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Regular Ely City Council meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Highlights:
Time marker 3:10 – 18:10 International Wolf Center presentation by Grant Spickelmier and Krista Woerheide. Highlighted projects and education events in 2023. They wanted City of Ely to support their 2024 funding requests from the State for $2,150,000.
Time marker 15:00 – 52:00 Ely Area Tourism Bureau update/2023 recap by Cindy Smyka. Explained new partnership agreement with USDA Forest Service. Details on promotional websites, podcasts, etc.
Time marker 39:40 Smyka provides Interesting details about Lodging Tax Chart showing previous years through 3rd quarter of 2023, including some Lake County metrics. Lodging taxes for Ely don’t all get returned back to Ely.
1:02:02 time marker – Council Member Al Forsman reported on Ambulance Joint Powers Board meeting held on Jan. 29th. There are billing issues from previous billing service. He gave short recap of comments made by Patti Banks (CEO, EBCH).
1:05:45 Mayor Heidi commented. Next Joint Powers Board meeting is Feb 26, 4 pm, in Winton.
Time marker 1:20:00 short discussion about St. Louis County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Citizen Advisory Committee and open positions. See page 42 in Feb. 6th Council packet on City website www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings
YouTube link:
Scroll down YouTube to read highlights with time markers
Board meeting of Ely Area Ambulance Service (EEAS) Joint Powers held in Winton, MN, on Monday Jan. 29, 2024. The assumption seems to be the hospital will take back ambulance services.
The agenda packet included: a) 3 pages of Dec. 11, 2023 Board meeting minutes that were approved. b) 3-page financial update since last meeting. c) 4-page Ely Fire/First Responders’ Building & Ambulance Storage Building Project Environmental Report. d) 3-page proposal from TKDA for architectural services “to continue assisting with project beyond the USDA report assistance and develop construction design drawings and specifications for this project.”
10:35 – 16:05 time marker – In contrast to the Board just focusing on money and buildings, Patti Banks, CEO, EBCH, read a carefully crafted public statement from the hospital regarding ambulance service. She hoped to clarify the hospital’s position. EBCH is attending meetings to collaborate. Hopefully that EBCH letter will be included in the Board’s minutes and shared with the community. Listen carefully to what was read.
Later on, Patti Banks recommended the Board not just ask for dollars. What are their expectations and goals for how the money is spent? You need to do more than just talk about dollars to find innovative solutions for changes. She asked the Board for input that she could then pass on to those conducting their research (SafeTech Solutions), so their recommendations for the project could reflect regional expectations and goals. The hospital study received final info from EEAS last week. Based on the study info, conversations, etc. received from the Joint Powers group, SafeTech Solutions will determine the scope the project as the hospital moves forward. There are at least 3 different viable solutions for innovative approaches to EMS in our region. EAAS needs to make decisions how to proceed with their finances & operations.16:05-19:19 Comments & discussion.
19:20 – 21:24 Patti Banks responded: How communication has been going . . . very little . . .not consistent . . . mostly public forum . . . [we are] continuing to finance a system that is broken . . . This MN legislative session is a policy year, not a budget year . . . If we aren’t going to work together, we won’t be able to impact policy . . . 21:24 Comments & discussion.
23:00 – 24:28 Patti Banks responds to question about the hospital study results. Potential solutions: (1) A regional model. (2) One model would depend upon who holds the license for ambulance service. (3) The other solution is to do nothing which we seem to be consistently headed towards. Status quo. 24:28 Board comments.
27:14 Patti Banks: SafeTech waiting to hear from hospital after this meeting. She wants to bring proposals to next meeting. Board discussions followed.
30:35 – Patti Banks challenged the Ambulance Service Board to actually tell what the Board expects from outcomes and goals rather than just more funding. Who gets the money? Where does it go? What are you going to do with that money? . . . What happens when you get an answer you don’t want to hear? . . . She wants innovative solutions that impact change. 33:48 Clarified what she will bring at the next meeting (scenarios only based on the study results).
24:51 – Mayor Heidi Omerza thinks legislators would like to hear a viable solution…Maybe they would fund a pilot program. Hint: contact legislators. 25:40 Patti Banks: our solution doesn’t have to be perfect. Legislature could look to model [what we do] in other rural communities, even nation-wide… We need crucial conversations together. . . We have to control and impact the change where we can . . . be innovative vs. spinning wheels.
34:44 Proposed building projects presented by Harold Langowski. Discussion with Board. Funds from USDA are NOT awarded up front.
41:18 – 49:55 Larry Polyner from audience voiced his concerns about location and need for the construction of the proposed fire/first responders’ buildings. He was also concerned about going ahead before the release of EBCH’s research and decisions for EBCH future action are not known. Board discussion followed. Note: Larry Polymer spoke at Ely Special Hearing on Jan. 16, 2024.
50:30 – 53:10 Nice discussion about conflict of interest re: Town of Morse having same person on Joint Powers Board and Ambulance Board. This discussion proves it was/is safe for these Board members to say to the group and the public, “I’m uncomfortable.”
The next meeting of the Ambulance Joint Powers Board is scheduled for February 26, 2024.
Watch another recording on this website: Ely Special Council meeting to provide emergency funding for EMS payroll, 12/13/243
Watch another recording on this website: Special Ely Public Hearing (informational) on these building projects, 01/16/2024
Regularly scheduled Ely City Council meeting on Jan. 16, 2024. Agenda and packet available on City website: www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings
Mayor’s Report: (1) Recognition of Mike Popesh’s 43 years of service to City of Ely. (2) Council Members representation on committees, commissions, and boards.
Project Committee reports, recommendations, and resolutions passed by Council. HRA partnering with MN Housing Partnership. Pocket Park. Tomahawk Trail. Snowmobile Trails. Mountain Bike Trails. Federal Recreation Trail.
Fire Chief: 15 medicals, 0 fire calls. Library Director: program updates. Police Chief: (1) 5 dog tag license applications. (2) Bonus (canoe) agreement. City Attorney: Purchase agreements for Spauling properties.
New Business: Misc. items including (1) Authorizing temporary deputy clerk for election purposes. (2) Establishing Abstentee Ballot Board. (3) (Re-)appointment of open seats on committees, boards, and commissions.
City of Ely, MN, required informational hearing 5-5:30 pm. See City website for packet documents, including drawings: www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings
These are preliminary plans. The City wants project ready for bidding in next few months, so construction can start this summer 2024. Harold Langowski, Ely Clerk/Treasurer, provided details of locations and building improvements, using the overhead screen. Garage will be fully heated ($$). Current and new housing planned for this area.
Listen for additional construction, additional building remodeling, fence relocation, and street(s) redesign planned AFTER the fire apparatus building and ambulance garage are built. These additional materials and labor costs are probably not included in proposal presented tonight. It is not known if or when a detailed list will be presented, along with an indication who will be responsible for funding.
1 resident questioned the need for new garage and facilities. He felt we could use current buildings (with some remodeling) for equipment/machine storage. Staff didn’t need new facilities to meet: use existing rooms. He also questioned going ahead without knowing if EBCH will take ambulance services back. A Joint Powers Ambulance meeting will be held Jan 22 at 4 pm at Winton Community Center.
1 other resident praised the plans and work that went into the proposal presented tonight. The buildings are necessary.
49:25 Changes for dog licenses: forms for lifetime and annual dog licenses are now available through the City Police Department and can be mailed in. Forms will no longer be processed at Ely (Drivers) License Office on Chapman. 2024 tags will be mailed or delivered when they arrive. The forms should eventually be available online. Until posted online, email Police Department or call 218-365-3222 elypd@ely.mn.us
51:50 The City provides low 2% interest rate loans to homeowners for improvements which are approved by Council. Information and applications are available online: https://www.ely.mn.us/city-loan
2:55 Council Members need to review 2023 Committee assignments and request any changes before next Council meeting (page 7 in packet).
26:50 Park & Rec updates , including North Country Trails.
31:50 Council approves P&Z motion to meet twice monthly on 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. P&Z minutes of Dec. 20, 2023 in Council packet were not reviewed or approved by P&Z. The minutes use “resend.” The P&Z discussions indicate their intention to “rescind” (take back or withdraw their original motion). See actual P&Z discussions at beginning and end of their Dec. 20, 2023 meeting. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/m0BWdHAn5SE
42:30 Fire Chief updates 46:15 Library updates
Note: The Planning Unit Development (PUD) mentioned during Request to Appear (presentation on fiscal responsibility and accountability, starting time marker 8:48) was in the Nov. 15, 2023 Planning and Zoning packet (pages 6-37). See Section 1105.01 (Public Benefit) on page 6: “Preservation and enhancement of natural systems and resources, topography, vegetation, and other natural features.” The regularly scheduled P&Z meeting was held shortly after the Public Hearing that same night was canceled re: campground expansion on Miners Lake in residential area. YouTube recording of this P&Z meeting (Part B focuses on PUD prepared by City for P&Z to use to “get around” problems) = https://youtu.be/dn3Z5JCFpcU
Note: For the past months, the Ely Park & Recreation Commission has held discussions and presentations on “preservation and enhancement of natural systems and resources,” also in terms of zoning and including Miners Lake, which have not officially been passed on by City to P&Z or Council. See Park & Rec YouTube recordings from Nov. 20, 2023 https://youtu.be/Jo5rZ1nC0qg and Dec 18, 2023 https://youtu.be/n7Vm-IYJdVs
The meeting lasted over 2 hours. Please refer to the approximate time markers for topics. When topics were brought up again during a discussion of a different agenda item, usually there is a 2nd time marker. Not all references to the proposed Miners Lake campground are time marked.
Some of the Commissioners were unclear or disagreeing as to what City Council, City Attorney, DNR, etc. said or wanted re: re-zoning or Miners Lake, not just those who were unable to attend the Study Session(s). Recordings of the last joint Study Session (P&Z with Council) as well as recent P&Z and Council meetings are available on this website. All Council meetings and Study Sessions were re(broadcast) by Midco, so Commissioners and others should have been able to watch live or record those meetings.
Video time marker 1:50 – 30:13 minutes: Ozzie Reif with Steve Piragis updated Park & Rec on North County National Scenic Trail. Ely’s main street Sheridan to be part of Trail, so hikers will be downtown and have access to businesses. Many, many other benefits and promotions for Ely area. Ozzie+ will work on writing Memorandum of Understanding.
Time marker 51:00-1:07:00 : Julie Hignell updates on Loaner Boats at Semers. They submitted No Child Left Inside grant proposal. Will know in March if $$ granted. She talked about things they will do whether grant received or not. Lots of exciting plans for service projects, classes, bike repair space and other kid/adult/family outdoor activities.
Not on agenda but “urgent.” New responsibility for Park & Rec to get public feedback on projects?
Time marker 1:07:00 -1:40:25: Adam Bisbee, Council Rep on Park & Rec, says he received email from City re feedback from Miners Lake residents re cutting down of trees, etc. A copy of City email sent about a week ago was not in tonight’s packet (not everyone received?). Not all Commissioners have the same understanding as to what they were to decide tonight. Park & Rec Commission was responsible for obtaining feedback?
Watch dynamic discussion: who is concerned about notification to citizens, who wants the City to just go ahead now, and who struggles with trying to best serve both interests of City and citizens. There is apparently no City policy or procedure in place as to how Park & Rec Commission should notify or give appropriate turnaround time for citizen input. (Is it really okay for notice to be posted during Christmas + New Years school break and response due before break is over?). There was no advance notice or explanation that Park & Rec Commission is suddenly now responsible for determining public has been given adequate notice? Plans for construction were formulated this last summer (and approved by Council on ??). There’s apparently no variance, no CUP needed. Some things are safety related. Miners Lake residents and Ely citizens were not respected when Planning & Zoning tried to put a huge RV campground in residential area this fall.
Watch how these Commissioners sincerely struggle tonight and what they decide to do. Confusion until end (adjournment 1:40:25): “Let the feedback decide.”
Note: Huge TV screen on back wall of Council Chambers has been playing Local Access Programming all night. 1:35:14 = Covid safety tips and later 1:40:25+ more public safety ads. Who is watching screen during meeting? Why is TV on? Save money: turn off.
This is NOT a permanent fix. Many issues were well articulated tonight at this special 20-minute Council meeting. Hope was expressed that Ely’s hospital will bring the ambulance back under its wings. EBCH’s research study is expected to be completed in January 2024. Ely, Winton, Morse and Fall Lake Townships (Joint Powers ambulance service area) were asked to contribute emergency funds per tonight’s Council packet.
For more details about ambulance issues, refer to the Sept. 11th minutes from Ambulance Joint Powers Board meeting included in Council’s Sept. 19th packet (pages 24-25). The Oct. meeting was postponed. No meeting was held in Nov. On Monday, Dec. 11th, a Special Council-Joint Powers Ambulance meeting was held in Winton. Al Forsman (middle in photo) is Council’s Rep on Ambulance JPB. Mayor Omerza asked the public to contact our Washingon, D.C. legislators for better funding.
Recording City Council mtg Jan 2 2045
Time markings and topics below are not always chronological.
Ely, MN City Council meeting – first regular scheduled meeting meeting for 2024. .
Agendas & packets for 2024 Council meetings — https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings
2023 Council meeting agendas & packets – https://www.ely.mn.us/2023-meetings
49:25 Changes for dog licenses: forms for lifetime and annual dog licenses are now available through the City Police Department and can be mailed in. Forms will no longer be processed at Ely (Drivers) License Office on Chapman. 2024 tags will be mailed or delivered when they arrive. The forms should eventually be available online. Until posted online, email Police Department or call 218-365-3222 elypd@ely.mn.us
2024 Ely City fee schedule https://www.ely.mn.us/vertical/sites/%7B487F0A5E-BE52-4CAD-977F-7436EDEE4F85%7D/uploads/2023_City_of_Ely_Fee_Schedule(1).pdf
51:50 The City provides low 2% interest rate loans to homeowners for improvements which are approved by Council. Information and applications are available online: https://www.ely.mn.us/city-loan
2:55 Council Members need to review 2023 Committee assignments and request any changes before next Council meeting (page 7 in packet).
26:50 Park & Rec updates , including North Country Trails.
31:50 Council approves P&Z motion to meet twice monthly on 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. P&Z minutes of Dec. 20, 2023 in Council packet were not reviewed or approved by P&Z. The minutes use “resend.” The P&Z discussions indicate their intention to “rescind” (take back or withdraw their original motion). See actual P&Z discussions at beginning and end of their Dec. 20, 2023 meeting. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/m0BWdHAn5SE
42:30 Fire Chief updates
46:15 Library updates
Note: The Planning Unit Development (PUD) mentioned during Request to Appear (presentation on fiscal responsibility and accountability, starting time marker 8:48) was in the Nov. 15, 2023 Planning and Zoning packet (pages 6-37). See Section 1105.01 (Public Benefit) on page 6: “Preservation and enhancement of natural systems and resources, topography, vegetation, and other natural features.” The regularly scheduled P&Z meeting was held shortly after the Public Hearing that same night was canceled re: campground expansion on Miners Lake in residential area. YouTube recording of this P&Z meeting (Part B focuses on PUD prepared by City for P&Z to use to “get around” problems) = https://youtu.be/dn3Z5JCFpcU
Note: For the past months, the Ely Park & Recreation Commission has held discussions and presentations on “preservation and enhancement of natural systems and resources,” also in terms of zoning and including Miners Lake, which have not officially been passed on by City to P&Z or Council. See Park & Rec YouTube recordings from Nov. 20, 2023 https://youtu.be/Jo5rZ1nC0qg and Dec 18, 2023 https://youtu.be/n7Vm-IYJdVs