Regular meeting of Ely City Council. Agenda and packet are available on City of Ely website https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings Scroll down to watch YouTube recording of 34-minute meeting.
Both local newspapers, The Ely Echo and The Timberjay published several articles about this meeting.
2 major highlights with time markers:
3:40 into the clip: Recognition of Council Member Jerome Debeltz for decades of support of softball. A large sign, “Jerome Debeltz Fields,” was installed.
12:46 into the clip: Council approved Telecommunications Advisory Board (TAB) working with CTC to install “fiber and purchase of equipment not to exceed $20,000 if an agreement can be finalized concerning the use of WIFI with the festival organizers” at Whiteside Park. This is not the first time no documentation was presented to Council regarding best negotiation of prices (open bidding) nor single source awarding of services for large sums of money. If CTC is the only known source and exclusive provider of certain types of equipment and services to the City of Ely, then such should be more clearly and frequently stated. Sometimes exclusive contracts are necessary, sometimes not. Let the public and Midco subscribers know TAB and Ely City Council are and have been fiscally responsible.
BTW Who exactly is CTC? A quick Google search brings up Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Children’s Theater Company, Connection Technology Center, and Consolidated Telephone Company. Where is their office in Ely? Who owns CTC? How did CTC end up being possibly the sole source for equipment and installation services?
Part of public transparency and accountability is explaining acronyms, full names, group choices, and how decisions and expenses align with purpose (especially legal or contractual) for that group. Anyone submitting minutes should assume those reading the minutes now or 5+ years from now might ask, “Who is Irene?” or “How can I listen or watch her performance without knowing her last name?” Don’t assume everyone understands . . . clarify, especially when you want to promote the greatness of Ely.
In addition to costs for this project, 4-year time period for vendors to pay their share, and future replacement costs for equipment, Harold Langowski mentioned increased Midco fees to customers and the City of Ely. For more details, read TAB minutes (pages 29-31) in the Council packet.
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