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This morning WELY Radio announced an informational meeting at 7 pm, Sunday, July 19th, at MinnesotaNorth, Ely Vermilion Campus.
We cannot constantly update about the emergency situation surrounding this area or meetings. Please go directly to ElyCommunityResponse and your regular websites and sources for updates.
ElyCommunityResponse has received tremendous coverage from respected news sources. Here are some posts with video clips that have shown up after a Google search.
This morning (Sunday, July 19th), WELY radio has made several hourly announcements about tonight’s special emergency meeting to be held at 7 pm on VCC campus auditorium. As of 12:20 pm, this is what appears on the City of Ely webpage, basically nothing about the meeting. Please listen to WELY radio.
Go to websites and WELY Radio with capacity for ongoing updates
Public Notices website https://www.ely.mn.us/notices
This is a group of concerned community folks who stepped up to IMMEDIATELY and unselfishly facilitate assistance and conversation. Volunteer community members like these often best understand the need for urgent proactive action.
Bureaucratic government often forgets the heart and spirit of community and falls into complacency. Enough of politics. No time for politics (and no more accusing). Please go directly to ElyCommunityResponse posted links for more information about how to help and/or be helped.
We are blessed in this area to have such competent and caring leadership for emergencies like we are experiencing right now: Police, fire, emergency medical systems (EMS ), forest service . . . AND . . . county, state and national organizations.
Here’s a sample of informational meeting ElyCommunityResponse held at Ely City Hall that was posted by WDIO TV. This was a community helping community meeting, “community” also meaning forest service, FireWise, firefighters and local experts from city, county, state and national organizations. When you click https://www.wdio.com/top-stories/watch-ely-community-response-information-session/ two video clips will pop up. The first clip is the short news broadcast. The second clip is the hour long meeting. If the links don’t work for you, please search WDIO website directly.
Disclaimer: Citizens for Transparency and this website were not involved in organizing ElyCommunityResponse. We are just relaying information. They are organic, grassroots and evolving. We cannot keep up with all the awesome activities, of this group including orchestration of informative and useful meetings. Please contact them directly!
Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see how City Hall and/or City web designers have suddenly changed the placement of Public Notices on the City webpages, making it even more difficult for the public to access information in a timely manner, info concerning them with a deadline for them to comment.
Please read the details about these 3 BOA Hearings. Many community members are concerned about all 3 and are planning to speak or have submitted comments. Please inform yourselves. We are all concerned about the fires around Ely and our friends, family members, relatives and colleagues dealing with (potential) evacuations. Despite ongoing community concerns about local fires and evacuations, BOA will not reschedule tomorrow’s meetings. BOA rulings are final unless owner appeals to Council. Citizens cannot appeal.
Get as much information as you can about the BOA Hearings
You may or may not find links to additional documents when you open links on the Public Notices page. Even though there might be maps, photos, and other documents. in the hands of City Hall. There seems to be no standard procedure for what is posted (available via links on the Public Notices webpage). Hmmm
Always check the BOA documents (agenda and documents) posted on the Planning & Zoning Meetings webpage., sometimes a day or 2 before the BOA Hearing. https://www.ely.mn.us/pzmeetings There is usually more background information here, along with City “Staff Analysis” or “Fact Finding.” We are not saying something nefarious is going on. Just BE AWARE more documents exist and may/will be released.
Here’s what the public is given for these 3 BOA’s via Public Notices and P&Z Meetings webpage:
Business violating home occupation standards. No background info or other documents to look at per Public Notices. P&Z post has 18 pages.
Dog boarding 101 pages in Public Notices link. Undated “Staff Analysis.” P&Z post has 134 pages.
“Rooming House” for recovering persons with substance use disorders. 2 sets of documents = 46 pages in Public Notices. P&Z post has 112 pages.
Prepare for the P & Z meeting — after the 3 BOA’s Hearings
5-page packet is at https://www.ely.mn.us/pzmeetings. Only the June 17th draft minutes are attached, no other documents. Check their website and the table inside Council Chambers for any changes or additions to the original agenda.
Very often, topics and discussions at one meeting are continued at subsequent meetings. For more info about “Special Vehicle Ordinance,” read the draft minutes from their June meeting when Adam Bisbee and daughter Olive spoke. For even more information, look at
Special note about City Website Design and Placement Changes
Once again, City Hall and/or City webpage designers are making it more difficult for people to easily access information. All of a sudden, the Public Notices webpage has been buried. It now longer appears as a separate important entry under the Government or Our City webpages.
Our City webpage showing list of topics. Public Notices is not listed here.
Government webpage showing list of topics. Public Notices is not listed here.
If you don’t just automatically click on Our City to see the menu options, you might see Public Noticesas a subpage or subsection of the Public Calendar. Who would ever think of Public Noticesbeing posted (= buried) under the Public Calendar? Who was behind this decision? Who directed the City’s webpage designer to make this change? Is the City webpage designer being guided and supervised? Or does the webpage designer just autonomously decide whatever they want , because it just “feels good” or “looks cute”? Who is the web designer? Was there a job description with a job interview? Was Elon Musk listed as a reference?
Our City webpage showing Public Notices under Public Calendar. Compare this screen with list of topics that appear on a different version of Our City webpage (see above)
Who is going to look here for important official Public Notices?
Why do Public Notices appear here under to the left (buried as a subpage of the Public Calendar) and not at all in the menu for Our City shown above?
Who decides what wording appears in white vs. green on the City webpage? Maybe Emergency Preparedness should be in white letters?
What’s strange about the new design change:
1. Where does it say “Public Notice” on the calendar?
2. Is this a “Public Calendar” (Our City webpage) or a “Public Meeting Calendar” (Government webpage)?
3. Who thinks concerned citizens are going to click and every item on the calendar to find out if there one’s a Public Notice?
This is another version of Government webpage listing the topics. Public Notices is not listed here. It is not even listed under Public Meetings Calendar (nor in white).
Both versions of Government webpage say “Public Meetings Calendar.” Both versions of Our City say “Public Calendar.”
For a variety of reasons, intentionally orchestrated or not, the City has an extremely poor turnout for their Public Hearings. It’s not that nobody is interested. It’s the City expends the least amount of time, energy and money to inform people about the hearings. Citizen input slows the process and interferes with what the City intends to do.
This summer, the City and/or its webpage designer are making it even harder for concerned citizens to learn about meetings, prepare adequately for them, and submit comments. We wrote about upcoming and past 2026 meetings (dates, agendas and documents) suddenly disappearing from the City webpages. See https://elyminnesota.com/blog/2026-council-mtg-info-delayed/ No official explanation has been posted. We’re wondering what else has happened that nobody has noticed, including whoever is supposed to be “supervising” the webpage designer.
The agenda itself is usually vague. The documents in the Council packet are what’s important: attachments submitted by persons requesting to speak, documents submitted by City Staff for their reports, budgets and expenditures, AND the (draft) minutes of EEDA and other committees, boards, commissions and authorities. Concerned citizens and residents need adequate time to read, reflect, share, discuss, and contact City Hall, elected officials, and community experts if they are concerned or have questions. The Mayor made it very clear that people cannot suddenly voice their opinions and facts during the Request to Speak portion of the agenda. People can do this only at the end of Council meetings AFTER Council voted. People have less than 12 hours to read and respond to tonight’s agenda and Council packet.
Since last Friday, July 3rd, we had been looking for the Council agenda and packet to be posted online for tonight’s scheduled Council meeting on Tuesday, July 7th. The meeting had not been cancelled per the Public Calendar. https://www.ely.mn.us/calendar.
We also noticed that the City website was no longer posting information about upcoming or previous documents about all of the 2026 City Council meetings.
An Elyite read an email sent out and called City Hall. Thank you!
The explanation was 2026 Council documents were placed on the 2025 webpage. Because we do not have access to programming, coding, etc. we cannot prove WHEN 2026 Council documents were removed or misplaced — nor who is/was responsible for changes — nor who is accountable for checking the City website.
One person claims they looked at 2025 Council documents when they noticed 2026 were missing and did not find 2026 documents under 2025. We do not have documentation/proof. Again, the truth lies within the coding changes.
The July 7th City Council agenda and 51-page Council packet are now posted online at https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings. There seems to be absolutely no official explanation for the removal and/or displacement of the 2026 Council documents. Hopefully, there will be an official explanation at tonight’s Council meeting AND how this does not violate any Open Meeting Laws.
We ourselves do not have time to review and comment on what’s on the agenda and in the Council packet. Plus, there might be additions and changes presented just before tonight’s meeting that might not be posted online. Check the table inside Council Chambers for documents.
Glance over the documents submitted by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Do you agree with what they are doing? Do Council Members, the Mayor and City Administration agree with the Coalition? Here’s one paragraph to spark your interest in reading more
Glance over the documents submitted by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Do you agree with what they are doing or reporting? Do Council Members, the Mayor and City Administration agree with the Coalition? Here’s one paragraph to spark your interest in reading more.
Look over the (draft) minutes in tonight’s Council packet
Look at last month’s June 16th Council meeting (3 weeks ago). Look over the (draft) minutes submitted by EEDA and other commissions, committies, boards and authorities. There are so many funding and development resolutions approved by Council. Who on Council, the current Mayor, or Commissioners raised questions about community priorities and how these approvals related to essential community needs?
Our 2 local newspapers do not cover all of these items. You have to read the posted documents. Here are some tidbits to get you to read the (draft) minutes; who asked deep questions about community priorities; and who voted on what.
Remember the luxury hotel that once was our Community Center? The liquor license is addressed but not the parking. Note: the City stepped in to supposedly secure parking for the owner instead of the owner acquiring it themselves at their expense.
Remember the luxury hotel that once was our Community Center? The liquor license is addressed but not the parking. Note: the City stepped in to supposedly secure parking for the owner instead of the owner acquiring it themselves at their expense.
The owner keeps changing its name. We’ve posted many times about funding and too rapid approval by Council. Search our website and start with https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-oct-1-2024/. We’ll post later the link to when Planning & Zoning wanted to turn the Senior Center parking lot into a parking lot for the hotel.
There are some tidbits about the Old Train Depot site.
See 4-page agenda for Council meeting (scheduled to start at 5:30 pm) and 97-page packet at https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings. Check inside Council Chambers for last minute changes and additions.
The Telecommunications Authority Board (TAB)
See pages 43-44 in the packet. TAB continues to spend additional monies for entertainment instead of for government awareness and oversight. Apparently TAB is still giving single source contracts to Custom Theaters (Mauro Caruso),
Roman circus activities to distract citizens from government.
TAB’s priority is NOT to provide free 24/7/365 streaming access to City meetings to the public. “Government service” is limited to those who pay a subscriber fee to Midco. Just like people have to subscribe to the Ely Echo to important information, including but not limited to elections.
TAB’s priority to to stream activities via web cameras. Entertainment is the focus. Entertainment for those who like to watch web camera shots, and the viewers are apparently not known. Not a priority: Transparency, accountability, reporting,etc. of elected, hired and appointed folks involved in our community
There’s no priority to observe the Ely recycling area where people continue to dump cardboard boxes, trash, and inappropriate plastic items (not just bags) into the dumpsters. That would be a different kind of awareness building and accountability. Plus save money. It’s expensive having Harold Langowski or other City staff clean out the dumpsters.
Sean Clark submitted resignation, so a seat should be open.
Arrowhead Coalition of Trails June 22nd community meeting
See pdf page 67 in packet for Arrowhead Coalition of Trails June 22nd Community meeting in Ely 5-7 pm. Check with your trail friends or contact the Coalition directly for more info.
It is interesting that the May 30th issue of The Ely Echo had a huge front page article about recent IRRRB funding for ATV trails.
The City of Ely decides which projects Ely “needs.” The Council approves recommendations from Planning & Zoning, Projects, and City Hall (Harold Langowski). It appears there are many key members who intend to turn Ely into an ATV thoroughfare and mecca.
People interested in better walking (sidewalks) trails usable in winter along Minders Drive and elsewhere, as well as hiking and biking within the area should express their opinions too.
See pdf page 67 in packet for Arrowhead Coalition of Trails June 22nd Community meeting in Ely 5-7 pm. Check with your trail friends or contact the Coalition directly for more info. It is interesting that the May 30th issue of The Ely Echo had front page article about recent IRRRB funding for ATV trails.
Ely Area Tourism Bureau update
See pages 68-69 for the Ely Area Tourism Bureau update submitted by Whitney Woods, Marketing Director.
The Public Hearing (not Board of Adjustment) at 5:15 pm
City Hall does not provide details. On the Public Notices website it is listed last rather than at the top. People would have to scroll down to get the most current information. The vague information via both Council Meetings and Public Notices website provide different information. Why can’t BOTH posts say this is a First Reading, include the actual Ordinance changes, and include an explanation/reason for the changes? Why do links for public hearings sometimes include volumes of documentation and opther times nothing?
When you click the link to the actual proposed Ordinance, there is no explanation as to what has changed NOR the reasons driving the changes. Why inform the public BEFORE the hearing?
MN Secretary of State information posted at 6:37 pm, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. This might not be a complete list, as filings are not always immediately posted.
BREAKING NEWS: The reason why you are not seeing updates to the Sec of State’s website is the City of Ely and other cities and townships are not required to immediately forward or post information.
They are to do so as soon as possible. There’s no specified turnaround time. They are required to log in filings. Ely City Hall will have a variety of excuses. Nothing new: Ely City Hall was slow 2 years ago. City Hall knew for ages that the two-week filing period was May 19th -June 2nd and should have planned accordingly. No surprise. Voting and elections should be top priority with appropriate and adequate backup plans, including staffing aware of and able to prioritize election-related activities.
BREAKING NEWS: The City of Ely is not required to post or update its voting and election information (election dates, absentee ballots, filing dates, etc.) online.
We reported 05/17/2026 that outdated 2024 election information was still posted on the Ely City Website two days before filing was to start. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/start-filing-to-run-for-local-city-school-county/. That was a Sunday. It is not known if 2026 info was finally posted the next day Monday, on the first day of filing, or later. And Ely could have just left thre2024 info on its website.
The law requires them to post information inside City Hall and published in the City’s official newspaper (The Ely Echo). That’s it. Ely City Hall does the absolute bare minimum when it comes to democratic (small “d”) government education and outreach. We need to think about how we can change MN State laws in a positive inclusive way, so local governments like Ely are compelled to be more responsive with its website. The excuse will be $$. It’s not about $$. It’s about shifting the priorities and purpose of government back to serving the People.
BREAKING NEWS: Angela Campbell and Adam Bisbee filed for City Council.
We contacted the MN Secretary of State’s Office after 11:30 am on 05/29/2026 regarding State’s laws re: turnaround times and online posting. They checked their website and didn’t have any new candidates showing up for Mayor or City Council. They suggested we contact Ely City Hall directly, even considered walking into the Clerk’s Office to see the logs, or contacting the County Auditor. We called the County Auditor. They received new info today, Friday 05/29/2026, that 2 new candidates filed for City Council (see above) and nobody filed to run against current Mayor Omerza. Angela Campbell confirmed to us that she had filed Thursday morning.
Note: both the Secretary of State’s Office and the St. Louis County Auditor’s Office were helpful, informative, willing to educate about the laws regarding elections, professional and apolitical. As should be expected.
What’s on the MN SOS website?
As of 12 pm on Friday, May 29, 2026:
Current Mayor has filed for re-election or her 3rd term.
The 3 current City Council Members haven’t yet filed for re-election (Al Forsman, Angela Campbell, and Adam Bisbee).
Name search on our website. Sometimes it’s best to just type in the last name in the box on the upper right upper right corner and then press enter. There usually is a YouTube recording to watch.
Here’s an example for our current Mayor Heidi Omerza..
On 11/12/2024 the Mayor targeted Council Member Adam Bisbee and the entire Park & Recreation Board for asking questions about the budget. Uppity citizens, they are not! Al Forsman joined the Mayor. At the next Park & Rec meeting, the Mayor made an unusual appearance seated in public area, making certain they stayed in line. Intimidation!
On 01/04/2025, nobody showed up for a Public Hearing that involved zoning of newly added parcels to the City as well as rezoning of older parcels. Scroll down to “What’s the purpose of a Public Hearing?” (green highlight).
As an teacher, as the Mayor often reminds Council & the public, one would think she’d initiate official City-wide changes to increase citizen awareness and involvement in Public Hearings. Needless to say, she should lead well-thought out, substantial and logical changes to current City Hall practices that produce results. Nothing. She remains dumbfounded.
There’s only a 2-week filing period to file for Mayor & City Council.
Two weeks! May 19 – June 2nd.
The filing dates May 19-June 2nd have been known and posted on MN State website for a long time. Why isn’t this information easily found on local government websites (and school districts for school board elections)? On May 17, 2026 we posted how the 2026 Ely Election websites were still showing data for 2024 elections. Our screen snapshots were taken on May 17, 2026 – not in 2023 – two days before people could start filing for federal, state, county and local offices. See https://elyminnesota.com/blog/start-filing-to-run-for-local-city-school-county/. Incomplete and last minute posting on government and school board websites is a disservice.
Look up Current Filing Info on MN Sec of State Website
The excavation/land alteration and conditional use permit (CUP) Public Hearing scheduled for 5:00 pm is the most upsetting when you read the two (2) letters submitted against it. Please scroll down to read about the 2nd BOA scheduled at 5:15 pm. It will impact downtown Ely.
The first 81 pages encompass the previously posted documents on the City website. Page 82 is an email response from Paul Schurke. Frederica Musgrave submitted an 18-page opposition to permit response (Pages 83-101).
Pages 102-153 (41 pages total) is the City’s official Finding of Facts, basically supporting KK & PI, LLC’s excavation/land alteration and conditional use permit. The City’s Finding of Facts is actually only 9 pages. The other 32 pages are copied pages from City Code and other places that may or may not relate to Sandy Point. And 2025 reports that do not address the impact of KK & PI, LLC excavation/land alteration for the original (April) desire for a private beach club.
For some reason, these last 32 pages were NOT included with the 80-page packet posted online on May 1st, meaning the public does not have adequate time to review and comment. It also does not allow for rebuttal by environmental experts specializing in the protection of wildlife habitat.
Don’t be fooled or distracted by photos added by the City
The City of Ely included token photos of Sandy Point and Bill Tefft’s birding brochure. The newly posted written Finding of Facts and previously posted Staff Analysis are the official documents that downplay any concerns about wildlife habitat and the historical existence and legal rights of the Anishinaabe and Ojibwe who lived here since the 1400’s. Even the Ely Echo acknowledged the settlement of Sandy Point by the Ojibwe in its Ely, Since 1888 (published in 1998).
The City of Ely is blatant in its promotion of this permit request
Photocopying and inserting pages from City, State and other regulatory agencies does not mean they actually address past, present and future issues at Sandy Point in terms of wildlife and recognition of and protection for Anishinabe and Ojibwe history and culture. Everything inserted — carefully selected — to support the City Attorney’s development on Sandy Point and rental business. Sections from the Land Use and Comprehensive Plan to protect natural areas and habitat were intentionally ignored. The Comp Plan also ignores Indigenous rights and settlements.
Page 106 in the BOA packet
Indigenous settlement is still downplayed:
“May have been once used . . . . well over 100 years ago.”
The City’s word choice questioning the settlement of the Ojibwe is an insult to historical fact AND the Anishinaabe. They have been here since the 1400’s.
The City absolutely refuses to recognize birds using the shoreline and land (habitats). The City and KK & PI, LLC only see the parking lot.
Youtube recording of 5/13/2026 Park & Recreation Board meeting wondering what role Park & Rec has and wants to take. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/whats-the-purview-of-park-rec-may-13-2026/
City of Ely’s posted agenda and packet (154 pages) for the 5 pm BOA Public Hearing on May 20, 2026. Read the City “Staff Analysis” and “Finding of Facts” that are blatant support for the City Attorney’s KK & PI, LLC to do whatever they want on Sandy Point. There is another BOA scheduled at 5:15 pm. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/2-boas-may-20-sandy-point-and-sheridan-camp/
Check back soon for additional information and our response to the new CUP request to be decided by Board of Adjustment (BOA) on May 20, 2026: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/. This link will take you to the last post. To find other Recent Posts, scroll down the right-side of the screen. To search posts by topic or key word, use the search box on the right-hand side of screen. To search posts by category, scroll down the left-side of the screen.
The unnoticed 2nd BOA Public Hearing – 6 ft fencing in downtown Ely and setback variance
The other variance request scheduled to start 15 minutes later at 5:15 pm should be of concern to all, residents, nonresidents, and business owners. Do we want an Ely that is walled up and ugly as we drive, bike or walk by businesses, apartments and homes? Ely is supposed to be a welcoming, safe, aesthetically pleasant, and attractive city. The requested variance by Eagle Wolf Development sets the wrong tone for Ely.
Regulations, codes/zoning, and vision plans were established by the Ely community to ensure not only a welcoming atmosphere but also for public safety reasons. Why have laws, regulations and requirements if you don’t follow them. These include setbacks. These include 6 foot high fences. Are property owners buying and redeveloping properties with the full expectation that they will get a variance? Especially in the downtown area? If P&Z and then BOA continue to approve almost all the variances submitted to them, perhaps they should recommend to Council that (1) The profits and desires of businesses, corporations, property owners and real estate owners override previously established community guidelines and/or (2) We don’t need any regulations, codes, etc. Of course, SOME variances might be worthy of approval.
Local elections are just as important as state and national elections. There are many reasons why local elections get less publicity and promotion or education by local governments.
Check back here later for more information about our local 2026 elections for Ely and surrounding communities. For updates on filing, check
What’s the filing info on Ely website?
Here’s “current” filing information for the City of Ely 2026 elections as posted on the official City of Ely website. This is a screenshot taken at 9:19 pm on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Yes, the year posted is for 2024. Filing for Ely City elections starts on Tuesday, May 19, 2026! Two days before federal, state, county and local filing begins.
Why wasn’t 2026 election & filing info posted on the Ely City website back in April 2026?
If you subscribe to the Ely Echo, the City of Ely’s official newspaper, you will see the Notice of filing for the 2026 primary and general election City of Ely, MN on Section 2, Page 4, in their May 19th issue. Apparently, the Echo posted announcements on May 2nd May 9th (2026). Not all citizens in Ely (want to) subscribe to the Ely Echo for financial or political reasons. Maybe less than half. To be in the May 2nd issue of the Echo, City Hall must have been submitted info in April. What’s going on??
Chances are the Ely City Website will not be specific about who’s up for election. You’ll have to go to https://www.ely.mn.us/council and scroll down the page to see when their current term expires. The expiration term date of 12/31/2026, means the seat is up for election this November 2026. That means Mayor Heidi Omerza. That means Council Members Al Forsman, Angela Campbell and Adam Bisbee.
Until the City of Ely posts current information, go to the Secretary of State website.
Look back at posts on our Citizens for Transparency website, you’ll see we addressed issues about appointments too. Here’s from December 2023 when we had just set up the website and were using pages instead of posts. Look on the menu bar for Go See Speak Now! To find the 12/05/2023 original agenda, packet, last minute additions and the approved minutes go to https://www.ely.mn.us/2023-meetings
Most important: Posting of openings for Commissioners whose terms expire the end of January
#13, New Business C: Advertise for Open Committee Seats that the term limits will be expiring or coming due in January 31, 2024. 1) Did you know there were term limits? Do people continually stay on the Commission(s) until some maximum limit? Where is that posted on the official Commission websites, ordinances, or City Charter? 2) Why didn’t City Hall provide a list of those upcoming open (?) positions, sorted by Commission, Committee or Board? Why does Council – or the public – have to search page-by-page, print or write out and then figure who reached their term limit, etc.? 3) Will Council request, indeed demand, an open and fair process to fill those open (??) positions? What are the qualifications, the real ones and not the political ones? Do we really need “experts” and lobbyists or people who think systemically and in the interest of Us the People?4) Will Council address City Hall’s proactive (politely phrased) seeking of a replacement of Commissioner Caruso on Planning and Zoning? Review Part C of the citizens’ recording of P&Z meeting on Nov. 15th. Part C = https://youtu.be/bZLWQTG4xA4 Includes discussions after P&Z meeting was adjourned
P&Z Nov. 15 minutes – Is all this – more length and details – essential? If you have time, compare pages 16-19 in the packet with YouTube recordings listed below. Especially look at 5:23+ time marker on Part A when Council Member Angela Campbell reports. What did she say the citizen requested from Council on Nov 7th? Codes of ethics, standards of conduct, conflict of interest and (finally) open meeting policies. The P&Z meetings only mention open meeting laws. Why didn’t ethics, standards and conflicts make it to the minutes? Why filter or cleanse from the record? This is why meetings need to be recorded and made public. Some individuals within City Hall, Council and Commissions want discussions about ethics, standards of behavior to go away.
If you compare the board members’ backgrounds, skills, knowledge and employment with those on other Ely commissions, you’ll probably notice how the Park & Recreation Board best reflects the whole community. They care about the community they were appointed to represent. They respect each other & are open to questions & different opinions.
Trailhead Building Fiasco
But Park & Recreation (P&R) is being politically punished, precisely because they see themselves as voices of the greater community. Example: “Purview” of Trailhead Building was given to Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). This was a nasty political decision, not a logical one. If you read minutes of Ely City Council, HPC and P&R over past months, a political fight was occurring. Many P&R Members resigned. Note HPC and P&R minutes are submitted to and posted in Council packets. See https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings
Request to Appear 1 – Margaret Egan presented an update on Trailhead Design; later Pam Turnbull joined. Both are co-chairs of the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). Excellent job. Good on-point critiques. However, their presentation could be considered a scandalous expose of EXPENSIVE INAPPROPRIATE design and EXPENSIVE INAPPROPRIATE furnishing of the Trailhead Building.
Design and furnishing were not HPC’s fault. Trailhead lobbyists, developers, designers, and installers did not get adequate input from users (building staff & public customers), because there were no commitments to occupy the building. Great opportunity for profiteers.
Who paid and is paying for the mistakes? Taxpayers, grant funders, and those who pay lodging taxes. We pointed out lack of fiscal due diligence https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-dec-17-2024/. There are also several posts about the luxury Trailhead being built as if is were for billionaires in Jackson Hole Wyoming. See https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-dec-16-2025-lodging-tax-trailhead-commission-appointments/
When the 12 photos are posted online at https://www.ely.mn.us/government look at them while Margaret Egan mentions problems and their recommendations. Rich resort towns like Jackson Hole, WY can finance expensive fancy digital displays that break down and software quickly becomes outdated. We’re Ely. We’re the getaway place, relaxing culture, back to simple nature. We like real maps hanging on the wall. When you hear about all the information to be displayed all over, does it sound like there’s a central theme or purpose? Or just cluttered and junky?
Does it sound like the Trailhead is to be used as a Park & Recreation site or a new Chamber of Commerce Building? What was originally presented to Ely citizens and Council? What was presented when funding was requested? And now what with all the expensive “necessary” changes proposed, what’s the REAL theme or purpose?
HPC’s recommendations mean more taxpayer $$, lodging taxes, and grant $$ pouring into the Trailhead Bldg. What’s the priority? Funnel more $$ into an underused building for the Chamber of Commerce or into actual services for people/nature.
Park & Rec’s purview to protect – Be proactive then and now
Request to Appear 2 – Frederica Musgrave asked about the role of Park & Rec in protecting bird habitats and Ojibwe culture. She and Bill Tefft had been addressing natural habitats and zoning since 2023 (Bill Tefft before). What has actually changed? There were no protections set in place after those many presentations.
Now we need them, but it’s too late. A BOA Public Hearing is set for May 20th re Sandy Point on Shagawa Lake.
Sandy Point is an important bird viewing site. Annual bird counting takes place there. The birds do not go to the parking lot, #8 on the map. It’s not just aquatic birds. Birds also go to the trees, land and bushes. Boat launches, construction, human activities and noise disturb bird habitats. One sentence from Sherry Abts’ email was read: “MN DNR and Loon researches state that DISTURBANCE of a SHORELINE is detrimental to Loon families.” What’s Park & Rec’s role to protect the bird habitat?
There was an Ojibwe village at Sandy Point. There’s nothing in Ely’s Comprehensive Plan, Tourism website, or Chamber of Commerce website about the Ojibwe at Sandy Point. Some people say there are burial grounds there. What’s Park & Rec’s role is protecting this site?
This photo from the Ely Winton Historical Society was passed around.
A paragraph from Anton Treuer’s Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask was read and two excerpts passed around.
A good land acknowledgment will be local and specific, mentioning by name the tribes who have called the land in that area home. It will also acknowledge historical injustice. And it will make a call to action for the institution or group. I support land acknowledgements because they address invisibility and marginalization of Indigenous people. But the real trick is to make sure we don’t stop there: acknowledgment is a first step, not the end of the journey. If it isn’t followed up with real action, a statement is just performative. We need to work toward equity, inclusion, and empowerment of Native people in everything we do.
Pages 241-242 from Anton Treuer’s book.
Page 252 from Anton Treuer’s book.
Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2023.
Note: Question raised after meeting, “Would Treuer consider signage and plaques as being just a different kind of performative statement?” Furthermore, a sign/plaque identifying Sandy Point as a bird viewing site would not preserve or protect the shoreline or land habitat. It would not improve the lake water quality and clarity. It would not stop human activities: noise, boat launches, tree cutting or shoreline/land excavation when BOA grants variances and Conditional Use Permits.
Youtube recording of 5/13/2026 Park & Recreation Board meeting wondering what role Park & Rec has and wants to take. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/whats-the-purview-of-park-rec-may-13-2026/
City of Ely posted 154 page agenda and packet for the 5pm BOA on May 2oth. Read “Staff Analysis” and “Finding of Facts” that are blatant support for the City Attorney’s KK & PI, LLC to do whatever they want on Sandy Point. There is another BOA scheduled at 5:15 pm. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/2-boas-may-20-sandy-point-and-sheridan-camp/
Check back soon for additional information and our response to Sandy Point issues: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/. This link will take you to the last post. To find other Recent Posts, scroll down the right-side of the screen. To search posts by topic or key word, use the search box on the right-hand side of screen. To search posts by category, scroll down the left-side of the screen.
Youtube recording of 5/13/2026 Park & Recreation Board meeting wondering what role Park & Rec has and wants to take. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/whats-the-purview-of-park-rec-may-13-2026/
Check back soon for additional information and our response to the new CUP request to be decided by Board of Adjustment (BOA) on May 15, 2026: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/. This link will take you to the last post. To find other Recent Posts, scroll down the right-side of the screen. To search posts by topic or key word, use the search box on the right-hand side of screen. To search posts by category, scroll down the left-side of the screen.
Park & Rec’s purview to protect – Be alert and reactive
During Old Business, a proposed Pickleball site was discussed. Putting in the building would require cutting of trees, putting in new road, parking lot, and doing other land improvements. This is in wooded area near Shagawa Lake. (Pages 47-50.) Does all this natural land need to be disturbed? What City Hall, lobbyists, developers, and real estate investors propose is the easiest and most profitable for them. Their mission is not to preserve and protect nature.
P&R has NO current mission, recommendations or guidelines to preserve and protect natural spaces. Alternatives aren’t voiced. Short Term Goals (1-2 years) in P&R Comp Plan (Page 63): “Continue to Work with P&Z to establish City Nature Preserves, Green Spaces, & expectations for new developments.” Meaning nothing will be in place until 2027-2029? By then, many shoreline & land habitats will be destroyed/disturbed. Variances & Conditional Use Permits (CUP) are almost automatically approved, bypassing original guidelines in place for legit reasons.
Park & Recreation Board Members do not currently understand they have the power to say they want a different location option for Pickleball courts, etc. Until Park & Rec finalizes their sections of the Comp Plan with Planning & Zoning regarding green areas, Park & Rec still has the power to say they want a different location option for Pickleball or whatever development. Not every piece of open green space has to be developed. Until Park & Rec sets up a precedent and continues to insist on nature-balanced guidelines, BOA/Planning & Zoning and Council with approve almost every variance, CUP or development recommendations without giving a hoot about birds or natural areas.
If P&R was renamed Park, Health and Recreation . . . Then maybe the mental, physical & spiritual health needs of the whole community AND nature would be better addressed.
Our main focus = Comp Plan Steering Committee & Ely Economic Development Authority
Here’s the 3-page agenda from 91-page Council packet. Find the packet and last minute changes & additions for at https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings or at https://www.ely.mn.us/government. Last minute items might not be posted, so check on the table right inside the Council Chambers’ door.
Spring Clean Up Days are May 15th & May 16th.
Park & Rec Board: Another resignation submitted. Appointment for previously open seat.
Pages 36-43 are about household and business hazardous waste collections
CPSC is requesting a Study Session with City Council on May 26th There April 27th unapproved minutes are below. It seems CPSC doesn’t have clear objectives/guidance. Here’s 3 alternate suggestions:
(1) City Council should have previously and now should consider using their monthly Study Sessions to go over the Land Use and Comp Plan. They have cancelled most of their Study Sessions for the last few years. Council Members were elected by citizens in Ely to represent them. Commissioners were not elected.
(2) City Council should have the GreenTeam and/or the Ely Climate Change Group facilitate discussions about Land Use andComprehensive Plan. The Ely Climate Change Group members on the GreenTeam understand a Comprehensive Plan should include more than just dead things like infrastructure and buildings. For example: our diverse humans and their different needs; balanced and sustainable environment, including animals habitats; serving the needs of those living here; recycling and repurposing that includes buildings; preparing for climate change; reviewing ordinances, zoning and codes to preserve and protect natural and open areas AND to designate cultural and historical sites of Indigenous Peoples who settled here first. Ely has/had signage for rocks but nothing for the Ojibwe.
old signage for Ely Pillow Rock
(3) Have the CSPC, Climate Change Group, and City Council all meet together at least once monthly during previously scheduled Study Sessions.
Read the Ely Economic Development Authority (EEDA) minutes from March 31st posted below.The discussion about updating the EEDA’s website is interesting.
Some of us frequently look at the Date (Data?) and Demographics page for personal research without any interest in developing a business or project. Are those visits counted towards the 120 annual visits? By the way, if you’ve never visited the EEDA website – or if you have – time yourself as to how long it takes you to actually find the Data and Demographics page. Then figure out, based on the data, what percent of the Ely population is 50 years or older.
Look over the last item NEW BUSINESS. The way it’s written up, it’s not clear if $14,000 total was “awarded” or $14K x 3 = $42,000. Or is the “award” 3 x 42K = $126,000. Do each and every one of the Council Members know the actual amount? Do they all know how this was calculated? What the project was? Most importantly, does the public know? The minutes were not written to keep the public informed nor show accountability.
3 BOAs and P&Z mtg July 15 2026
3 Board of Adjustment Hearings starting at 4:45 pm on Wed, July 15th.
Read further to find out how to get the most background details and documents before BOA meetings.
Community members are planning on speaking.
Planning & Zoning Commission meeting starts at approx. 5:30 pm, Wed., July 15th.
The 5-page packet is available at https://www.ely.mn.us/pzmeetings. Only the June 17th draft minutes are attached, no other documents.
Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see how City Hall and/or City web designers have suddenly changed the placement of Public Notices on the City webpages, making it even more difficult for the public to access information in a timely manner, info concerning them with a deadline for them to comment.
Please read the details about these 3 BOA Hearings. Many community members are concerned about all 3 and are planning to speak or have submitted comments. Please inform yourselves. We are all concerned about the fires around Ely and our friends, family members, relatives and colleagues dealing with (potential) evacuations. Despite ongoing community concerns about local fires and evacuations, BOA will not reschedule tomorrow’s meetings. BOA rulings are final unless owner appeals to Council. Citizens cannot appeal.
Get as much information as you can about the BOA Hearings
You may or may not find links to additional documents when you open links on the Public Notices page. Even though there might be maps, photos, and other documents. in the hands of City Hall. There seems to be no standard procedure for what is posted (available via links on the Public Notices webpage). Hmmm
Always check the BOA documents (agenda and documents) posted on the Planning & Zoning Meetings webpage., sometimes a day or 2 before the BOA Hearing. https://www.ely.mn.us/pzmeetings There is usually more background information here, along with City “Staff Analysis” or “Fact Finding.” We are not saying something nefarious is going on. Just BE AWARE more documents exist and may/will be released.
Here’s what the public is given for these 3 BOA’s via Public Notices and P&Z Meetings webpage:
Business violating home occupation standards. No background info or other documents to look at per Public Notices. P&Z post has 18 pages.
Dog boarding 101 pages in Public Notices link. Undated “Staff Analysis.” P&Z post has 134 pages.
“Rooming House” for recovering persons with substance use disorders. 2 sets of documents = 46 pages in Public Notices. P&Z post has 112 pages.
Prepare for the P & Z meeting — after the 3 BOA’s Hearings
5-page packet is at https://www.ely.mn.us/pzmeetings. Only the June 17th draft minutes are attached, no other documents. Check their website and the table inside Council Chambers for any changes or additions to the original agenda.
Very often, topics and discussions at one meeting are continued at subsequent meetings. For more info about “Special Vehicle Ordinance,” read the draft minutes from their June meeting when Adam Bisbee and daughter Olive spoke. For even more information, look at
Special note about City Website Design and Placement Changes
Once again, City Hall and/or City webpage designers are making it more difficult for people to easily access information. All of a sudden, the Public Notices webpage has been buried. It now longer appears as a separate important entry under the Government or Our City webpages.
If you don’t just automatically click on Our City to see the menu options, you might see Public Notices as a subpage or subsection of the Public Calendar. Who would ever think of Public Notices being posted (= buried) under the Public Calendar? Who was behind this decision? Who directed the City’s webpage designer to make this change? Is the City webpage designer being guided and supervised? Or does the webpage designer just autonomously decide whatever they want , because it just “feels good” or “looks cute”? Who is the web designer? Was there a job description with a job interview? Was Elon Musk listed as a reference?
What’s strange about the new design change:
1. Where does it say “Public Notice” on the calendar?
2. Is this a “Public Calendar” (Our City webpage) or a “Public Meeting Calendar” (Government webpage)?
3. Who thinks concerned citizens are going to click and every item on the calendar to find out if there one’s a Public Notice?
This is another version of Government webpage listing the topics. Public Notices is not listed here. It is not even listed under Public Meetings Calendar (nor in white).
Both versions of Government webpage say “Public Meetings Calendar.” Both versions of Our City say “Public Calendar.”
For a variety of reasons, intentionally orchestrated or not, the City has an extremely poor turnout for their Public Hearings. It’s not that nobody is interested. It’s the City expends the least amount of time, energy and money to inform people about the hearings. Citizen input slows the process and interferes with what the City intends to do.
This summer, the City and/or its webpage designer are making it even harder for concerned citizens to learn about meetings, prepare adequately for them, and submit comments. We wrote about upcoming and past 2026 meetings (dates, agendas and documents) suddenly disappearing from the City webpages. See https://elyminnesota.com/blog/2026-council-mtg-info-delayed/ No official explanation has been posted. We’re wondering what else has happened that nobody has noticed, including whoever is supposed to be “supervising” the webpage designer.