ELY- Heidi Omerza, the Mayor of Ely, issued a proclamation at the beginning of the first city council meeting of the year, changing the name of the city to Arendelle as the council members looked on in approval. The new city name will only be in effect from Jan. 19-21. The name change is to honor the Ely Memorial High School musical, which will be performed on those dates.
The school won a national Disney competition held during the 2022-23 school year to be the only high school in Minnesota with the rights to perform the full Broadway musical version of Disney’s Frozen.
Signs proclaiming “Welcome to Arendelle” are scheduled to appear this week along Sheridan St. The Ely Chamber of Commerce has requested that area businesses leave their holiday decorations and lights up through Jan. 21 to help celebrate the musical.
Short-term rentals
In other business on Tuesday, the city council voted to reduce the number of short-term rental licenses in residential neighborhoods from 35 to 25. A short-term rental in Ely’s city ordinances is defined as any rental of a residence lasting 30 days or less. There is no limit on short-term rentals in commercially zoned areas.
The council discussed this action in detail at its Dec. 5 meeting as covered in the Dec. 8 edition of the Timberjay, but opted to give the public more time before enacting the change. At the time, the number of licensed short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods was 21. By the end of December, that number had increased to 24.
“This was reported on over the last couple of months, so those in the docket to get a rental license I believe have received a license,” said Ely Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski.
The maximum number of residential-zone short-term rental licenses the city issued was 31 in 2021, after the city passed its first short-term rental ordinance. The number of residential short-term licenses has dropped steadily since.
Councilors indicated they felt that evolving market conditions had led to the decline. “The marketplace has taken care of this in favor of lowering the number of licenses (issued),” said council member Paul Kess.
Gillson apologizes
Jason Gillson asked to speak to the city council in open forum. Gillson, who was arrested on multiple felony charges in Ely in August and September, apologized to the city council for his actions. “I just wanted to make that clear to everybody that has been very apologetic for what has happened,” Gillson said in a rambling statement.
According to Minnesota court records, Gillson has a settlement hearing on his charges on Feb. 12, indicating that a plea bargain may be in the works.
Gillson was charged with a felony on August 20 for allegedly discharging a firearm within city limits during an alleged altercation with his girlfriend.
Gillson was charged with multiple felony counts on Sept. 13, including arson, discharging a firearm within a municipality, and flight from a peace officer in a motor vehicle, in an incident that started with a high-volume altercation with his girlfriend that was heard throughout the first block of E. Boundary and E. James Streets.
In other business, the council:
• Scheduled a public hearing to review plans for the Fire Apparatus Building and the Ely Area Ambulance Garage on Jan. 16 at 5 p.m.
• Approved the recommendation from Ely Utilities Commission (EUC) Customer Relations Committee to move forward with reimbursing an unnamed customer for their original $2,500 water and sewer availability charge by direct payment because of a leaking curb stop.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to move forward with purchasing a $14,793 replacement unit if the variable feed drive repair by Mielke Electric does not work at the water treatment plant.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to approve the $387,608 payment of the EUC’s November bills.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to move forward with the recommended 2024 EUC budget.
• Approved City of Ely and Ely Utilities Commission claims for payment for Jan. 2 for $91,814.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to pay AMPTEK, $1,064 for air compressor troubleshooting and repair at the water treatment plant.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to pay AE2S $18,999 for the Waste Water Treatment Facility Improvements Project and $1,675 for the WTP Improvements Project.
• Approved a recommendation from the EUC to pay Mick Shusta $500 for A-Operator Services.
• Approved a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission to have two meetings a month from January to May on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
• Approved the purchase of a mini-excavator for $86,250.
• Denied the appeal of a failed sewer inspection at 535 E Boundary St.
• Heard the report by Police Chief Chad Houde that lifetime dog licenses are now available for sale at the police department.
• Approved the note and mortgage for the residential rehab loan for James and Brittney Thorstenson at 122 E. Harvey St. for $10,000 for a new energy efficient propane furnace.
• Approved 2024 official city depositories of Frandsen Bank & Trust, Highland Bank and the 4M Fund. Mayor Heidi Omerza abstained from voting because she is married to an officer of Frandsen Bank and Trust.
• Approved Resolution 2024-002, “Adopting the 2024 City of Ely Fee Schedule.”