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A long-sought electrical upgrade at the Pioneer Mine complex is set to proceed.
After some discussion, council members approved a request to set aside $11,200, matching a contribution made by the Ely Arts and Heritage Center group, which coordinates events at the city-owned facility.
The money will pay for $16,200 in electrical work at the Miners Dry building and another $6,200 for the Captains Dry.
New wiring, lighting and and outlets are planned for the Miners Dry, with electrical service being returned to the Captains Dry.
Electrical upgrades at the site have been planned for over a decade and the Miners Dry improvements come in advance of this year’s Ely High School All-Class Reunion as well as numerous other events and functions planned there over the next several months.
But the request from the EAHC generated some pushback and was approved on a 6-1 vote, with council member Al Forsman opposed.
Forsman questioned the last-minute nature of the request, which came the night before Tuesday’s council session and after a city budget committee meeting during the day.
“It was already a difficult budget meeting,” said Forsman.
Council member Paul Kess voiced similar concerns adding “this isn’t a big sum of money and it’s a worthwhile request but it’s coming at an awkward time.”
Harold Langowski, the city’s clerk-treasurer and operations director acknowledged the timing issues but indicated the work has been a priority “for 16 years.”
“This is something they’ve been looking to do for a very long time,” said Langowski.
Langowski noted that the EAHC has both the match- ing funds and an electrical contractor ready to proceed this spring.
“There are a lot of events scheduled now for Min - ers Dry," said Langowski.
“There are a lot of weddings occurring there."
Langowski also said there are safety issues at hand, noting that initial renovations when the Miners Dry reopened called for the installation of temporary lighting.
The lighting, Langowski said "is not something I'm very comfortable with (from a safety aspect)." He suggested that there could be other areas of the city budget, or reserve funds that could be tapped into to cover the city's $11,200 share of the improvements.
Langowski also called for the Miners Dry work to take priority.
The improvements sought at the Captains Dry are part of an effort to make the facility available to accept a private mining collection to be on display to the public.
Mayor Heidi Omerza en-
dorsed the request and took note of the funds being pro vided by the EAHC.
"I think it's important to note that we are match-
ing funds," said Omerza. "They're asking us to match funds. They went out and did find (money) and this is
something they’ve been try-
ing to do for quite awhile. It's one thing I'm appreciate of."
Rather than a delay that might have put the improve ments on hold and called for further study by the city's budget committee, the coun -
cil approved the request and Langowski said he would
work to “at least get Miners Dry done" and look next at the Captains Dry.
