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MAGAs recording private conversations

During the “No Kings” and Ely Demonstration for compassion, democracy and the rule of law at Whiteside Park in Ely, MN, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, a member of a prominent and very active Ely political family was intentionally recording and/or overhearing private conversations without telling individuals involved. I discovered this when I turned around to find him standing behind me for quite a while with his phone held in front of his chest. It looked like he held a special expensive black microphone recording device in addition to his smartphone.

Intentionally overhearing and recording private conversations is rude and civically inappropriate. This was no innocent accident, especially with that black microphone.

I was told that he had being doing this for awhile, going up and down the sidewalk twice. Since he did not announce his intentions to record or overhear private conversations nor did he first ask for permission, I informed demonstrators what was going on. I told demonstrators this was their chance to voice their opinions and reasons for demonstrating today. He should record what we want to say publicly for his blog, podcast, or whatever his plans were — not our private conversations. Apparently he didn’t really want to hear why we were there, because he left shortly rather than continuing down the sidewalk.

The Ely “No Kings” demonstration today was at a public park in public. We knew we could be photographed or our words recorded when we shouted out. But private conversations should be respected. When families gather along the streets to watch 4th of July parades or go to outdoor concerts, plays and events at Whiteside, they do not expect or want strangers to intentionally come up to record or overhear private conversations. When we go to church, the movies, a restaurant or any public place, we do not expect or want strangers to intentionally stand/sit near us to record or overhear private conversations.

Was this an (un)official Ely-based MAGA response to public demonstrations?

Today we again witnessed the moral decay of adult behavior, a civil society and our democracy. It is so easy to blame addiction to social media to explain teenage behavior. He was not an immature teenager. This was/is an adult, a known member of Ely’s established and currently active political family, who felt he had the right to invade our privacy. I was told another adult member of his family was there whom I believe to be a decent man. I would hope you both have discussions about privacy, invasion of privacy, and how what happened today is a scary reflection of what many of us believe to be the intentional erosion of our constitutional freedoms by Trump, Musk, other (non)appointed individuals, and elected officials. What you do – accept, condone, praise or reject what happened – sets the example for young and old in this community, especially within your political groups.

We are peaceful demonstrators. We believe EVERYONE should be treated with respect whatever their political views. We will not engage in rude, inappropriate, disrespectful or intimidating tactics. We will NOT encourage our teenagers or adult family members to engage in rude, inappropriate, disrespectful or intimidating tactics. We know the difference between right and wrong for our own lives and our own choices. We also know the difference between right and wrong actions taken by government. We stood up for right today. We will stand up tomorrow. We have backbones.

Please do not stand up for intimidation and retaliation by anyone to anyone. “Nonpartisan” is supposed to mean something more than just 11 letters randomly scrambled together. We know what intimidation looks like. We know what retaliation looks like. We don’t want it here in Ely, in Minnesota, nor anywhere else.

Scary but honest news from a Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska

‘We are all afraid’: Murkowski says fear of retaliation from Trump administration is ‘real’

Anchorage Daily News https://www.adn.com/politics/2025/04/14/we-are-all-afraid-speaking-to-alaska-nonprofit-leaders-murkowski-gets-candid-on-upheaval-in-federal-government/

4-minute YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69FGNdBemTI

Town Hall with Senators Hauschild & Murphy

Our elected MN State Senator Grant Hauschild and MN Senate Majority Leader Erin P. Murphy answered questions from the audience on April 15, 2025 at Minnesota North College, Vermillion Campus, Ely, MN.

Scroll to the end for the YouTube recording.

MN State Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL) represents Minnesotans in Senate District 03, the largest MN Senate District on terms of area and travel time. Senator Hauschild is the Assistant Majority Leader in the MN Senate. For info about the District he’s representing, his committees, bills he’s supporting and authored, and details about his accomplishments, go to his website https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1252

MN State Senator Erin P. Murphy (DFL) represents Minnesotans in Senate District 64. Senator Murphy is the DFL Majority Leader in the MN Senate. For info about the District she’s representing, her committees, bills she’s supporting and authored, and details about her accomplishments, go to her website https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1248

Go to the Minnesota State Legislature website for bill updates https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/legis

Don’t know where State District 03 is up in Northeastern Minnesota?? See white area on map to the right.

For demographics, go to website

https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/php/profiles/senate.php?district=03

Ely Library – federal cuts

Will we get details at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 15 ?

Read the April 2nd minutes from the Library Board, page 10, in the posted City Council packet. https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings

If the Library Director Rachel Heinrich doesn’t explain the cuts in more detail, the Mayor Heidi Omerza should, as she attended the meeting. Let’s see where they both stand on the Trump/Musk cuts.

Will anyone explain the Trump / Elon Musk cuts to the Public Library?

Hopefully at the Tuesday, April 15th City Council meeting, Council Members will ask for more specific details including dollar and % amounts of cutbacks due to recent federal cuts.  Are these DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) cuts? Has our Library been wasting money? Where’s the proof? When did Congress vote to cut funding for public libraries?

There will also be cuts in summer programming. 

The Library Board minutes do not include the documents Library Director Rachel Heinrich provided the Board.  This is a systemic transparency problem with Ely City government: agendas WITH documents for all city meetings are NOT posted online, nor are the actual meetings available 24/7/365 free of charge to residents and non-residents. (Yes, also non-residents, because they can serve on Ely City government commissions, boards and committees.)

Will Council and Mayor protest cuts or just roll over and play dead?

City Council and the Mayor are supposedly nonpartisan. Maybe they voted for Trump and Congressman Pete Stauber, or not. Maybe they support Elon Musk’s chainsaw approach to funding, or not. This is the opportunity for the Mayor and Council to stand up for Ely and the surrounding community. The majority on City Council and Mayor actively opposed supporting clean water, approving a letter to oppose WICOLA’s request for support. Writing an opposing letter while saying at the same time that these WICOLA waters are not inside Ely’s boundaries. Our Ely Public Library is located inside the City limits. What’s the excuse now? What’s in the best interests of the community? Be nonpartisan on Tuesday.

BTW: Fall Lake Township increased its contribution.  Was this in response to federal cuts and/or an acknowledgment of how important public libraries are to the community? The April 2nd minutes indicate this was advocacy from Fall Lake residents. What about the rest of us??


Will anyone from the public stand up Tuesday to complain about Trump/Musk cuts to libraries and/or support the outstanding community services our Public Library provides? 

Whether you Request to Appear (Item #7 on agenda) or at the end of meeting (Item #14 on agenda), consider submitting your comments in writing, so your points are printed in the record in more detail.  You still might have a chance to speak at the Request to Appear time slot and have your attachments included in the last minute Council additions. Email or submit in person today if possible. Otherwise, you can still sign up to speak during the Open Forum when you walk into Council Chambers this Tuesday evening.

Will the Mayor or City Administrator/Clerk Harold Langowski provide specifics about OTHER expected federal cuts in Ely and surrounding areas that will impact Ely’s economy, infrastructure  and safety?

Obviously, commissioners/board members are talking AND have documents.  Wouldn’t you think City Hall, the Council, and the Mayor would also be talking AND have documents that they could share with the public ?

14 City Owned Parcels Rezoned – for Sale?

Public Hearing – Nobody spoke- Who knew what to say or ask?

Nobody showed up to speak at the Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 regarding Ordinance 380. Perfunctory public notices were posted in 3 separate places on the Ely City website (separate notice on City Meetings, City Calendar with link, and Public Notices). Only the Public Hearing agenda was posted, no attachments. Unlike other public notices, there was no detail. Just one vague sentence.

This is the (Notice of) City Council meetings website. The link for Ordinance 380 brings you to the one-page vague agenda. The other Hearing gives location and purpose.

For some strange reason, these two Hearings are combined together on the Public Notices website. Not normal.

These Ordinances are NOT the same. Joint posting downplays the (re)zoning of 14 parcels that were annexed into the City or previously not zoned.

Tonight, April 1st, is the 2nd and final reading of Ordinance 380.

For some strange reason, these two Hearings are combined together on the Public Calendar website. Click the link for one Hearing and both show up. Not normal.

These Ordinances are NOT the same. Joint posting downplays the (re)zoning of 14 parcels that were annexed into the City or previously not zoned.

What is the purpose of a Public Hearing?

There were a lot of people seated in Council Chambers during the Public Hearing. Observers and witnesses. They chose not to speak for whatever reasons. What facts and details was the public provided ahead of time? What were they supposed to comment on?

The Mayor asks, “Is there anybody here to speak to us about those properties?” Silence from public, Council and City Hall.

Watch the 2 minute video. Does the Mayor get frustrated, feel awkward, because there’s no comment? So many silent people.

What would a teacher do if the whole classroom is silent? Maybe explain what “these properties” are? In this case, maybe Harold Langkowski could have talked? He usually shares his wealth of background knowledge. Not tonight at this Hearing. Hmmm.

Watch the video. Only the one-sentence agenda was projected. Copies of the agenda were on the table. No list of the 14 parcels annexed into the City or previously unzoned. What info was the audience provided to comment on?

And nobody explained the (re)zoning codes.

Many of us believe Public Hearings are supposed to be two-way conversations. The Hearing was over in 2 minutes. Observers and witnesses – and those who watched the YouTube posted below – learned the Mayor, Council and City Hall didn’t really didn’t want to inform or explain.

People in Ely are busy. Even retired people here are busy. There are sooooo many things to do with our “free time.” Common knowledge: If you want people to show up to an event, meeting or public hearing, you “advertise” or use wording that draws them in. If you don’t want people to show up, you don’t say anything. If the law requires you to post a notice even if you don’t want people to come in person, you scale down “advertising” to an absolute minimum; use vague, innocuous and boring words. And don’t provide details.

It’s hard to have a two-conversation between groups when only one group holds and doesn’t share pertinent information. City Hall and City Council know these political strategies The strategies work for them, not for the public.

Here’s the one very vague sentence in the posted Public Hearing agenda.

The ONE very vague sentence in the posted Public Hearing agenda tells you almost nothing.

Message to public = no big deal, boring meeting, perfunctory, don’t bother coming

When no details are public, there is a reason.

Per Ordinance 380: “The purpose of this chapter is to establish appropriate zoning designations for properties that were annexed into the City of Ely from St. Louis County or that currently lack zoning designations within the City of Ely.”

To find more detailed information and map for each of the parcels listed, go to the St. Louis County Parcel Tax Lookup website: https://apps.stlouiscountymn.gov/parceltaxlookup/. Enter the Parcel ID from the list. Decide which tax year you want, and then select Search.

14 parcels now on the market? — Who knows?

Follow the money? For example, the last parcel listed is City owned, 38.77 acres and valued at $306,800 per 2024 St. Louis County Parcel Tax Lookup.

Nobody asked or said anything

The Ely City Council approved Ordinance 380 (2nd reading) later that night during their regularly scheduled meeting. Nobody asked what will happen with the 14 parcels. Nobody expressed visions or priorities for development or set-aside for habitat. Nobody asked who has already initiated contact and negotiations with City Hall to purchase or develop these 14 parcels. Nobody asked what the zoning codes meant or why rezoned if rezoned.

Developers and those with money and influence probably started conceiving preliminary plans a LONG time ago, because they knew about the list.

Follow the money

Ely Dog Park Hearing Wed Feb 19 2024

See link to YouTube clip at the end of this post.

Bruce Wheelright from non-profit Ely Dog Park spoke. The public all spoke in favor of having a dog park. The BOA approved the Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Now the City needs to work with Ely Dog Park to draw up details for the lease.

BOA recommended some conditions to be written within the lease. The City needs to present the lease to Council for approval. The CUP was approved by BOA. Council does not review or approve the CUP. Council needs to review and then approve the details of the lease.

It is obvious from the posted documents that Bruce Wheelright, his non-profit Ely Dog Park, and supporters did a lot of research, interactions with the community and the City of Ely, and also a tremendous amount of physical labor to set up the Ely Dog Park.

Watch the video and read through the application, City’s findings, and maps in the public hearing packet to find out what was decided and what still needs to be clarified when the City works out details of the lease.

  • Whether this is a real free-run dog park or a “dog-friendly park,” meaning dogs need to be leashed (= not free running).
  • Who can or cannot enter and use the park. Who meaning humans and dogs.
  • Who is responsible for maintenance.
  • Who is responsible for “enforcing” the rules.
  • Who is liable if there is an accident.
  • Cost and terms of the lease from the City of Ely.
  • How the non-profit Ely Dog Park raises funds and how you can support their efforts.
  • Required liability (cost, responsibility, amount of coverage per incident, proof).
  • Signage and public education.
  • Hours, etc.

If you have suggestions for or questions about the proposed dog park and the lease, contact Ely City Hall at 218-365-3224. The public hearing is over. The CUP was approved. Please read the documents posted online BEFORE calling City Hall, because many of your questions will be answered. Check https://www.ely.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=B94E144B-D5F5-4E81-A137-BB33BFEB0288&DE=76A84DFD-E6F9-4C9D-8C19-75630CBE6C22

https://www.ely.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=B94E144B-D5F5-4E81-A137-BB33BFEB0288&DE=76A84DFD-E6F9-4C9D-8C19-75630CBE6C22

City Council Dec 17 2024

Last regular scheduled Ely, MN City Council meeting for 2024 was held on Dec 17, 2024. Check City website at https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings for agenda+Council packet (181 pages) and additions posted today (15 pages). Scroll to the bottom for the YouTube video.


FM Note: The actual meeting started at 1:28 into the video clip. The camera was set to run earlier, because the Ely Police Chief had just requested FM record from the far back corner of the room rather than up front on the left side where FM had been recording for almost a year. Previously on Nov 19th, after the room cleared for closed meeting, Mayor Heidi Omerza suddenly told FM to no longer record up front on the left side (by windows). This was after Citizens for Transparency posted the previous week’s Council meeting at https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-nov-12-not-welcome/ During Dec, FM still recorded the first regularly scheduled Council meeting, a Commission meeting, and 3 Public Hearings without incident or request to move from the left front side. The room was more crowded then. Tonight FM continued to record up front and was not arrested, thankfully.

Here is the first posting of a City Council meeting by Citizens for Transparency on Dec. 3, 2023 from the front left side: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/recording-city-council-dec-5-2023/

Here are the first recordings of City meetings posted by Citizens for Transparency from the front of room (Planning & Zoning meeting on November 15, 2013): https://elyminnesota.com/blog/recording-pz-mtg-nov-15-2023/

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TONIGHT’S ACTUAL MEETING

12:07 Recognition of Ryan Callen. On Council for 8 years and chose not to run for re-election.

14:05 Recognition of Paul Kess. On Council for 22 years but lost bid for re-election.

Proud moments: Throughout the night, Council and City Administrator Harold Langowski mentioned their 2024 green energy efforts and successes as they went over tonight’s committee and department reports.

Interestingly, not all recommendations submitted to Council for $$ approval included estimated or actual costs on the agenda pages, even though info can be found in the minutes. Is there no standard procedure to include $$ in the recommendations that are all listed on the Council agenda? Why not? Exceptions stick out.

Citizens for Transparency would like to recognize Council Member Paul Kess for bringing up fiscal due diligence. He stood up.

Far too many purchases are made without first sincerely seeking bids from more than one source. Back on Sept 3rd, Paul Kess spoke out https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-sep-3-2024-mtg/. And tonight Paul Kess spoke more strongly. Who else on Council – or the Mayor – has sincerely questioned limited or missing fiscal due diligence? Who has insisted, “We need to do required fiscal due diligence?” Tonight Paul Kess was not joined by the Mayor or Council. He stood up. Kudos to Paul Kess.

What was on the agenda? There was a single source award to Ely Customer Theaters for the “surveillance, security and access control for the Trailhead facility.” The Projects Committee did not include any $$ amount in the agenda recommendation, although the cost could be $30,000. That’s Thirty thousand dollars. The actual Projects minutes from Dec. 9th note why this project was not intentionally included in the general contractor’s bid (page 21 in Council packet). A really unusual reason that should not have prevented requests for bids. Hmmm

59:58 Fire Chief: 6 medical calls, 2 fire calls

1:00:37 Library: Lots of upcoming activities. The library is switching from monthly spices to monthly historical games.

1:04:21 Police Chief (and Harold Langowski): Snow removal on Chapman, Central and Sheridan Streets (MN DOT) for next 3 days if possible, as more snow is coming Thurs. When you remove snow from your yard, don’t dump it in neighbor’s yard without their permission or just dump it across the street. There are several City snow dump sites for contractors and homeowners. These are not posted on the City website. FM note: Listen carefully to some mentioned tonight. Contact the City at 218-365-3224 for details. If you want snow dump sites posted on City website, let the City know.

1:08:00 City Attorney: Cannabis ordinances

1:21:03 New Business “D. Advertise for Open Committee Seats that the term limits will be expiring or coming due in January 31, 2025.” No names, no committees, no details. Absolutely nothing provided to Council or public tonight. No discussion. Why didn’t someone ask for more info? Last year there was a list. Open seats for (re)appointment happen every year. How can people encourage others or even themselves to apply when there is no info?

1:24:48 Open Forum: Richard Stuart will be actively working on providing educational materials, listening sessions with community, and workshops. He did not provide the name of his cannabis business/affiliation.

Park & Rec Dec 16 2024 mtg – Future Plans

Regular Park & Rec meeting scheduled on Mon., Dec. 16, 2024. Agendas & packet are not posted online. Scroll down for video of the meeting. This is a happy community group that feels comfortable serving our community and sharing their thoughts.

STAFF REPORTS AND UPDATES

City P&Z Administrator Scott Kochendorfer said Dog Park development will be sent to P&Z to handle. Brief comments about a website Sniffspot, possible fitness court, ice rinks, Trezona Trail, Hidden Valley, and public access issues after fire at local trailer park.

NEW BUSINESS

Chair Morgan Sauls is stepping down from the Board. Her seat is now open. Abby Dare was elected as the new Chair. Look at previous Citizens for Transparency recordings to see how Morgan Sauls conducted welcoming meetings, encouraged open discussions and input from all, and lead all in kind, cheery, and passionate service to the community.

January 6, 2025, is the meeting date.

Abby Dare suggested Park & Rec be actively involved in the Grand Opening of the Trailhead Center. Her goal is to “bring Ely together” by involving ALL groups. Great discussion.

Park vandalism was also discussed later on.

OLD BUSINESS

Great discussion about the “Draft of Comp Plan.” Tremendous list AND work behind it.

This is a list of short-, mid-, and long-term projects. They are not changes to the Comp Plan.

Both this list and all the discussions over 2024 reflect the idealism, passion and active involvement of this Board in the Ely community. The Comp Plan should be revised to incorporate their vision and intent. Otherwise, this isn’t officially Ely’s vision or plan.

The Park & Rec Board will continue to work on their plan. Share YOUR thoughts with them. Get involved with the Board by attending meetings and also with our local community organizations. “Bring Ely together” also means real outreach. Look at their web

With all due respect, this list and 2024 discussions seem to indicate that some voices from the community are not fully represented on the Board. Yes, any and all are truly welcome at Park & Rec meetings. Stronger advocacy voices need to voiced louder and more consistently OR officially seated (= appointed) to the Board when seats become open.

Seniors are 1/2 + of our population. What Park & Rec activities and funding involve seniors? Look at the list. Who on the Board advocates for seniors? Yes, all the Board Members care and want to be inclusive. But that is not the same as advocacy. Yes, seniors participate in many of the activities on the list. What Senior Center recreational activities are supported by Parks & Rec? What do seniors and non-active-in-traditional-sports adults want and need for recreation and health needs – inside and outside of the Senior Center?

Active sports (individual and team sports) are absolutely essential for physical, mental and social health. Add economics. But not everyone wants to or can participate in active sports activities currently supported and proposed by Park & Rec. Why isn’t accessibility a priority?

Health and Fitness need to have a louder local advocate on the Board. Why is Park & Rec and P&Z talking about some outside corporation coming in to build a Fitness Center within a park? All these outside organizations and corporations want to make money. If someone from Ely’s local health care system had a seat on the Park & Rec Board, maybe activities, projects and funding supporting health care would have been on the list, maybe even just mentioned in Ely’s Comp Plan. Get a health care advocate on the Board who continually will remind everyone about mental health, healing, building community, thinking outside the current mindsets. For example: What role and (wall and physical) space can health care professionals have at the Trailhead Center’s Grand Opening . . . and beyond?

Who on the Board advocates for the Ely Field Naturalists and other passive nature hobbyists? Obviously, Bill Teft frequently attending and speaking at Park & Rec meetings over the years hasn’t been enough for EFN to be mentioned on the list. Who’s the voice for community-wide native pollinator fields? The Garden Club and Incredible Ely have important visible roles in Ely (and their volunteerism should get more good press), but that is not the same as advocating for nature. Again. all the Board Members care about these things. But who on the Board is actively advocating for them?

It is the responsibility of Council to actively seek and appoint commissioners to reflect all the voices of the Ely community. Park & Rec Board Members are doing FOR MORE than their fair share to advocate for ALL voices.

THINKING DIFFERENTLY

(1) Earth Day/Week/Month should be more than trash pickup. BTW, shouldn’t community trash pick-ups be sponsored by the Sanitation Committee, their focus. Also, Council officially wants Sanitation to have a permanent reserved seat on the City’s Green Team, not Parks & Rec.

(2) Why is Park & Rec listing “Inner City campground development” as their responsibility in Comp Plan? That should be for Projects, EEDA, or P& to handle, not Park & Rec. Park & Rec can’t be on City’s Green Team but is involved in promoting private campground developments? Doesn’t make sense.

oo

City Council Nov 19 2024

Reflection and informed decisions

This is a regular scheduled City Council meeting. Notice the red items listed on the 3-page revised agenda that was given to Council shortly before the meeting started tonight. One of the major problems about adding and posting items after the recommended 3-business-day notification prior to the meeting is that neither the Council nor the public always has sufficient time to thoroughly study the additional items, research them as necessary, and ask questions of others (especially if they’re not seated in Council Chambers). It’s about having adequate time to reflect (whether sleeping overnight on something or not). It’s about making informed decisions. It’s not about doing something illegal. Citizens for Transparency has addressed this many times. Tonight is an example why giving Council sufficient time to review documents is the best option.

Page 1 revised Nov 19 agenda
Page 2 revised Nov 19 agenda
Page 3 revised Nov 19 agenda

Compare tonight’s 30-minute discussion about cannabis with another meeting when there were no discussions about “surprise” agenda items that appeared an hour or less before the meeting started. You get questions and Council catches mistakes when they have sufficient time to exam documents. Scroll down to the YouTube posted here at the bottom and observe the questions and conversations. Pull up pages 33-51 from the Council packet posted last Friday and follow along. Get documents from https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings The discussion starts about 20 minutes into the YouTube video: 9. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS E. City Attorney.

To compare with another meeting, pull up Council packet and watch the posted YouTube video from the October 1st City Council meeting via https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-oct-1-2024/

Watch those 30 minutes and then compare with the Oct 1st Council meeting. There was no time for thoughtful preparation on Oct 1st. This is why: (1) Additional items should not be added last minute as standard or normalized procedure. (2) All public City meetings should be streamed live and available free of charge 24/7/365 to the public, so WE can see what goes on that is not observable in the minutes alone.

Proposed Cannabis Ordinances

Listen carefully for details about the proposed cannabis ordinances. For example, can you eat edibles in public areas? Are cannabis hours different from liquor hours? Citizens for Transparency was unfortunately not able to record the Study Session on October 29th. Contact City Hall at 218-365-3224 to see if the Study Session was recorded and is being rebroadcast on Midco Cable and/or if you can order a CD. For those interested in printed details about the two proposed cannabis ordinances, read the documents from Council’s Special Study Session. The Oct 29th packet is available at https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings and the minutes are in the Agenda Additions Council packet (same link).

There will be a Public Hearing on these two cannabis ordinances on December 3, 2024 at 4:30 pm. Will the public see the revised ordinances with tonight’s changes or the First Reading as originally presented tonight? Check the City website for the Public Announcement to see what documents were posted. This is YOUR chance for input!

The Minutes Are in Your Packets

After last week’s Council meeting, we all should now have a better understanding why Council Members rarely mention anything about what transpired at Committee and Department meetings, aside from the recommendations that are to be Council motions for action. Expect even more, “The minutes are in your packet.” This is sad, because there are so many interesting topics, discussions, and activities going on in these meetings! Hearing what goes on would motivate more citizens to apply. Please recognize what volunteer citizens are doing! Breaking news? Most people do not read the minutes in Council packets.

Fee Schedules

For those interested in current and proposed fees for the City of Ely, check out the Oct 29th Study Session Packet and the minutes posted in the City Council Nov 19th Agenda Additions packet. Both sets of documents are available online at https://www.ely.mn.us/2024-meetings. Those who question the fees and/or want more clarification, contact City Hall ASAP at 218-365-3224.

Park & Rec Nov 18 2024 mtg

Another jam-packed 2-hour meeting of the Ely Park and Recreation Board meeting. So many exciting projects and discussions – as usual. Not everything will be addressed here in this post. This is a quick draft of what happened, this draft needs to be reviewed and additional info added. Time is important, so the public can see what happened.

This Park & Rec meeting is once again proof that the agendas and documents should be posted online for the whole community to read BEFORE the meetings. And all meetings should be broadcast/streamed live and available free-of-charge 24/7/365 to the public. All of Park & Rec activities involve the community. Park & Rec wants to engage the community. They are the spirit of Ely. They are the commission that matches up with our quality of life and the reasons why we moved here. It should NOT be the task of Citizens for Transparency to post videos of meetings or the important documents. That is the responsibility of a City where truly open, transparent and welcoming government in all its glory is supposed to be actively promoted. Why do we pay taxes??

On the left: The red items were last minute additions to the Park & Rec agenda. This one “additions-to-agenda packet” is 26 pages long. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQXKMzhZRXNPnQNrFSfmftSXNfq?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

Notice the City Calendar shows the Park & Rec meetings last 1 hour. The meetings should be posted as 2 hours long. Meetings are run efficiently by the Chair Morgan Sauls, always considerate, organic and welcoming. These meetings should be observed by the Mayor and City Council some of whose members don’t seem to want questions, deep discussions, or interaction with the public. Surprise! After chastising Park & Rec at the last Nov 12th Council meeting, Mayor Omerza sat with the audience tonight. Two members had to leave early due to other obligations. The rest stayed, tired but enthusiastic in their mission. Council’s goal is to leave ASAP and rubber stamp.

Right at the beginning of the meeting, time was spent rewording some sections of the previously submitted-to-Council unapproved minutes from the last Park & Rec meeting on October 21st. At the Nov 12th Council meeting, Mayor Heidi Omerza publicly chastised Council Member Adam Bisbee and the Park & Recreation Board for some of the sentences. As Citizens for Transparency pointed out many times, there have been issues with bullying, single-source purchasing, and mistakes and concerns in other minutes from and/or meetings of other commissions that the Mayor never publicly addressed. Teachers, Mayors and Council Members should not selectively reprimand in public those they don’t like (?) and ignore those they like (?). Tactful correcting is not the same as reprimanding. That is above all the role of Mayor. See post and video from the Nov 12th City Council meeting: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-nov-12-not-welcome/. Read the unapproved minutes in the Nov 12th Council packet or the original agenda+packet sent out to Park & Rec for tonight’s meeting.

NEW BUSINESS: Extensive discussion about the dog-friendly park by the baseball fields.

36:30 minutes into the video. “Dog-friendly” means dogs are to be leashed, not running free. The designation to “dog park” will change when the organizing group has their non-profit status approved. City dog/animal licensing and regulation laws still apply. Watch the video. Read the email from Bruce Wheelwright who has been doing a lot of work preparing the field. They are still working on getting non-profit status. People are not using the designated area, because the signs are still not posted. The signs are here but they are not posted. Dog owners are still bringing their dogs to play on the baseball fields. Dog poop isn’t being picked up. Harold Langowski pointed out that the dog-friendly park has NOT yet been officially approved by Council.

NEW BUSINESS: There was extensive discussion about trails for mountain biking and hiking. Approximately 53 minutes into the video, the MOA (Memo of Agreement) with North Country Trails This time actual maps were shown. Check the additions-to-agenda packet for LOTS of details as you watch the video. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQXKMzhZRXNPnQNrFSfmftSXNfq?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

STAFF REPORTS AND UPDATES and OLD BUSINESS at the beginning of tonight’s meeting:

There was discussion re: finances & fundraising, probably in response to the unapproved minutes. The City Administrator/Clerk Harold Langowski attended tonight’s meeting to explain and answer questions. He was also in attendance to answer many questions previously posed via email by the Park and Chair after their last meeting. Topics included Pickleball, new trail head, Ely Nodic Bike and Ski Club, multiple uses of courts and facilities, and proposed Park & Rec staffing. ETC. Watch video. Check the original agenda+packet sent out to Park & Rec Members https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQXKMzhZRXNPnQNrFSfmftSXNfq?projector=1&messagePartId=0.2

Approximately, 56 minutes into the video, OLD BUSINESS and COMP PLAN:

Harold Langowski and Scott Kochendorfer presented a schedule of Park and Rec projects. These are specific projects that happen quarterly, usually every year. They are not “plans.” Most are not really “goals.” There is a difference. Having a schedule of projects and events is very helpful. However, “Weekly/Daily Park Maintenance” during the 3rd/4th quarter should not really be considered as something that should be listed as a City Vision or placed within the Land Use and Comprehensive Plan. Otherwise, the Comp Plan would be filled with each City employee’s job responsibilities.

There was discussion about the schedule and annual “tasks” listed in these 3 pages. These would supposedly be the Park and Recreation Board’s short-term comp plan. “Short-term plan” means for the next one year. Harold Langowski suggested considering “mid-term plans” as completion in the next 5 years and “long-term plans” as within 10 years.

Only in the last 10 minutes or so of the meeting were words such as “gardens” and “open spaces” voiced, almost as an afterthought. Everything up to those last minutes in the 2-hour meeting was basically about sports and human entertainment. It was as if if the previous discussions about pollinator gardens and open spaces didn’t happen. If was as if Park and Representatives never attended the Planning & Zoning meeting to discuss zoning, etc. to help set up goals and objectives to protect open spaces and the environment (Page 27 in the 2016 Comp Plan).

Perhaps Park and Recreation Members are confused about the difference between daily tasks and projects versus goals and objectives is because City Staff is confused?

Confusion is perhaps why City Staff suddenly presented a St. Louis Park (MN) de-paving initiative to Planning & Zoning at their last meeting instead of to Park & Rec? (De-pave driveways and sidewalks to put in plants.). P&Z recommended the initiative to Council instead of referring to Park & Rec. Park and Rec really shouldn’t have anything to do with city-wide pollinator gardens?

At recent previous Park & Rec meetings, Members came up with great ideas for projects, plans and visions for use of designated-to-be and current open spaces for pollinators, kids, and the public. NONE of these were mentioned on the 3 pages of “plans.” Did City Hall not listen? Citizens for Transparency sent them links to the videos. The minutes whether approved or not do not include everything discussed. Not that the minutes are to include everything, but these ideas were/are important. What happened to those ideas expressed during animated discussions?? Did the Members forget? Did the 3-page list presented by City Staff distract them? Intentionally? Why not at least list some initial steps in 2025 for mid- and long-range goals and objectives for pollinator gardens, open spaces and protecting the environment? Hopefully, when Park & Rec Member Abby Dare types up the 3-page list of daily-quarterly-annual projects for the group, she can review previous minutes and videos and cover some of those previously voiced ideas.

Last but not least, there was absolutely no mention of the Green Team sub-committee approved by City Council on Nov 12th.

The Green Team is not Green. The City Council dissed the importance, purpose and knowledge of the Park and Recreation Board Members as well as Mother Nature. Apparently, there is no Climate Change impact on plant or animal habitats, on migration, on fishing, hunting, etc. Besides, who cares? City Council and City Hall are only interested is appearances, paperwork, to get a higher ranking with GreenSteps Cities. Many of the 29 best steps are what Park and Rec can best handle. The “Good Old Boys’ Clubs” don’t want to share power. GreenSteps Cities are not about power; they are about community. See post and video of Nov 12th City Council meeting: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/city-council-nov-12-not-welcome/

City Council Nov 12 – not welcome

2 major surprising events tonight! Both the Mayor Heidi Omerza and the whole City Council voiced/voted against Green issues and figuratively put Park and Recreation Board at the bottom of commission(er) rankings.

First of all, 30 minutes into the meeting (YouTube clip), Mayor Hedi Omerza publicly chastised Council Member Adam Bisbee and the Park and Recreation Board for the last sentences in their unapproved minutes of their October 21st meeting (unapproved = draft).

Unfortunately, minutes of many commissions meetings are submitted that are not reviewed or approved before posting in the Council packets, sometimes an hour or so before the Council meeting. Do the Chairs of those commissions even review the drafts before posted publicly as unapproved minutes or draft? There have been embarrassing mistakes in unapproved minutes, as mentioned on this website. Only approved minutes should be posted publicly. Do not blame the secretaries taking the minutes. Most are not professionally trained much less paid for typing up minutes. “Mistakes happen when people are undertrained.” Blame those who continually allow unapproved Commission minutes and drafts being posted before review.

If the Mayor, the City Clerk Administrator Harold Langowski, or the Planning & Zoning Administrator Scott Kochendorfer had issues with the unapproved October 21st minutes, they should have discussed issues privately with Council Member Adam Bisbee and/or the Park & Rec Chair BEFORE the Council meeting. If the City Clerk/Administrator Harold Langowski or the Planning & Zoning Administrator Scott Kochendorfer had issues, they should NOT have just posted the minutes. Did they not read the unapproved minutes or was this a set up? Did any of them look at a recording of Park & Rec meeting to better understand what the Park & Rec Commissioners were trying to express? Did they compare the recording with the minutes? Oh, that’s right, Park & Rec meetings are not recorded by the City for easy fee-free public access. FYI: The Mayor and others know YouTubes of Park & Rec meetings are posted on this website.

FM Note: There was is no reason for the Mayor to chastise a Council Member or a Commission publicly. The Mayor never publicly acknowledged/addressed bullying and other inappropriate behaviors by commissioners in Council Chambers or at commission meetings that I pointed out back in 2023. She never publicly chastised any other Commissioners during Council meetings before. Al Forsman and Paul Kess commented too in a kinder way, but why was there a public reprimand?

FM Note: The Mayor often reminds Council, City Hall and the public that she is a Kindergarten teacher. Council Members are to behave like good little boys and girls. I know of no teacher whose behavior would be considered acceptable if they reprimanded a student in front of the whole school. Teachers are supposed to talk to students privately about “behavior issues.” Adam Bisbee is an adult, not a Kindergartner. Adam Bisbee is worthy of respect, as an individual and as a Council Member, a team member. There should be no power plays at Council meetings, no politics. A discussion should have been conducted, not a reprimand.

The Mayor’s behavior and Council attempts for kinder follow-up comments demonstrated reasons why the public does not feel comfortable appearing before Council, serving on Commissions, or running for office. Whatever the intent, this was definitely not a “welcoming moment.” The Mayor needs to try harder being kind and understanding.

There is no Green in the Green Team

Secondly, approximately 51 minutes into the meeting, the City of Ely recommends creating a Green Team that does not include Green members. See the recommendation and email from the City Planning & Zoning Administrator. Why was Park & Rec excluded from automatic representation, a seat on the Green Team? Why wasn’t the Park & Rec Board even included in the discussions about a Green Team? Listen to the examples how Park & Rec Board could take a minor subservient role. For example, Park & Rec Members could just show up to an open public meeting of the Green Team. Park & Rec Members could apply just like any resident OR non-resident to be on the Green Team.

Not only is the Green Team a sub-committee instead of a full committee, there is nothing in writing presented to Council about its purpose or which committee is the overarching committee or group that it reports to. Meeting quarterly is basically saying the sub-committee is to have no real power or impact. It’s for show only, a political game.

from Nov 12th Council agenda

Note that being part of the GreenSteps Cities via establishing a nice-sounding Green Team should be more than just filling out paperwork. City Hall and the Mayor keep referring to paperwork, we just need to fill out more papers to get a higher rating. There are many GreenStep Cities programs that involve nature, a sustainable environment, working with community members, education, and kids. That’s whatPark & Rec is for. That’s what the Park & Rec is currently doing, the only commission doing all of these things. Why is Park & Rec excluded from the Green Team?

https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/about-us