TOWER— The city here moved a step closer to the opening of a cannabis shop, with the council’s approval of a new fee schedule for permitting of the facility, to be located at Rick’s Relics, a vintage thrift shop on Tower’s Main Street.
Based on state law, which sets a maximum permit fee of $500, the council opted to charge $250 for both the application fee and the annual renewal. Last year, Rick Petrzilka received a social equity license for a retail business to sell cannabis in Tower, and he and his daughter and Rick’s Relics owner, Julie Petrzilka, have been working since then to meet all the requirements for opening the shop. Based on the requirements of state law, the city has already made changes to zoning to allow for the business. Setting permit application and renewal fees was another step in the process.
Julie Petrzilka told the Timberjay that she expects some further delays at the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, but remains hopeful that the new shop will be able to open for business sometime this summer.
In other business, the city council unanimously approved the hiring of Cole Appraisal services at an estimated cost of $3,500 to have the current city hall building appraised for sale. The city continues to move forward with plans to move city hall to the “Old Fire Hall”, the official designation on the National Register of Historic Places for the building that once housed the city hall, fire department, and jail.
As part of that move, the current city hall building, which currently houses D’Erick’s bar and liquor store in addition to city offices, would be sold. After some discussion about timing of the appraisal, the council opted to move forward quickly so the building could be listed by early summer. Council member Joe Morin said he was hopeful the sale would easily cover the cost of the appraisal as well as any costs associated with the city’s move to its new offices.
In harbor-related business, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance change vacating Harbor Court, the platted access road along the harbor’s south side. Due to changes in the plans for the site, the actual road to be built later this year will be shifted somewhat. A new plat, known as a Common Interest Community, or CIC, overlay, will formalize the new road location. The developers will provide a perpetual easement along the road to allow for public utilities. For the new CIC plat to memorialize the road location, the old alignment needs to be vacated to ensure that St. Louis County will accept the new layout.
As part of the road vacation, the city will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 30, at 5 p.m., with a special city council meeting to immediately follow.
Work at the harbor is likely to get underway very soon. Hoover Construction is slated to begin soil mitigation work as soon as early-to-mid-May with utilities work expected to begin shortly after that. The developers are pushing for a construction start no later than July 1.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the hiring of Mike Jenkins as a new EMT for the Tower Ambulance, pending a background check. Jenkins comes with decades of experience in emergency medical services in the Boston area, but recently relocated to northeastern Minnesota. He is currently employed by the Babbitt Ambulance.
• Delayed action, pending more information, on a request by interim ambulance director Jen McDonough to authorize student ride-alongs on the Tower ambulance.
• Delayed action on a request by McDonough to undertake a training course in ambulance billing coding at a cost of $1,155. Morin suggested the council discuss the process and timeline for hiring a permanent director before investing in more training.
• Re-appointed Steve Abrahamson to the Tower Economic Development Authority board for a six-year term.
• Heard that the city’s former ambulance was sold for $10,300. After bid fees charged by the auction service, the city will net $9,682, considerably more than expected.
• Approved the appointments of Doug Carter and Roy Peterson to the Tower Airport Commission. The council also approved a motion expanding the commission’s membership from five members to six.
• Accepted a $1,000 donation to the ambulance service from the estates of the late Rod and Marge McPeak.
• As required by state law, established a joint board to consider zoning changes for the Tower Airport.
• Designated the Herbert R. Lamppa Civic Center as the city’s polling location for the 2026 elections.