ELY— The city council chamber here was filled Tuesday night as Ely area residents weighed-in on the proposed sale of an 80-year-old city landmark for use as a Korean cultural and technical center.

As many as 75 people listened as several residents voiced their opinion, mostly in opposition, to the sale of the former Ely Community Center to Jimmy and Africa Yoon and their K America Foundation, through which they plan to renovate the building and transform it into a venue for Korean culture-inspired youth camps. The Yoons have offered $30,000 for the building, although they estimate the cost of renovations at $3 million.

Council members voted 5-2 last month to enter into a purchase agreement with the Yoons.

Any activity at the building, which has been vacant for almost four years, could be several more years away as the Yoons’ business plan calls for financing renovations through grants and donations. Terms of the deal include a six-year period, and a possible three-year extension, for the new owners to complete renovations to the building and to further develop their business plan.

City Council candidate Angela Campbell submitted a separate $37,000 offer for the structure. She is highly critical of the sale process for the building that included closed council meetings for discussion of negotiation strategy. The state’s Open Meeting Law does allow for closed meetings for such purposes.

Campbell presented an updated business plan to the council Tuesday night and said she plans to develop the building as the Ely Civic and Conference Center within three years. She plans to rely mostly on $3 million in unspecified grants and donations in funding to pay for renovations to the building.

Many Ely residents have taken to commenting on a Save The Ely Community Center Facebook page, created earlier this month, in support of Campbell’s vision. The mission of the Facebook page is a “call to action” to the community of Ely regarding the forthcoming sale of the Historic Ely Community Center.

Tuesday’s hearing was part of the city’s process for the sale of the public building. “We are here to listen,” said Mayor Novak. “This is not a popularity contest. We want to hear concerns. Comments will be used to make a final decision.”

Not all of the comments were critical of the Yoons’ proposal.

“I read the business plan of K America Foundation and it looks to me like quite a worthy endeavor,” said Carol Orban. “They have analyzed their customer base. They are prepared to do intense networking, publicity and fund-raising. I think their four-to six-year plan is reasonably possible. Don’t throw away this opportunity to create a highlight of educational activity in this town.”

But Ann Kostinen, who lives less than a block from the Community Center, said she is concerned about “the things that are going to go on there, the things that could go on there and the impact it would make on my neighborhood.” She added. “This is a city of Ely asset and should be used by the city as an asset.”

Campbell surprised the council by presenting her updated business plan. Novak directed her to present it to the city’s real estate agent for the Community Center sale for consideration. “I want to stress the importance of keeping the Community Center in the community,” she said. “It was built by the miners and their families and it is a generational legacy.” She said she intends “to restore it and use it for profit.” The Community Center is the only building in the city, according to Campbell, that is a designated bomb shelter.

Ely resident David Ziegler said he saw many similar situations of “ethnic groups” moving into communities in California and Colorado. “I’ve seen these slow incursions snowball into something that gets way out of hand,” he said. “In Garden Grove, Calif. I saw literally half of the city taken over by foreign entities literally overnight. When certain groups of people get their foot in the door that is just the beginning of what’s to come. They start their own businesses and support each other and push everyone else out. There is a lot of real estate in this town. Lots of houses here have been for sale for years. That’s the stuff they come after.”

Mark McCoy has lived right next to the Community Center for the past 30 years. “It has been a real trying situation living next door. I want what’s best for Ely.” He said his house will go up for sale no matter who buys the center.

Mike Banovetz called for the city council to take a pause and evaluate both purchase proposals for the Community Center.

Lottie Pinckney said she was at the hearing to say what everyone else won’t say. “We don’t need Korean culture here,” she said. “I’m not prejudiced. If they want to come here, we have a Veterans on the Lake (resort) that they can stay at. We don’t need to be rezoned. That is right across the street from my house. I don’t want any Koreans around. They will bring diseases. Think about it.” At that point Mayor Novak said she was out of order with her comments and prohibited her from continuing.

Several area residents also spoke on the topic.

Betsy Flaten, a summer resident from Eagles Nest Township said her adopted daughter is Korean. “I was very excited to hear about this proposal,” she said. “I went to Korean camp in Minneapolis with my daughter. This is an opportunity for us and I hope we take advantage of it and reach out rather than close in.”

Morse Township resident Steve Saari said many Ely residents feel left out of the process of selling the Community Center because of the closed real estate negotiations and rezoning procedure.

Ely Heritage Preservation Commission member Celia Domich said many non-legitimate purchase proposals were made for the Community Center in the past four years. “Ideas are cheap, and execution is expensive,” she said. The K America Foundation plan is the first one to “recognize the challenge” of the building. “I think we should support them. They have what I consider, an excellent plan.”

Ely residents will have another opportunity to weigh-in on the issue during a public hearing set for Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., in the council chambers. That hearing relates to the proposed rezoning of the community center property from Public (P-2) to Residential Transition (RT). An earlier zoning change, approved by the Planning and Zoning Committee, has to be nullified due to a failure to provide required notice to nearby neighbors.