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by Tom Coombe
Three Ely businesses were caught in a sting operation conducted by police and are accused of selling cannabinoid edibles to minors.
City council members received word Tuesday from police chief Chad Houde and set up a public hearing for Jan. 21 to give the businesses - Ely Liquor, Mike’s Liquor and Stinky Pete’s - an opportunity to respond.
All three businesses face fines of $300 each as well as a three-day license suspension.
The employees who allegedly sold the edibles to an underage buyer engaged by the Ely Police Department also face fines of $500.
Houde told council members that police sent an underage person to 10 licensed businesses that were open on Dec. 20.
“Of those, three sold to our buyer, which is very disappointing,” said Houde.
Houde and city attorney Kelly Klun briefed council members about penalties associated with the ordinance, which requires both the fine and license suspension for the business.
“The business does not have to close,” said Houde. “Some of the businesses sell other products. They can’t be able to sell cannabinoid products during that threeday suspension.”
Klun told council members that the city is obligated to offer the public hearing, although business owners may opt not to appear.
Amid questioning by council members Jerome Debeltz and Adam Bisbee, Klun also explained there’s no flexibility for the employee fine based on intent.
“There’s no intentionality to it,” said Klun. “If you sold, there’s a $500 fine. It does not require any intention.”
Police matters were also part of Tuesday’s meeting, the first of 2025 and the first for new council members Emily Roose and John Lahtonen, who were sworn in prior to the meeting.
Council members approved the hire of Ashlan Barthope for a full-time officer position, pending the completion of a background check and both psychological and medical examination.
And on a 6-1 vote, with Lahtonen opposed the council added Nils DeRemee to a part-time officer position.
Lahtonen clarified his “no” vote, pointing out the department has current part-time help including a Babbitt officer.
“I think (DeRemee) is a wonderful young man,” said Lahtonen. “My question is the man who is police chief in Babbitt, how many shifts is he working?”
Houde said the Babbitt officer worked only three shifts in 2024, but he defended the addition to the part-time contingent, which was not budgeted, in part because he anticipates the department might soon have another full-time opening.
Houde said it provides more flexibility as well during instances when the department has to transport a detainee to Virginia to the county jail.
“That takes three hours to process and we don’t leave our town unprotected,” said Houde.
Council member Jerome Debeltz, who is on the police commission, also defended the part-time hire.
“The big problem in the whole area is we have officers who go over to St. Louis County of wherever and we don’t have anybody to take their place,” said Debeltz. “I think having a person part-time, at least somebody to fill it rather than running around trying to find somebody who might want to fill it, is easier on the department.”
Houde also noted that the dynamics in law enforcement have changed, particularly over the last four-to-five years.
“It’s tough to get people to apply not just in the city but for any law enforcement position,” said Houde. “I don’t think we’ll ever have a whole department that spends their whole career with our department. There are so many job opportunities throughout the state and country.”
Lahtonen cast the only vote opposed and called the decision “a slippery slope.”
“You have the cost of training, the cost of psychological exams, it all adds up,” he said.
In other business, the council:
• Passed the second reading of a city ordinance banning the public use of cannabinoid products.
• Reviewed a list of committee assignments for council members, as well as those vacated with former members Paul Kess and Ryan Callen leaving city government.
• Appointed Mark Zupec to another term on the housing and redevelopment authority.
• Approved various city in-kind services for the upcoming Ely Winter Festival.
• Was briefed about a series of coming events at the Ely Public Library, including events associated with this weekend’s Dark Sky Festival and a Jan. 16 primer on role-playing games. That event is set for 6 p.m. and is designed more for those with an interest in learning more about those games rather than those with current experience.
“We’ll be doing a basic introduction,” said librarian Rachel Heinrich.
• Approved subdivisions at 143 East Harvey and 15 South Second Avenue East, which are both within a commercial zoning district.
• Approved the next phase with plans calling for a “fast charger” corridor at the trailhead facility.
Higher-speed electric car chargers will be placed there this summer, and will be subject to user fees that have yet to be set.
“We’ve done a little research on what other charging stations charge,” said Langowski. “It looks like something we will mimic once it’s installed, which will be next summer sometime.”
