TOWER— A deal reached Monday appears to have cleared the way for the demolition of two more vacant Main Street buildings here. The city council agreed to pitch in $2,500 towards the cost of removing the former Olson’s meat market building, now owned by Karel and Brenda Winkelaar. St. Louis County has agreed to contribute $5,000 towards the $15,000 estimated cost of demolition and removal of the structure, while the Winkelaar’s will pay $7,500 on a five-year note to the city.

“This is a tough pill for me to swallow,” said Mayor Josh Carlson, expressing his belief that taxpayer dollars shouldn’t go towards demolition of a privately owned building.

But the city was caught in an unusual situation, since the adjacent building, which most recently housed Erickson’s Hardware, shares a common wall. That building, which has since reverted on unpaid taxes to St. Louis County, is also slated for demolition, but the county has refused to move forward until it can take both buildings down at the same time.

The city was running the risk that the county would cancel its current demolition contract, and leave both buildings standing indefinitely. Adding to the city’s concern was evidence that squatters or youthful partiers were making occasional use of the Erickson building, raising liability issues for the county.

Winkelaar said he already had more money invested in the property and that he’d rather let the building sit as is than spend $10,000 up front to have it removed. He noted that he had recently brought the property taxes up to date, which meant it would be five more years before the building would go back on taxes, clearing the way for demolition. “The buildings have to be torn down together,” he said. “It would be more beneficial for the city to do it now,” he said.

In opting to pitch in, the council, in effect, agreed, and directed City Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith to inform the county as soon as the Winkelaars signed the promissory to repay the $7,500 on a five-year note. The council approved the deal on a 4-0 vote, with Councilor Brad Matich absent.

In other business, the council set Aug. 22 as the new date for completing the land transfer for the harbor project. The transfer has been delayed a number of times as the city engineer and representatives of Tower Vision 2025 have failed to connect on issues and questions, but the final details now appear to be all but worked out. Tower Vision 2025, headed by Orlyn Kringstad, is moving forward on a development at the site. Initial discussions focused on a town house development, but, based on community feedback, Kringstad’s group is looking at some modifications that would provide a mix of commercial and residential development at the site. But Kringstad said completing the land transfer is essential to his current efforts to bring in project investors. He has a number of potential investors already lined up, but can’t move forward without having access to the land.

In other action, the council:

• Heard a recommendation by a city hiring committee to hire Steve Altenburg as the city’s new ambulance director, to replace Matt Tuchel, who is leaving in December. But Altenburg said he’s interested in seeing several changes, including an expanded service, before agreeing to take on the job. City officials will discuss Altenburg’s recommendations before making a final decision on the hiring.

• Approved a resolution allowing the city to apply to open all county roads within the city limits to use by ATVs. The city will have to make the application to St. Louis County once the county establishes its new process.

• Appointed Joan Broten and Doug Workman to work with Jeff Hill on a proposal to develop a tiny house village somewhere near Tower. Hill made a lengthy presentation of the popular concept to the council, and threatened to prosecute anyone who used his idea. Hill said he is also planning to pitch his proposal to Breitung Township.

• Opted not to get involved in a current issue over ownership of a half-lot on Main Street adjacent to Vermilion Fuel and Food. The lot recently went back on taxes to St. Louis County, and the county had offered to transfer the land to the city of Tower for future development. But the land is the subject of legal action by Fuel and Food owner Terry Wagoner. Meanwhile, Jim Brandt, of Brandt’s Greenhouse, expressed interest in purchasing the lot for a seasonal retail garden center.

• Approved a letter to RV park proposer Dave Rose informing him that the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission has denied his application for a conditional use permit based on inadequate information. To move forward, the letter indicates that Rose will need to have his wetland delineation approved by the DNR, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources. He will also need to complete an environmental assessment worksheet, submit a density study and sewer plan and address sewage capacity questions the wastewater board. A preliminary estimate from SEH put the cost of completing an EAW at $39,000, although Rose told the Timberjay on Tuesday that he is completing the work himself, with assistance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

• Discussed how to address concerns about slippery conditions at the city’s seaplane base. Airport Manager John Burgess said he had looked at several options to address the issue, and decided that extending the rubber matting further up the access ramp is the best way to reduce the problem.

• Agreed to advertise for members of a new community garden committee that would be charged with determining a location for a new garden space. Preliminary discussion focused on the east side of the former football field.

• Accepted a lower propane price, of $1.19 per gallon, from Como Oil and Propane for the upcoming heating season.

• Approved the use of the city-owned GEM electric car by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society. The council okayed TSHS representatives Doug Workman and Jeff Hill as drivers of the vehicle.

• Approved the final payment for dredging of the East Two River and the city’s harbor.

• Approved the sale of a 40-acre parcel on Gunderson Road, for $27,500. Keith said the city’s real estate broker, Lisa Janisch, had indicated it was likely the best offer the city could expect on the property. Funds from the sale will go to pay expenses on the harbor project.

• Approved soliciting bids from outside the Tower area for repairs to the front steps at City Hall. Keith noted that none of the four local contractors she mailed bid requests to had responded as of the deadline. The city council approved extending the deadline until Aug. 22.