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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Orr appoints Klun Law Firm as city’s new legal counsel

E.M. Schultz
Posted 11/15/19

ORR— Ely-based Klun Law Firm will serve as Orr’s new city attorney following council action here on Tuesday. The city will use the firm for a probationary period until January, when the …

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Orr appoints Klun Law Firm as city’s new legal counsel

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ORR— Ely-based Klun Law Firm will serve as Orr’s new city attorney following council action here on Tuesday. The city will use the firm for a probationary period until January, when the city conducts its annual reorganization. At that time, the council will decide whether to go with the Klun firm on a more permanent basis.
Klun was one of three firms to be considered for the opportunity. The city had also reached out to the Trenti and Sellman firms, but Trenti was the only other firm to respond. Council members didn’t immediately agree on Klun, and spent some time discussing the pros and cons of both firms. Ultimately, the council opted for Klun because of the firm’s experience with civil matters and the work they have done in Ely as the legal counsel there.
The city of Orr was in need of new legal counsel after their previous attorney, Andy Peterson, won an appointment to the Sixth District bench in Virginia. With two blighted property cases on their agenda, including the former Orr General Store, which may need to be demolished, the council is likely to need legal representation.
According to the council, the owners of both these properties have received multiple notices of their deficiencies. The owner of the property on Pine Drive was given until the end of September to clean things up, and now the city has no choice but to have its own maintenance staff do the work, which the city will bill to the property owner.
Similarly, the city has now given the owner’s of the Orr General Store a year to address the concerns with that property. Given the owners lack of action, the city will likely have to condemn the building through eminent domain. The store must be demolished due to a serious mold problem. Council members are also concerned that the roof is close to caving in and that the abandoned building has become a fire hazard and a hot spot for squatters.
In other business, the council:
Held a public hearing prior to the regular meeting regarding a request from William Hoffer for a special permit that would allow him to use a portion of his land as a gravel pit, which the council granted.
Approved city expenditures in the amount of $59,480.57.
Designated the Orr City Hall as the city’s official 2020 polling place.
Approved a payment to MacQueen Equipment for repairs done to a FreightLiner Pumper truck that belongs to the Orr Fire Department.
Approved a resolution allowing the continued government sponsorship of the Voyageur Snowmobile Trail, which is maintained by the Voyageur Trail Society, Inc. This resolution remains in effect for five years.
Adopted a policy statement regarding tampering and theft of water and wastewater services.

orr city council, legal