Saturday at their home in Brooklyn Park.
Hortman was the top DFLer in the Minnesota House and a former House speaker. State Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, were also shot and wounded at their home in Champlin.
“Melissa Hortman was a force to reckon with. She was always polite,” Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza said. “It’s sad when you’re an elected official and you have to think twice about, ‘Am I safe?’ We have a luxury in Ely, being on a council, having very different opinions and knowing at the end of the day we can always get along.”
Omerza said the shootings had made her grateful for Ely and its police department. She also said she felt proud to be an American and to represent Ely.
Close call with pedestrian
Police Chief Chad Houde also spoke during the meeting, reminding drivers that they must always yield to pedestrians at intersections, even if the intersection isn’t marked.
“We had a close call last weekend,” he said.
Houde asked pedestrians to be extra cautious, too. The Ely Police Department has been working on education and enforcement and has asked the State Patrol to be on the lookout as well. He said that despite popular belief, locals are creating many of the issues, not tourists.
In others news, the council:
• Took no action after a hearing on 45 E Boundary St. The home, owned by Jason Gillson and his stepfather, Mark Herman, is considered blight and uninhabitable. The council will take up the issue again at the next city council meeting.
• Heard that the Ely Fire Department in Quarter 1 responded to 75 medical calls, 15 fire calls, and 13 other calls. The board applauded member Mike Muhvich who had 100-percent attendance.
• Accepted the resignation of water/wastewater operator Destin Anderson. Anderson has accepted a job offer from the city of Babbitt.
• Approved archeology work for Fire Hall No. 2 construction project.
• Applied for funds from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for the depot project.
• Applied for IRRR demolition assistance on three properties: a home at 1104 E Chapman St., a home at 254 N 5th Ave., and a garage at 203 E Conan St.
• Authorized TKDA to provide engineering services for a selective city hall renovation project. The project includes stone repair, window replacement, and plaster repair for $49,200.
• Approved the purchase of two charcoal grills to be installed at Whiteside Park near the pavilion.
Approved Eva Sebesta to serve on the Ely Parks and Recreation Board.