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The Ely City Council is getting behind a local group’s effort to obtain grant funding as part of an initiative to reduce sulfate concentrations in the Dunka River.
But it’s not quite clear yet to what level the city will offer its support.
Council members voted 4-2 Tuesday to have city staff draft a letter that would be forwarded to the Legislative- Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, but that letter will be reviewed by the council Mar. 4 and subject to further review.
That decision followed an appearance by Dave Holt, acting president of the White Iron Chain of Lakes Association.
Known as WICOLA, the group is teaming with others including the Friends of the Boundary Waters on the initiative.
The proposal is to test a sulfate reduction system for a full year near the Dunkra River “to confirm the sulfate reduction and mercury sequestration capacity and cost.”
According to a draft letter of support submitted by WICOLA, “this project will implement a biological sulfate reduction system to address both sulfate and mercury pollution in wild rice waters in northern Minnesota.”
The project is intended to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of sulfate treatment and mercury sequestration, providing data to inform the planning and implementation of full-scale treatment systems, and ultimately protect wild rice and aquatic ecosystems.
The council typically doesn’t take action over items addressed on the “request to appear” portion of its agenda, but member Adam Bisbee quickly offered a motion to support the WICOLA request, prompting some spirited debate at the council table.
Member Al Forsman, who joined Jerome Debeltz in opposing the measure, with John Lahtonen absent, offered several objections including WICOLA’s alliance with the Friends of the Boundary Waters.
“I will point out that one of your co-sponsors is the Friends of the Boundary Waters, who I’ve learned over the years we can not trust and relies on information that is unreliable and unworthy of support from this council,” said Forsman.
Forsman also added, “It’s always been the policy of the city not to take action on a request to appear and I don’t know why we’re changing that policy now.”
Omerza added, “Who’s going to write this letter?”
“We typically write our own letters,” said Langowski. “We don’t use templates.”
Langowski added that staff could draft a letter in time for the next council meeting Mar. 4 “and have it on the next agenda for approval.”
Forsman nonetheless said he’s opposed.
“For Ely to come forth and be requested to support something that does not directly affect us and could harm us, I take exception to and will not be supporting this effort.”
WICOLA is also seeking support from other entities including the city of Babbitt and tribal organizations.
In other business, the council:
• Appointed Gillian Fitzgerald and Molly Roske to the Tree Board and Nathan Baseman to the Airport Commission.
• Directed Langowski to apply for funding on the city’s behalf from the Housing Trust Fund and Small Cities Housing Aid Programs.
• Scheduled the annual local Board of Appeal meeting for April 17, at 5 p.m., in the council chambers at City Hall,
• Approved a recommendation to move forward with purchasing hockey boards for the city recreation center, pending funding sources and a commitment from the local pickleball group to proceed with plans to use the area for pickleball.
• Approved a recommendation to seek funds from a federal recreational trail program to purchase maintenance equipment for the Prospector ATV Trail.
• Passed the second reading of ordinances dealing with second-hand goods dealers and land use regulation fees.
• Approved a commercial renovation loan application submitted by Andrea Kannas for work at 224 East Harvey, the former parsonage at the Ely Presbyterian Church.
• Moved to hire Nils DeRemee for a police officer position, pending medical, background and psychological clearances, and in anticipation that a current officer will be leaving for another position.
