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The Babbitt city council had its first meeting of the year on Tuesdaywithtwonewmembers and one returning member being sworn in.
Mayor Andrea Zupancich and council member John Fitzpatrick took the oath of office along with Duane Lossing, who moved from the mayor’s chair to a council seat.
Zupancich pushed for a change to the meeting schedule with the start time changed to 5:30 p.m. and a study session to be held at 5 p.m. prior to each meeting. Meetings will be held the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
Zupancich said she wanted to see the study session added and had pushed for it in the past. “This is something I would like to try,” said Zupancich.
“This was something we did in the past and we would end up sitting around doing nothing,” said council member Jim Lassi.
Lassi voted against the motion, but it passed 3-1 with council member Joe White absent.
The council also approved the following committees: Audit: Fitzpatrick and Zupancich, Lassi alternate Campground: White and Lassi Cemetery: Lassi and Fitzpatrick Library: White Marina: Fitzpatrick and Lassi Parks and Recreation: Lossing and White Personnel: Lossing and Zupancich, Lassi alternate Planning: Lassi Public Safety: White and Fitzpatrick Public Works: Lossing and Zupancich Safety Group: White Steering: Lossing and White West Babbitt Development: Zupancich and Lassi Fire Relief Board ex-official members: White and Lossing The council discussed two proposals for an industrial park. Lassi said the recommendation was to proceed with both options.
Zupancich said the city has looked at 200 acres in North Babbitt and trying to get 40 acres but that hasn’t happened. She said there is a 40 acre parcel for sale by a private party and look to swap it with the state. That may be held up by school trust land designation.
The city has a 6.5 acre parcel near some wellheads and Zupancich said that could be a viable area. The Hike and Bike path would need to be rerouted.
Zupancich said there is also land south of the wastewater plant that could work. Lassi said that land is city owned and there are three other city-owned adjacent parcels that are owned by Twin Metals Minnesota. Lassi said the private owned parcel may or may not be able to be swapped with the DNR.
Lossing asked what the goals were for these parcels. He said if they were light industrial it may work for companies not interested in visibility.
Lassi said in the past the city had designated a 40 by the golf course but with the West Babbitt Development that could become housing.
The council passed a motion to look at several options for Industrial Park land.
“I want to do a little trash talk here,” said Lassi as he brought up a city ordinance on garbage. He said leaving garbage cans on the street looks “trashy.”
“I don’t think this gives a very good appearance to the town,” said Lassi. “I would like to set some sort of time period to get your garbage cans back by your house.”
Fitzpatrick said he would like to see a 24-hour time period for garbage can removal.
Lassi suggested rewriting the current garbage ordinance including penalties for not removing garbage cans after the trash is picked up. The issue was tabled until the next meeting.
City clerk Robecca Jaeger updated the council on submitting a $250,000 grant request to St. Louis County for funding through the Community Development Block Grant program. The city will make a presentation on Jan. 15.
Police chief Troy Bissonette requested approval to purchase five P320 X Pro Full Size 9mm pistols at a cost of $2,631.80. This will replace .40 caliber Springfield XDMs purchased in 2008 for $2,940.87. The council approved the purchase on a 3-1 vote with Lossing voting no.
On call ambulance personnel were paid $15 an hour after being raised from $5 an hour between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the week. Jaeger said if the city continues at the $15 an hour the city would run a deficit. She recommended changing the rate back to $5 an hour. She said the city has recently picked up additional ambulance personnel. The council approved reducing the on call rate to $5 an hour.
The council also approved ambulance personnel as follows: Emily Jaeger as supervisor, Erik Houle as training officer and Joe White as assistant ambulance director.
Fire department officers were also approved: Tony Chamberlin as chief, Andy Gerlovich as assistant chief, Sheri Feiro, Austin Erickson and Jeb Backe as captains.
The council rejected a proposal to close city offices In other business the council:
• Named the New Babbitt Weekly News as the city’s official newspaper.
• Appointed Lossing as the acting mayor.
• Reviewed an item on the agenda to close city offices for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. The council rejected the proposal.
• Approved ordinances relating to water systems, water and private wells along with establishing water use units and determine equivalent residential units. This will allow the PUC to charge a higher amount for commercial properties such as a resort.
• Adopted an ordinance on city permit fees, service charges and other fees spread out over five pages. This ranges from a fee for solar panels to cemetery fees to salaries for the council $0
• Approved official depositories as U.S. Bank, 4M Fund, Northland Securities, RBC Wealth Management and Ely Area Credit Union.
• Approved the 2025 holiday schedule including New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People’s Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. City offices will also be closed in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve.
• Appointed Becky Maulhardt and Elaine Postudensek to the Library Board.
• Appointed Lowell Johnson to the Planning Commission for a one-year term and Dave Laine for a three-year term.
Appointed Curt Koivisto to the Public Utilities Commission. Other applicants were Dave Laine and Paul Hoheisel. A letter will be sent to Hoheisel for his years of service to the PUC.
• City attorney Joel Lewicki was back in attendance at the meeting. Former city attorney Mitch Brunfelt has retired from public practice.
