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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

TOWER CITY COUNCIL

Hotel development agreement almost ready

Harbor Project condominium study in the works

Aloysia Power
Posted 11/15/14

TOWER – With winter settling in, Tower is quieting down, but the Historic Harbor Renaissance Project is still gaining steam. Just out of view, around the bend from the Highway 169 bridge, Marine …

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TOWER CITY COUNCIL

Hotel development agreement almost ready

Harbor Project condominium study in the works

Posted

TOWER – With winter settling in, Tower is quieting down, but the Historic Harbor Renaissance Project is still gaining steam. Just out of view, around the bend from the Highway 169 bridge, Marine Tech’s barge and yellow back hoe are scooping out the mouth of the East Two River – the last of three shallow spots. Earlier this month, they deepened an area of the river near the bridge and an area half way between the mouth and the city. In early January, the crew will be dredging out the harbor area adjacent to the new bridge.

At Monday’s council meeting, members approved a market study for the Harbor Project’s future condominiums. Mayfield Research, a Minneapolis marketing firm, will give Tower a report in the next 60 to 75 days which will determine the demand for the multi-family housing units as well as their best pricing, most desired features, and likely buyer profiles. The market study will cost Tower $11,000.

Before the end of November, Tower Council members said they should be signing the hotel development agreement for the Harbor Project’s $3 million, 35-unit Cobblestone Hotel in a special meeting. The agreement was slated to be signed at Tuesday night’s meeting, but council members crossed it off the agenda as negotiations are still in the works.

In other news, the council:

‰Purchased a new emergency snowmobile from Harold’s Arctic Cat to replace the 1999 600 Polaris that was damaged in the Ambulance Garage fire on the Fourth of July. The new snowmobile, a 2014 Bearcat four-stroke 1100cc, came with a belt cover, hitch, and a flashing and scene lighting unit for about $12,500.

‰Dedicated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to recognize the survivors and victims of domestic abuse and to promote peace with an end to domestic violence in Tower’s families and homes.

‰Will consider joining a Joint Powers Board with Cook and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission to collaborate in the planning and construction of the Lake Vermilion Trail – a paved, non-motorized pedestrian route. Plans for the trail, which began in 2011, place the western portion of the route on the sides of county roads from Cook to Lake Vermilion. The eastern part of the route is looking to go from the Fortune Bay Casino to the Y-Store and then to Tower to hook up with the Mesabi and Hoodoo Point Trails.

‰Applauded Tower Ambulance for passing inspections on their two ambulances by the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. The ambulances undergo inspections every two years.

‰Is working with an attorney to update Tower’s current city fire code, which dates back to 1954. Council members considered the possibility of adopting the state’s fire code to use as a recourse if there is a complaint about a fire hazard in city limits.

‰To help with snow removal, Breitung Police is reminding drivers of the 48-hour rule in Tower. The rule states that drivers can’t park their vehicles on the streets or alleys for more than 48 hours and can’t park on Main Street between 2 and 5:30 a.m.

In Soudan, drivers can’t park on township roads between 12 and 8 a.m.

‰Accepted the contracts of Janisch Realty for the sale of the city’s four land parcels by Sherman Road. Janisch Realty will receive six percent of the selling price.

‰Certified November’s election results reporting that Josh Carlson won the mayoral race, Lance Dougherty and Bradley Matich earned the four-year council terms, and Joan Broten achieved the two-year council member position.

‰Chose not to waive the statutory tort liability limits from its coverage from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Not waiving the liability limits insures that a single claimant can’t recover more than $500,000 and all claimants linked to a single occurrence can’t recover more than $1,500,000 combined.