ELY— The city of Ely’s unique police hiring incentive appears to be making a difference. That was the report from Police Chief Chad Houde, who told the city council here on Tuesday that applications for open positions in the department have jumped sharply since news spread of the city’s offer to provide new recruits with a free canoe and paddling gear.
“In this last hiring process, we ended up with 19 applicants, which is 18 more than the previous hiring cycle,” said Houde. “So, I want to thank you for that (the incentive program). Several applicants mentioned the incentive canoes in their interviews, so the program has definitely done its job. Now we need to wait to see if it helps with retention.”
The discussion on the incentive came during Houde’s report on a conditional job offer to Charles Petersen for the open police officer position, pending a background investigation, and psychological and medical examinations.
Household hazardous waste
St. Louis County will collect household hazardous waste from Ely area residents at the Ely Joint Public Works Facility, located at 2210 E. Sheridan St., on June 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., unless rescheduled due to bad weather or emergencies. The next Ely area collection will be at the Northwoods Transfer Station on Cty. Rd. 21 on Aug. 29.
The county will accept paint products, automotive fluids and greases, deep fat fryer and other cooking oils, pesticides, aerosol products, rechargeable batteries, caustic or corrosive products, other household chemicals and cleaners, fluorescent tubes, CFLs, and ballasts, mercury, adhesives, and lead sinkers and other lead items.
Treated wood is not accepted as household hazardous waste or as demolition material, but must go in the regular garbage. Used car batteries, motor oil, and oil filters are also not household hazardous waste but are collected instead for recycling at several county transfer stations.
Household medical waste has its own set of handling rules which are online at stlouiscountymn.gov/hw.
In other matters for the business, the city council:
• Approved a resolution authorizing the city to pursue an official trail town designation for the North Country National Scenic Trail. The trail, which is part of the National Park Service, was rerouted through Ely, Soudan, and Tower last year.
• Approved the purchase of dirt for the Little League field.
• Approved the appointment of Emily Roose, chair of the planning and zoning commission, to the sanitation committee as the planning and zoning representative.
• Heard the report that the Ely Board of Adjustment approved the conditional use permit for 26 and 36 E. Conan St. for the construction of a public and private parking lot. According to Ely Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski, the creation of a parking lot at this currently blighted property will help further the development of the city’s previous community center at the corner of Harvey St. and First Ave. The developer intends to convert the former community center into a boutique hotel. One of the contract conditions that the developer has with the city is the creation of off-street parking for use by the hotel’s customers. The city will retain ownership of the property, part of which will be dedicated to the use of the hotel. The rest of the parking will be public.
• Approved the recommendation from the board of adjustment to rezone the former railroad depot property at 212 N. Central Ave. from the industrial (M) zoning code to commercial (C1) zoning code. According to Langowski, the rezoning is one step in the process to redevelop the property. The depot was formerly used by an outfitter.
• Approved the purchase of a replacement pump for the Pioneer lift station from Quality Flow Systems for $11,980.
• Approved the rental of a biosolids press from Fergus Power Pump for $18,340.
• Approved attendance at the Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association Conference, July 24-26 in Grand Rapids for WWTF staff members.
• Approved a $447,949 payment for the Ely Utilities Commission March bills.
• Approved a recommendation from the telecommunications advisory board that the city act as the fiscal agent for Ely Area Television’s grant request to the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.
• Approved a recommendation from telecommunications advisory board to approve $200 for additional filming by Ely Area Television in April.
• Approved the recommendation from the employee relations committee to approve the revised direct deposit form.
• Approved a revised police sergeant job description at the recommendation of employee relations.
• Approved the donation of an unused server to the nonprofit Ely Community Health Center at the recommendation of Langowski.
• Approved closing the library for four days, Sept. 11-14, so the staff can attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries conference in Springfield, Mass.
• Approved a note and mortgage for a residential rehab loan of $4,143 for Taylor Davis at 915 E. White St. for sewer repairs.
• Approved the notification and cancellation of a purchase agreement for Gregory Paul Demarce for Lot 6, Block 4 in the East Spaulding Plat. City Attorney Kelly Klun reported that the city has not had any contact with the purchaser for an extended period. Once the city has delivered the notification, it will relist the property for sale at its currently market value.
• Received the invitation from the Ely Climate Group and the nonprofit group CURE to attend a conversation on sustainable development in rural communities on May 9 at 4 p.m. at the Ely Senior Center.
• Approved $67,889 of claims for payment for the city and the Ely Utilities Commission for May 7.
• Approved SEH invoice No. 464627 for Prospector ATV Connector for $4182.
• Appointed Bonnie Starkman to a resident seat on the tree board with a term expiring on Jan. 31, 2027.
• Approved change order No. 1 for the trailhead site rebid project.
• Approved change order No. 1 for the 2023 taxi lane reconstruction project at the airport.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for the Boundary Waters Connect/ Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness for July 5 at Chapman Street Commons, 115 E. Chapman St.
• Accepted the resignation of John Hunn from Heritage Preservation Commission.
• Approved a residential rehab loan application for Kathy Quigley and Madalynne Reese for $5,034 at 1139 E. Washington St. to install a moisture barrier in the basement, pending relevant paperwork.