Elected officials got a taste of federal bureaucracy recently when federal grant dollars for two construction projects were delayed again.
Stuck explaining the dilemma was Ely clerk/ treasurer Harold Langowski, who must be a mile deep in paperwork on this disaster.
The two projects are the ambulance garage renovations and the new fire apparatus building. Both will have to wait a little or maybe a lot longer, depending on yet another pile of red tape.
At issue is the historic preservation review, which is required to obtain federal funds granted for the improvements both to the garage as well the construction of a fire apparatus building near the hospital.
Duluth Archaeology Center has proposed to do additional work for $9,700 to help advance the study.
As Langowski correctly pointed out, “Federal funds come with a lot of strings.”
The review began several months ago, with the joint powers and SHPO trading correspondence, and Langowski submitting documentation as requested.
Local officials say the review essentially amounts to additional “hoops to jump through” to obtain the money. They are right.
This may be a way for consulting firms to make money off the public dime but there needs to be a modicum of common sense.
It is difficult to believe that adding a garage or improving living quarters would have any impact on the historic significance of buildings across the street. Who dreams this up?
We are glad to see that Lake County Commissioner Joe Baltich apologized for an email he sent regarding this subject.
While we may not like the rules and regulations handed down by the federal government, an elected official taking out his frustrations on someone whose job it is to follow them is not acceptable and should not happen.
