Kevin Norby

TOWER— The city council here, at a special meeting held Wednesday (after the Timberjay’s weekly presstime) was expected to appoint Kevin Norby to fill the seat left vacant by the recent resignation of Rachel Beldo. Norby was the only resident of the city to apply for the vacancy.
Norby, a resident of the Mill Point neighborhood, said he feels he can become more involved in city affairs because he’s now able to work remotely, from home. Norby is a business technology consultant with a large St. Paul insurance company, a job that used to include lots of travel. That’s changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Norby believes the change is likely to be a permanent one. “It seems like a good time to help out,” he said.
Norby said he had planned to retire to the Lake Vermilion area, but that changes in technology made it possible for him to move to Tower while still working, even though he used to spend a lot of time on the road.
Norby made the move to Tower about six years ago, but his connection to the area runs generations. “My great grandparents settled in Embarrass. My grandfather worked in the mines and my father was a surveyor for the state highway department up here for 45 years.”
Norby’s stint on the city council could be short-lived. He said he’s yet to decide if he’ll run for election in the fall. He’ll only have until this coming Tuesday to decide, which is when filings close for the four open seats on the council. Two four-year seats and two two-year seats will be up on Nov. 3.