Babbitt council discusses industrial park issues

BABBITT- A Babbitt Planning Commission member urged the city council here to send a proposed change in the city’s industrial-district rules back to the commission before acting, saying the panel had considered the matter only in connection with seven lots near the Conservation Club.
The council held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at its Tuesday meeting, but took no action. Councilors Jim Lassi and Dustin Kirkpatrick were absent.
Industrial rules
The proposed ordinance would amend requirements for construction in the industrial district, including a deadline to obtain a building permit and another for completing construction. It would also require driveways to be paved after the abutting road is paved, along with related surfacing and landscaping requirements.
Planning Commission member Stephani Teslow said the commission had not considered an amendment that could apply to other industrial areas or future industrial development.
“The industrial district, but there’s other industrial districts,” Teslow said. “We were given instructions to only consider seven tracts of land. That was our instructions, not for anything else, for any other parts of industrial land or anything.”
City officials said the commission had reviewed the question of amended industrial-lot covenants at an earlier meeting, although Teslow disputed that characterization and said the commission’s discussion was limited to the seven lots. The ordinance was tabled.
Cherry Circle land
The council also revisited a proposed sale of a former roadbed behind Cherry Circle to Richard Evenstad, who said the proposed $2,400-per-acre price was too high for land that cannot be developed and has little value beyond access to his property.
The draft agreement calls for Evenstad to pay for a survey, with the final acreage and legal description to be determined before a sale. The discussion focused largely on how much of the former road the city would sell and the need to establish and record easements for other property owners who use it for access.
“The city really needs to decide how much they are willing to sell there and have it all staked out,” Evenstad said. “But $2,400 an acre is pretty high for a piece of land that nobody wants.”
Council members said any sale would need to account for legal access for affected property owners. Evenstad said he would do more research and return with an offer.
AED presentation
The council received a more upbeat interruption to its otherwise routine agenda when Essentia Health presented the Babbitt Ambulance Service with an automated external defibrillator.
The presentation recognized a recent cardiac-arrest response in which the patient’s son began CPR after calling 911. Law enforcement used an AED before Babbitt and Ely ambulance personnel took over care, and the patient was later flown to Duluth for treatment.
Essentia’s Richard Mullvain said the coordinated response, including early CPR, made a major difference in the patient’s recovery. The ambulance service will work with the Police Department to decide where the new AED should be placed in the community.
Assistant ambulance director Rebekah Littler said the recognition belonged to the responders who answered the call.
“I know we are not a career service, but we have the most dedicated people on our service,” Littler said. “The fact that we’re getting this award for the work that those people back there did is beyond astounding to me.”
Compressor update
Recreation director Caitlin Stern reported that the arena compressor project is largely complete, although the city is still awaiting equipment from Minnesota Power and must complete testing, training, and emergency planning.
The council approved five change orders. Stern said the project was still expected to come in about $60,000 under budget, even after another anticipated expense for an occupancy fan.
Other business
In other business, the council:
• Met in closed session regarding the T.M. v. City of Babbitt lawsuit and preliminary allegations involving zoning officer Chris Koivisto. No action was taken afterward.
• Left pending a West Babbitt purchase-agreement addendum. Staff said the prospective purchasers did not see a need to resolve a boundary issue before the Phase Four closing.
• Continued discussion of potential industrial development behind the Conservation Club. Staff said the Planning Commission had previously recommended against rezoning the site, but the city is continuing to explore options with the IRRRB and may seek another formal commission recommendation.
• Approved a city-owned cellphone for the Police Department.
• Hired Landyn Saltzman as a casual arena laborer.
• Approved a six-month ambulance leave for Emily Jaeger. The council named Littler temporary ambulance director through Jan. 1 and Mike Jenkins temporary assistant director while it accepts applications for leadership positions.
• Approved up to $4,000 from the permanent-improvements fund for keypad access, cleaning equipment, paint, and other updates at the Community Center, along with a user-group agreement and centralized scheduling.
• Canceled its Nov. 3 meeting, leaving Nov. 17 as its regular November meeting date.